Australia has taken a tentative step towards joining the world¡¯s largest collaborative research scheme, launching ¡°non-binding exploratory talks¡± about becoming an associated member of Horizon Europe.

Science minister Tim Ayres said Australia had resumed discussions about associating to the scheme, whose €95.5 billion (?82.6 billion) budget is set to almost double from 2028.

¡°It¡¯s too early for any decisions or commitments from government, of course, but it¡¯s a positive conversation for Australia to be having,¡± Ayres told a conference of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences in Brisbane.

Advocates have long stressed the benefits of associated membership with Horizon Europe, saying an investment of about A$150 million (?73 million) would return at least double that amount in funding.

91ÇÑ×Ó

Yet the Labor government withdrew from talks with the European Union in 2023, without any explanation, notwithstanding a policy commitment to increase national research and development spending.

The move lay at odds with a long history of scientific cooperation with the EU. In 1994, Australia became the first industrialised country to sign a with the bloc.

91ÇÑ×Ó

Demands to associate with Horizon Europe have increased since the Trump administration upset the international research order by suspending collaborative research projects, deporting foreign students, reinitiating US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and World Health Organisation and slashing the budgets of the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.

But as recently as mid-August, Ayres was noncommittal about the prospects of Australia signing up. ¡°I was hoping to dodge that question,¡± he told the Australian Financial Review¡¯s Higher Education Summit. ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of¡­discussions about our trade and investment agreement with Europe. We are very focused on that.¡±

Ayres conceded that Horizon Europe had been raised in ¡°every conversation¡± he had held with vice-chancellors and research institute directors.

Twenty non-EU countries and territories, including Canada, New Zealand and the UK, have associated with Horizon Europe. South Korea joined in July and Japan initiated talks in November. Singapore has expressed interest and Egypt is expected to formally associate this year.

91ÇÑ×Ó

Australian researchers and research organisations are entitled to participate in Horizon Europe projects but ¨C unlike their counterparts from more than 100 low- to middle-income countries ¨C they are generally ineligible for funding.

The Australian Academy of Science said it expected ¡°amplified capability and benefit¡± from closer involvement with the scheme. ¡°Association to Horizon Europe presents an opportunity for strategic, scaled collaboration that will have a multiplier effect on research resources and scientific effort,¡± said academy president Chennupati Jagadish.

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering said associated membership would ¡°strengthen international collaborations and open Australia¡¯s access to significant additional international funding for R&D¡±.

Universities Australia said the talks were a ¡°very positive¡± step. ¡°Australia is signalling its intent to be at the cutting edge of global innovation,¡± said CEO Luke Sheehy. ¡°We need to be strengthening our research alliances to stay ahead of the game, and Horizon Europe is just the ticket.¡±

91ÇÑ×Ó

Ayres¡¯ department has on the pros and cons of associating with the scheme. A ¡°request for information¡± posted on the Department of Industry, Science and Resources¡¯ consultation hub seeks details on the likely benefits, and how those benefits have been calculated.

Unfunded participants in Horizon Europe have been asked about the return on investment, while sceptics have been asked why they oppose involvement. Universities, academics, research centres and learned academies ¨C along with businesses, corporations, representative bodies and government agencies ¨C have been asked for written responses of up to 5,000 words, together with supporting evidence and case studies.

91ÇÑ×Ó

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com