Horizon Europe & Australia Research Strategy - Unlocking Horizon Europe Opportunities - 22 July 2026

Join Professor Iain White (MBIE National Contact Point for Horizon Europe Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility) and Vicki Thomson (Chief Executive & Director, The Group of Eight) for an insightful seminar on how researchers and organisations can access one of the world’s largest research and innovation programmes.

Horizon Europe is a €97 billion initiative (2021–2027) designed to tackle global challenges—from climate change and clean energy to sustainable mobility—through large-scale, international collaboration. New Zealand has now been associated for several years.

Join Professor Iain White (MBIE National Contact Point for Horizon Europe Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility) and Vicki Thomson (Chief Executive & Director, The Group of Eight) for an insightful seminar on how researchers and organisations can access one of the world’s largest research and innovation programmes.

In this session, you will learn more about:

• the Horizon Europe program, including a focus on Pillar II, overall;
• the current state of play regarding Australia’s affiliation, and next steps for Australian universities to be ready for 2027;
• and helpful perspectives from New Zealand’s experiences.

Drawing on lessons from New Zealand’s experience alongside the latest progress for Australia, this session will provide actionable insights to help researchers, research offices, and institutions increase their success in Horizon Europe bids, expand global networks, and contribute to solving shared global challenges.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Wednesday 22 July 2026

Time: 12:30PM - 2:00PM AEST (Sydney time) - (Check your time zone here)

Type of Event: Online Zoom meeting - spaces are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment

Zoom link and Meeting ID: To be provided in event confirmation email.

PRESENTER(S)

Professor Iain White - MBIE

Professor Iain White is New Zealand’s National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy and Mobility) at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), a role he has held since August 2023. 

As NCP, he supports New Zealand researchers and organisations to engage with the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme by facilitating international partnerships, strengthening research proposals, and connecting New Zealand teams with European collaborators. His work focuses particularly on climate, energy, and mobility research, helping position New Zealand within large-scale, multi-national research consortia

Vicki Thomson - The Group of Eight

Vicki Thomson has worked in Australia’s university sector for more than two decades, championing its role as integral to the success of our nation and its people. She is currently the Chief Executive of the Group of Eight Universities and prior to this role she was Executive Director of the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN).

Vicki currently serves as Deputy Chair of the European Australian Business Council. She is a member of the Australian Government’s University Foreign Interference Taskforce and Executive Cyber Council, Jobs and Skills Australia’s Education and Training Reference Group, the Antisemitism Education Taskforce Stakeholder Reference Group and the Australia India Institute Advisory Board.

She is a former Deputy Chair of the MS Australia Board, a former Board member of the Australian Government’s Australia–China Council and the New Colombo Plan Advisory Group.

She has been awarded the prestigious Insignia of the Knights in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French Government for her continuing services to the growth of successful education relationships and programs between France and Australia. She has significant experience and relationships with China. From the mid-1990s when she was first involved through her Government positions, she assisted the management of trade, industry and energy negotiations over a number of years. She has extensive experience in building relationships between business, industry and universities, and supporting increased access to university for people from all backgrounds.

She has been named by the Australian Financial Review in the top five of its power list for Australia’s education sector on multiple occasions.

NEED HELP

• How to join a Zoom meeting
• Zoom participant controls
• For technical support, please contact your organisation’s IT team. We recommend testing your Zoom access prior to the session.

QUESTIONS

Contact the ARMS Executive Office at:
ARMSMembership@researchmanagement.org.au
+61 8 8201 5592

Please note: This session may be recorded and shared with SIG members.