Luke Sheehy, CEO, Universities Australia

Australia has always punched above its weight when it comes to ideas. Our scientists and researchers have discovered everything from Wi-Fi to IVF, spray-on skin to the black box flight recorder. But today, more than ever, the big breakthroughs don’t come from working alone – they come from working together.

That’s why the opportunity now before us is so important. The Albanese Government has begun talks with the European Union about joining Horizon Europe, the world’s largest research and innovation program.

With a budget of more than €93 billion – bigger than the annual GDP of New Zealand – it brings countries together to tackle the big challenges facing humanity such as climate change, health, job security, energy and digital technology.

For Australia, this is a once-in-a-generation chance to be part of something extraordinary. If we act now, our researchers will be in the room, side by side with the world’s best, shaping solutions that affect every one of us. If we hesitate, we risk being shut out and left behind.

The benefits are clear. Research done with international partners is higher quality and has nearly double the impact of research done in isolation. And the financial returns are remarkable. New Zealand invested just €8 million in Horizon Europe and has already secured projects worth €152 million – a 19-fold return. Even the smallest Horizon projects are worth about $4 million, ten times the size of an average Australian discovery grant.

Australia’s research system is already under strain. For too long, we’ve relied on international student fees to plug gaps left by declining public investment. It’s not sustainable. Horizon Europe won’t fix the structural issues on its own, but it offers a powerful way to leverage our limited resources, bring in new partners and give our researchers the backing they need to deliver for the nation.

And this isn’t just about dollars. Horizon Europe funds research in the very areas that matter most to Australians – better health care, cleaner energy, stronger food systems and new digital industries. These are the things that will shape the kind of country our kids grow up in.

There’s also a bigger picture. Our neighbours aren’t waiting around. South Korea has already negotiated access. Singapore and Japan are in talks. Canada and New Zealand are already on board. If we don’t move quickly, Australia risks being sidelined not only in Europe but in our own region, watching others take the lead on projects that affect us all.

We’ve also seen how this program changes the way research is done. In New Zealand, it has encouraged more collaboration with industry, more focus on turning discoveries into real-world products and services, and more partnership across borders. That’s exactly what we need here in Australia if we want to turn great ideas into jobs, industries and opportunities.

Timing matters. Right now, Horizon Europe allows a pay-as-you-go model. That means we only pay our share once Australian researchers are successful in joining projects – money doesn’t disappear overseas, it stays tied to outcomes here at home. But in 2027 the program will be replaced by an even bigger one, with a budget expected to jump to €175 billion – an 87 per cent increase. If we join now, our status will roll over, giving us a front-row seat in the next wave. Wait too long and the rules may change, the costs may rise and the chance may slip away.

This is about more than research grants. It’s about our future prosperity. As a nation, we’re facing challenges – an ageing population, the transition to net zero and the need to lift productivity. Universities are ready to work hand in glove with government and industry to tackle these issues. But to succeed, we need to be connected to the best ideas, people and facilities in the world. Horizon Europe is the gateway.

At Universities Australia, we believe this is a national imperative. It is not about prestige or politics. It is about giving Australians access to the solutions that will determine our quality of life in the decade to come. It is about making sure our students, our scientists and our businesses are part of the global conversation – not spectators on the sidelines.

So the question we should be asking is simple: can we afford not to?