The long-standing research and innovation cooperation between Australia and the European Union is set to continue to thrive and expand: over 200 researchers and innovators gathered last week to learn more about new possibilities for collaborating in projects under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
The new Horizon 2020 Work Programme – launched in October 2017 – provides fresh opportunities for EU-Australian research and innovation cooperation. These opportunities were discussed and emphasised in a series of information days that took place in Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane on March 19, 21 and 23.
Australia and the EU have a long history of productive research collaboration. Under the previous Framework Programme (FP7), Australian applicants submitted more than 1000 eligible research proposals in response to 493 FP7 calls, leading to a total of 324 signed grants and €12.6 million in EU-funding. So far, some 459 Australian researchers have participated in Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions – research grants encouraging individual transnational and interdisciplinary mobility.
Under Horizon 2020, there have been 153 successful participations by Australian entities as of October 2017, resulting in 130 signed grants, €4.4 million in EU contributions and €12.8 million in contributions by Australian entities. In collaborative actions of Horizon 2020 Australian entities have 57 participations in 46 signed grants.
Among others, cooperation in the field of health is fruitful, especially through the work of the NHMRC-EU – The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)European Union (EU). Its Collaborative Research Grants provide Australian researchers with an opportunity to participate in multinational research collaborative projects with international researchers that have been selected for funding under Horizon 2020. Some of the successful collaborative projects include Hydrozones – developing 3D printed hydrogel implants designed to heal damaged joint cartilage, and Stellar – a project exploring the potential of stem cell therapy to restore kidney function.
The new Horizon 2020 Work Programme is set for the period of 2018-2020. While Australian scientists can participate in every call for project proposals under the Work Programme, collaboration in the following fields is particularly encouraged: bioeconomy, research infrastructures, health, earth and marine observations, and metrology.
Source: European Commission
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