IN LONDON: The European Commission and Australia have begun formal negotiations for the association to Horizon Europe – the EU’s flagship research and innovation program.
Horizon Europe facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies.
European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva says with the EU-Australia agreements last week, the European Commission is moving quickly to bring its innovation ecosystem closer to Australia.
“This will add to the growing list of like-minded countries that have chosen to join Horizon Europe, the world’s largest and most prestigious research program,” Zaharieva says.
As previously reported, Australia and the EU entered into a Free Trade Agreement, which is considered a step forward in ensuring that Australian companies can compete fairly in the EU markets and focuses on the removal of tariffs on critical minerals products to the region.
Australia already participates in more than 200 projects under Horizon Europe, with researchers and organisations actively contributing to collaborative efforts across a wide range of fields.
Association would allow Australian companies to access funding directly from the program and to participate on similar terms with EU Member States and other associated countries.
The European Commission says this would also enable more ambitious, long-term collaboration between researchers, businesses and public institutions, while reducing administrative barriers and aligning efforts within a single framework.
Association of the EU’s framework program for research and innovation is the closest form of international cooperation in science and technology between the EU and a non-EU country.
For the next long-term EU budget (2028-2034), the commission is proposing to double Horizon’s budget to €175 billion ($292.9 billion).
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
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