Good afternoon

Last week Canada announced it would join the European Union’s massive research and innovation program, Horizon Europe, which is distributing over $150bn in funding between 2021 and 2027. With Canada, and many other industrialised countries, in the program as associate members and thus eligible for grants, why won’t Australia join?

Last year the Australian government told the EU it wasn’t interested, and Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic has made it clear that Canada’s decision doesn’t change his thinking . Australia’s research universities in the Group of Eight, as well as the Australian Academy of Science and business groups (the Australian Industry Group and the European Australian Business Council) want Australia to change its stance and start talks with the EU about joining.

Every year at the island of Lindau on Lake Constance in southern Germany, Nobel prizewinners meet and engage with young researchers in their field. It’s a unique forum which links people who've reached the pinnacle of research with a new generation which will carry things forward into the future. Last week 11 young Australian researchers went to Lindau under the aegis of the Australian Academy of Science for this year’s Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and you can read about their experiences.

Until next Wednesday