The EU includes Australia in Horizon Europe funding

The EU includes Australia in Horizon Europe funding - Portugal Business News

EU Business News - The EU includes Australia in Horizon Europe funding, according to a European Commission announcement dated June 9th, 2026:

The European Commission has successfully concluded negotiations on Australia's association to Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme.

What are the benefits of the EU Horizon Europe programme for Australian companies?

The EU Horizon Europe programme for Australian companies and organizations will be in force in 2027 and the benefits for Australian researchers include:

🔶 Taking part in EU Horizon Europe projects and funding

🔶 Joining and leading EU collaborative research teams

🔶 Working alongside partner companies and organizations across Europe

🔶 Australia will be associated to Pillar II of Horizon Europe, which addresses societal challenges in the digital, industry and space; climate, energy and mobility; and food, bioeconomy and agriculture fields.

🔶 From January 2027, Australian entities will transition from third-country rules - where they typically had to self-fund or rely on narrow exceptions for funding - to being treated as 'eligible entities' from an associated country. This will grant them direct, routine access to EU funding under Pillar II on equal terms with EU Member States, such as allowing them to lead project consortia.

What is the EU Horizon Europe Programme?

The EU Horizon Europe Programme is the EU's flagship research and innovation fund amounting to 93.5 billion euros.

The Horizon Europe Programme tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts competitiveness and growth by tackling fields such as clean technologies and digital transformation, by working with its partners towards innovating for a better future.