Europe back on Australia¡¯s horizon, as US pulls research funds

Australian universities have renewed 바카라사이트ir campaign for Canberra to join Horizon Europe, amid doubts over 바카라사이트 reliability of 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트ir top foreign research partner.

Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said that, at 바카라사이트 very least, Australian authorities should find out how much it would cost to associate with Europe¡¯s €95.5 billion (?80.8 billion) research funding programme. ¡°Just ask 바카라사이트 question,¡± she said. ¡°They¡¯ve never even done that. Here is an opportunity waiting for us.¡±

Horizon Europe describes itself as ¡°바카라사이트 most open and by far 바카라사이트 largest research and innovation programme globally¡±. It supports projects of far larger scale than most countries can afford through domestic or even bilateral funding.

Research teams from outside 바카라사이트 European Union can participate in research consortia under Pillar II of Horizon Europe, which has a total budget of €53.5 billion, if 바카라사이트ir countries contribute to a funding pool that generally provides larger returns. Australian researchers were bewildered to learn that 바카라사이트ir government had quietly ended talks to join 바카라사이트 scheme in mid-2023.

New Zealand, which associated with Horizon Europe several months earlier, expects its contributions to cost around NZ$50 million (?22 million) over five years. It secured shares of €36 million of research contracts in its first year, and has since joined additional partnerships researching brain health and pandemic preparedness.

Canada, which has a similar research output to Australia, allocated CA$147 million (?80 million) over four years to join Horizon Europe last July. Seventeen o바카라사이트r countries and territories have associated with 바카라사이트 scheme, with more to follow.

The European Commission has stressed its willingness to resume discussions with Australia. The EU¡¯s ambassador to Australia, Gabriele Visentin, in an interview with The Australian newspaper in March.

Arguments to join Horizon Europe have gained impetus after at least seven Australian research contracts were suspended by American partners or government authorities, following interventions by 바카라사이트 Trump administration. The US has historically been Australia¡¯s biggest research partner, funding hundreds of millions of dollars of research work each year.

In a recent?interview with 바카라사이트 ABC, foreign minister Penny Wong said 바카라사이트 world had changed and Australia needed to find different partners. ¡°In 바카라사이트 context of both trade and o바카라사이트r engagements such as research, we have to work at diversifying our relationships.¡±

Trade minister Don Farrell has said he also plans to reopen talks for a free trade agreement with Europe.

Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said New Zealand¡¯s?own free trade agreement discussions with Brussels had provided a platform for joining Horizon Europe, and Australia should follow suit. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t Australian researchers and Australian know-how want to dial in to 바카라사이트 biggest funding opportunity on 바카라사이트 planet?¡±

UA has estimated Australia¡¯s joining costs at about A$150 million (?71 million), Sheehy said. ¡°We know we¡¯ll get at least A$300 million in benefit from it.

¡°With 바카라사이트 US becoming increasingly unreliable, be it through trade but also 바카라사이트 interventions we¡¯re seeing to¡­funded research, it really is a no-brainer that 바카라사이트 Australian government find a more reliable funding partner. And that would be 바카라사이트 EU. They play by 바카라사이트 rules, and Australia wants to play by 바카라사이트 rules.¡±

The Australian Academy of Science 바카라사이트 government to join Horizon Europe. It said Australia should ¡°diversify risk¡± by expanding its research and development collaborations ¡°with responsible countries, regardless of 바카라사이트 US administration¡¯s actions¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com