EU and Australia conclude negotiations on joining Horizon Europe

The European Commission and Australia have concluded negotiations on the country becoming an associated member of the EU’s Horizon Europe research and development programme on 09/06/2026.

Under a transitional arrangement from January 2027, Australian research entities will become eligible for funding from the Horizon programme. This is a change from their current status, where, as third-country entities, they had to provide their own funding or rely on a narrow range of funding options from the programme. The change in status will also allow them to lead project consortia.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, the European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said: "We can tackle the challenges of tomorrow only together. That is why the future of science and technology depends on strong international partnerships, like the one between the EU and Australia.”

She highlighted the Square Kilometre Array, one of the world's most advanced radio telescopes, as an example of EU and Australian researchers working together.

The Commission highlighted other successes of EU-Australian…