On 23 October 2025, SRAP submitted a formal response to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources of the Australian Government as part of the consultation process on the possible association of Australia to the Horizon Europe programme.
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The letter was led and coordinated by the President of SRAP, A/Prof. Ángel López-Sánchez (Macquarie University), reflecting the association’s continuous commitment to strengthening international research collaboration and highlighting the importance for Australian researchers to participate in Pillar II of Horizon Europe, Europe’s flagship research and innovation framework.
The letter can be found in PDF format in this link, but it is fully reproduced below.
Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Answer to Consultation: Possible association to Horizon Europe: request for information
The Society of Spanish Researchers in Australia-Pacific (SRAP) is a non-for-profit, independent scientific association founded in 2014. SRAP brings together more than 200 Spanish and Australian researchers, academics, and professionals working across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific region. Our members represent a broad spectrum of disciplines — from health and environmental sciences to engineering, social sciences, and humanities — and are employed across universities, research institutes, government agencies, and industry.
SRAP’s mission is to promote scientific cooperation and knowledge exchange between Australia and Spain, as well as between Australia and the broader European Research Area. We work closely with the Embassy of Spain in Canberra, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the Instituto Cervantes, the Australia-Spain Chamber of Commerce (La Cámara), and RAICEX (the network of 23 associations of Spanish scientists and researchers working abroad Spain) to enhance bilateral and multilateral scientific engagement.
Over the past decade, SRAP has become a bridge organisation that fosters collaboration between Australian and European research ecosystems. Our association has co-organised bilateral symposia, supported joint projects under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe frameworks, and facilitated institutional partnerships between Australian universities and European research organisations. The Malaspina Awards, jointly granted by the Spanish Embassy and SRAP, is a tangible example of this collaboration, recognising Australian institutions and researchers who have made significant contributions to joint Australia–Europe research initiatives.
Because of our extensive experience in cross-continental collaboration, SRAP is in a unique position to provide expert insights into the opportunities and challenges that Australia’s potential participation in the Horizon Europe Pillar 2 program could bring. Our members are directly involved in European-funded projects such as EMPOWER, AuSpire, and several Marie Skłodowska-Curie initiatives, as well as national schemes that align with Horizon Europe’s missions in areas like health, climate, energy, and digital transformation. Furthermore, SRAP members in New Zealand already enjoy participating in Horizon Europe Pillar 2 projects. The feedback received is excellent: of the 19 Horizon Europe Pillar 2 projects awarded in New Zealand, 11 include Spanish researchers and/or Spanish institutions. Together with the Spanish Embassy in New Zealand, SRAP is promoting increasing these numbers and enhancing the research collaboration between Spain-Europe and New Zealand through this channel.
SRAP’s response to the Department of Industry’s consultation reflects our commitment to strengthening Australia’s role in the global research landscape and to ensuring that Australia’s association with Horizon Europe contributes to high-impact, equitable, and sustainable research partnerships. This response also follows the bilateral meeting between Ms Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General, DG Research and Innovation of the European Commission, and a SRAP delegation in Canberra in July 2025, where we discussed the advantages of the association and get her feedback on a tentative implementation model.
What benefit would association to Horizon Europe bring to your organisation or Australia?
From a national perspective, association with Horizon Europe would expand access to world-class research consortia. Australian institutions would be able to participate as equal partners in large-scale, mission-oriented projects tackling global challenges such as health, climate adaptation, food security, and digital transformation. This will strengthen current strategic innovation and research priorities in Australia, that are closely aligned with EU research priorities. As a matter of fact, Horizon Europe’s Pillar 2 mirrors many of Australia’s national research priorities, including sustainable energy, health innovation, and advanced manufacturing. Formal association would facilitate co-development of shared research agendas and long-term policy coherence.
The agreement with Horizon Europe will also strengthen mobility and talent exchange. The association would expand opportunities for Australian-based early and mid-career researchers to join international consortia, gain experience in European institutions, and foster enduring scientific networks. In addition, the participation in Horizon Europe projects not only increases research excellence and impact but also boosts Australia’s global scientific profile. Through SRAP’s extensive connections with Spanish and European institutions, we have observed how Horizon-funded collaborations often lead to sustained institutional partnerships, innovation outcomes, and spin-offs that benefit both economies. The associations of European researchers in Australia such as SRAP (Spain), ARIA (Italy), AGRN (Germany) or AFRAN (France), are uniquely positioned to facilitate this bridge, and promote knowledge transfer. As a scientific network embedded in both Australian and European systems, with most of its members with experience in both research ecosystems and with doble citizenship, it can facilitate t collaborative projects are based on shared values of scientific integrity, open science, and mutual capacity building.
Explain how you calculated the benefit, including monetary value, timeframe, intangible value.
As a non-profit scientific association, SRAP does not directly receive research funding from Horizon Europe or national competitive schemes. However, our members and partner institutions have extensive experience in projects funded by Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and NHMRC–EU collaborative programs. Drawing on these experiences, we can estimate the benefit of Australian association with Horizon Europe in both quantitative and qualitative (intangible) terms. Horizon is the major research funding scheme in the World. Based on Horizon Europe’s Pillar 2 structure (approx. €53.5 billion over 2021–2027), and historical data from comparable associate countries (e.g., New Zealand, Canada, Israel), Australia’s potential annual return could range between €40–80 million per year (AUD $65–130 million), depending on participation rate. For every euro obtained through EU research programs, partner institutions typically leverage 1.5–2 times that amount through national and industry co-funding. Applying conservative multipliers, this could result in AUD $100–200 million in total research activity per year linked to Horizon Europe projects involving Australian partners.
However, the main benefit of the association will be a strategic one. SRAP members have observed that participation in Horizon programs leads to sustained institutional partnerships lasting well beyond individual project lifecycles. For example, collaborations initially supported by Horizon 2020 (such as EMPOWER and AuSpire) have evolved into long-term frameworks for mobility, co-publications, and shared infrastructure. The integration of Australian researchers in European consortia also fosters capacity in competitive grant writing, international project coordination, and multidisciplinary innovation — skills that remain within the Australian research ecosystem.
Other intangible benefits include: an increase of global reputation and influence, new alternatives for Mobility exchange and talent attraction. For example, by facilitating easier engagement in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions as shown by the joint program between these actions and Horizon to promote exchange between Australia and Spain (AuSpire program). Finally enhanced Australia–Europe cooperation will deepen science diplomacy, promote mutual understanding, and foster collective responses to shared challenges (climate adaptation, health resilience, AI ethics, etc.).
For SRAP, the association would increase opportunities for our members to participate as investigators or collaborators in EU-funded projects; strengthen our capacity to act as a science diplomacy interface between Australian and European institutions, and support ongoing initiatives such as the Malaspina Award, bilateral symposia, and joint training programs, thus reinforcing Australia’s visibility in the European Research Area.
Explain how it would unlock benefits in important sectors for Australia and how it would further the productivity agenda.
Association with Horizon Europe Pillar 2 would unlock substantial benefits across several sectors that are critical to Australia’s economic productivity, sustainability, and global competitiveness. Horizon Europe’s thematic clusters directly align with Australia’s National Science and Research Priorities, creating a strong framework for cross-sectoral innovation.
- Health and Medical Research: It will provide access to large-scale European consortia would accelerate the translation of research into healthcare innovations, improve data interoperability, and support mental health system reform through shared methodologies and digital infrastructure.
- Climate, Energy, and Environment: Australia and the EU share ambitious targets for net-zero emissions and sustainable development. Horizon Europe’s clusters on Climate, Energy, and Mobility would enable Australian researchers and industries to co-develop next-generation renewable technologies, circular economy solutions, and resilience strategies for extreme weather. Joint projects would boost innovation in low-carbon industries, energy storage, and sustainable cities, with strong potential for commercialisation.
- Food Security and Bioeconomy: The “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment” cluster aligns closely with Australia’s strengths in agri-food innovation, sustainable farming, and bio-based materials.
- Digital and Industrial Transformation: The “Digital, Industry and Space” cluster aligns with Australia’s Digital Economy Strategy and national manufacturing priorities. Participation would open access to advanced research in AI, robotics, quantum computing, and space technologies, accelerating technology adoption in Australian industry. The 2025 SRAP Forum has been devoted to this topic
- Social and Cultural Innovation: Horizon Europe’s emphasis on inclusive societies and global governance provides opportunities to strengthen Australia’s social research capacity, particularly in education, multicultural engagement, and science diplomacy. The SRAP Forums have always include a strong emphasis on science diplomacy
If Australia associates to Horizon Europe, what implementation models do you suggest for maximising the benefit from the Horizon Europe funding and alignment with Australian science priorities?
In July 2025 a SRAP delegation met with Ms Signe Ratso – Deputy Director-General, DG Research and Innovation (RTD) of the European Commission in Canberra to discuss the advantages of the association and get her feedback on a tentative implementation model. We identified three major areas of development:
1.- Promoting Talent Circulation and Mobility
- Collaboration and exploring co-funding models to support MSCA Global Fellowships hosted in Australia and expand bilateral doctoral schemes (cotutelles).
- Encourage talent return mechanisms and circular mobility incentives for EU researchers abroad.
2.- Fostering Multilateral Science Platforms in a step process
- We would encourage the development of an EU-Australia Science Diplomacy Task Force, with SRAP participation.
- Create a directory of EU researchers in Australasia to support Horizon Europe consortia formation.
- Launch co-creation workshops to align Horizon Europe calls with Australian priorities.
- We think that the development of the Europe–Australia Science Hub could serve as a strategic and institutional platform to deepen scientific, technological, and policy cooperation between the EU and Australia. It would go beyond individual projects and country to country activities, and foster sustained, structured collaboration, scientific diplomacy, ethical partnerships, and explore share use of scientific infrastructure (e.g., marine research, synchrotron facilities, social living labs, etc)
3.- Public Engagement and Visibility
- Encourage our SRAP members to participate as reviewers in EU calls
- Offer evidence-informed advice to EU delegations and embassies, as well as to Australian universities, funding agencies and government.
- Involvement in EU cultural and science diplomacy events in the Indo-Pacific.
- SRAP will continue is cooperation with EURAXESS and the European Delegation in the SRAP activities including the Annual Forums, Malaspina Award, SRAP Early Career Researcher Award and other science communication initiatives to foster EU-Australia cooperation. We think that Pillar 3 of Horizon Europe should also be an objective of the association.
In summary SRAP is uniquely positioned to understand the importance of the association agreement. It strongly supports this agreement, and its members are willing to cooperate with their universities, research centres and networks to booster the benefits of this agreement for the Australian research ecosystem.
Yours sincerely,
A/Prof. Ángel R. López-Sánchez
SRAP President, on behalf of the SRAP Board
Associate Professor in Astrophysics,
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences,
Faculty of Science and Engineering,
Macquarie University.