ATSE welcomes Australian steps to join Horizon Europe

Australia’s leading tech and engineering academy has welcomed the announcement today by Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, at ATSE’s international CAETS 2025: Generations symposium, that Australia has commenced talks to explore signing up to Horizon Europe.

Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship research funding program, supporting programs in key areas such as climate change adaptation, AI, and biotechnology.

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering (ATSE) CEO Dr Kylie Walker said that signing up to Horizon Europe would be a win for Australian R&D.

“Australia produces about 5% of the world’s new knowledge,” said Dr Walker.

“Joining Horizon Europe – just like other non-EU countries like Canada and New Zealand have already done –  would strengthen international collaborations and open Australia’s access to significant additional international funding for research and development.

“Through Horizon Europe, Australian researchers and developers could forge closer ties with European partners, complementing successful initiatives like Australia’s Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund, delivered by lead partner ATSE in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science.

“Horizon Europe is a leading example of successful international collaboration in R&D, and we hope the Australian Government’s steps to join are successful.”

ATSE supports initiatives like this that will make Australian R&D more competitive and deepen connections with our international partners.

“ATSE – and our expert Fellows – stand ready to help make this a reality,” Dr Walker said.

Minister Ayres’ announcement came at ATSE’s international conference today in Brisbane, bringing leaders in applied science, technology and engineering together from every continent and across Australia to forecast the technologies that will transform the world over the next half-century.

The conference is the annual meeting of the international Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) – chaired by ATSE President Dr Katherine Woodthorpe.