Funding Science, Funding Futures: European Approaches

EMBL Australia and the European Union Delegation to Australia are delighted to present a special event at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Join us for a conversation about approaches to funding science and innovation in Europe with Director-General Jean-Eric Paquet, Research and Innovation, European CommissionProf James Whisstock, Scientific Head EMBL Australia and host Bernie Hobbs, ABC Broadcaster.

  • Covering so many competing areas of research, how does the EU prioritise and fund initiatives?
  • Why does the EU invest in research and innovation? How does it strengthen the member states and the private sector?
  • What could the future relationship between Australia and the EU look like?
  • Are European models useful in the Australian research landscape?
  • How does investment in science benefit society?
  • How does investing in research and innovation support SMEs to grow and create jobs?

The European Union’s Research and Innovation model has evolved to fund excellent science, industrial leadership, and address societal challenges. It also supports SMEs bring products to market, and is looking to fund missions, partnerships and breakthrough innovations.

Learn more about how Europe is growing its competitiveness and offers opportunities for science and innovation to make a difference to our futures

NOTE:

  • Clemenger Auditorium, National Gallery of Victoria,180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, 3004
  • Doors open at 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start.
  • Registration for this free public event is required.
  • Entry through North Entrance at the NGV.  See map below.

EU and Horizon 2020

The European Union will invest over $115 billion through the Horizon 2020 Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) in science and innovation.

Through Horizon 2020, the EU has invested approximately €5.9 million ($9.6 million) in Australian research and innovation, supporting scientists at universities and institutes across Australia in areas including health, food, transport, environment, ICT, research infrastructures, and future and emerging technologies. Through Implementing Arrangements with the NHMRC (and effective from October 2019 with the ARC) scientists have the opportunity to join high-calibre research teams in Europe for up to 12 months. The European Research Council has supported more than 48 Australian researchers based in Europe, and since 2007, more than 590 Australians researchers have taken part in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions, which support interdisciplinary mobility.

The funding encourages the pooling of international resources, connects scientists worldwide, and inspires researchers to create a more knowledge-intensive society and discoveries for future generations.

EMBL Australia

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a world-leading research institute and Europe’s premier driver of research technology and innovation in the life sciences. In 2008, Australia became the first Associate Member to EMBL, an initiative supported through the Federal Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme.

A major initiative established under the Associate Membership is the EMBL Australia Partner Laboratory Network led by Prof James Whisstock, Scientific Head. This network models EMBL’s ethos of recruiting and supporting talented early career researchers, providing them with the freedom and support to ask and address major innovative scientific questions. Through this model, 15 exceptional researchers across six research institutes are tackling issues such as the development of effective malaria vaccines, whether antibiotics compromise vaccines in children, and new approaches in tissue regeneration in degenerative disorders. It also delivers student programs and grants to foster EMBL’s training and collaborative ethos in Australia.

The EMBL Australia Secretariat is proudly hosted by Monash University and the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute.

Ms Bernie Hobbs appears by arrangement with Claxton Speakers International.

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