Australia Joins EU Horizon Europe Pillar II
Opening equal access for Australian teams to large collaborative grants, the deal signals the EU's push to deepen ties with likeminded partners.
Overview
- Australia's Industry Minister Tim Ayres formally signed the accession agreement in Brussels on Thursday, November 12, 2026, completing the step that lets Australian researchers compete for Horizon Europe funding.
- The agreement gives Australian organisations the right to join and lead projects under Pillar II on the same terms as EU partners, with transitional access to apply from January 2027 and full membership expected around mid‑2027.
- Pillar II focuses on collaborative research in health, climate, energy, advanced digital technologies and critical minerals and is funded at about €52.4 billion within the wider €95 billion Horizon Europe programme.
- Australian institutions have already taken part in 239 Horizon Europe projects with roughly a one-in-four selection rate, and the federal government has committed funding to help Australian teams scale up their participation.
- Officials frame the move as a scientific and industrial win for Australia and as part of the EU's broader strategy to deepen research ties with partners including Canada and the UK at a time of strained relations with the United States.