The Group of Eight

The Group of Eight Board has received the final report of the Expert Advisory Committee on Combatting Antisemitism (EACCA) and will carefully review the report and its recommendations. We recognise the work of Dr Alan Finkel AC and the committee members to deliver this report.

The Go8 is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism, and all forms of racism, across university campuses, and our nation more broadly. Our work to ensure campuses are safe, inclusive and respectful environments will never end.

Our work to ensure campuses are safe, inclusive and respectful environments will never end. Go8 universities set the standard not just in higher education, but for Australian and international communities more broadly. We embrace that responsibility of leadership and are committed to helping improve Australia’s social cohesion.

Read the full media statement here: https://bit.ly/4xJ4rDF

Read the EACCA Report here: https://bit.ly/3Q2tksV

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The case is clearly settled that working with partners who share our values and see knowledge and innovation as central to long-term prosperity and resilience is the foundation of the Horizon Europe partnership. The discussion is now how to make it work - how Australia positions itself in a global research and innovation system that is becoming more competitive, more strategic, and more values-driven.

That’s what yesterday’s The Group of Eight - European Union in Australia event at the University of Sydney was all about. Connected Continents: A New Era of EU-Australia Research Cooperation through Horizon Europe was a next step in ensuring Australia is ready to compete and capture the full benefit of the Horizon Europe opportunity.

But that wasn’t the only thing working towards that goal taking place yesterday. There was a very special Lunch with Industry Minister Senator Tim Ayres The EU Ambassador to Australia H.E Gabriele Visentin, and Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation Maria Cristina Russo from the European Commission with Go8, sector, government and industry leaders; meetings of the Go8 Deputy-Vice Chancellors (Research) with the Australian Research Council (ARC) as well as Australia’s chief Horizon Europe negotiator Anthony McGregor; and a meeting of the Go8 institutional leads for Horizon Europe. The aim of it all is to make sure that Australia hits the Horizon Europe ground running on Jan 1, 2017!

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A great day at the University of Sydney for a very special event that not only celebrated the fantastic news that the Australian Government and the European Commission had concluded treaty negotiations for Australia’s association to the world’s largest research and development program – Horizon Europe – but also looked to answer a very important question: how to turn this transformational news into real, practical participation and ensure Australia is ready to compete and capture the full benefit of this opportunity. “This is the bells and whistles moment,” The Group of Eight CE Vicki Thomson said on the day, “But now we have to convert”.

The Connected Continents: A New Era of EU-Australia Research Cooperation through Horizon Europe, From Policy to Practice: Enabling Participation event was proudly hosted by the Go8, University of Sydney and European Union in Australia, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and Euraxess - Research careers in Europe and brought together leaders from across the research and innovation ecosystem.

It was an honour that Industry and Innovation Minister Senator Tim Ayres gave the Keynote address and Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation from the European Commission, Maria Cristina Russo offered the EU perspective. University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Scott AO offered the opening remarks and Professor Attila Brungs AO, UNSW Vice-Chancellor closed the event.

Vicki Thomson was the event's MC and moderated a fascinating and important panel discussion focused on unlocking the opportunities of Horizon Europe with Go8 Chair and The University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry AC; Head of Science Division, Department of Industry, Science and Resources and Australia’s Chief Negotiator for Horizon Europe Association, Anthony McGregor; Gina Williamson from New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; and Managing Director of Frequentis Australasia, Martin Rampl.

Time to roll up those sleeves!

Great timing for the release of this op-ed by The Group of Eight CE Vicki Thomson in Innovation News Network - following yesterday’s very welcome news that the Australian Government and European Commission have concluded treaty negotiations for Australia to join Horizon Europe – the world’s largest collaborative research program.

Vicki writes that Horizon Europe is not simply a funding source. It is a framework for long-term collaboration, innovation, and influence and associate country status will allow Australian researchers and institutions to:
▪️Lead and coordinate major collaborative projects;
▪️Access Horizon Europe funding directly and predictably;
▪️Participate fully in large-scale missions addressing shared global challenges; and
▪️Build long-term research and industry partnerships with confidence.

With the treaty negotiations now concluded, the focus now is on delivery. This week the Go8 are convening senior leaders from the European Union, Australian Government, industry and universities to ensure Australia moves quickly from access to meaningful collaboration, leadership and impact.

Read Vicki's oped here: https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/australia-and-horizon-europe-on-the-cusp-of-new-opportunities/69514/

The conclusion of treaty negotiations for Australia to associate to Horizon Europe is a major milestone for the nation’s research and innovation sector – but its value will be measured in what it delivers for Australians.

The Australian Government’s decision to fast-track association to Horizon Europe to 2027 puts Australia in the room where the world’s biggest breakthroughs are happening, at a critical time.

Horizon Europe is the world’s largest collaborative research program. It brings together countries, universities, industry and governments to tackle major challenges – from developing new treatments and vaccines, to lowering energy costs, strengthening food systems and advancing critical technologies.

The Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said, “this is a once in a generation opportunity to boost the quality, scale and impact of Australia’s world class research - and ensure the benefits are felt beyond the research sector”.

Read the full media release here: https://bit.ly/4uoq7Su

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Group of Eight universities educate around 42% of all Australia’s engineering graduates. Engineers are indispensable to Australia’s future—underpinning economic growth, national security, major infrastructure and technology agendas, and our country’s ability to respond to global challenges and crises. Seven The Group of Eight unis rank in the top 100 worldwide for engineering education.
Read more Facts of Distinction about Group of Eight universities here: https://bit.ly/4dUAnLX

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A real pleasure to meet again with Japan’s Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Kazuhiro SUZUKI at the Embassy of Japan in Australia. Group of Eight CE Vicki Thomson discussed with the Ambassador the outcomes of the Go8's recent senior-level delegation to Tokyo. The March delegation was the Go8's third visit to Japan in two years, demonstrating the strong, sustained commitment from the leading research-intensive universities from both nations to deepen research collaboration in critical areas.

The Tokyo delegation - led by The Group of Eight Chair Professor Deborah Terry AC, Deputy Chair Professor Sharon Pickering and Co-Chair of the Go8 Defence & Security Committee Major General (Ret’d) Paul Symon AO - included the 2026 Go8-Japan Roundtable on Economic, Research and Cyber Security at Keio University. The discussions at the Roundtable reflected a high level of trust and alignment between Australian and Japanese universities on shared challenges and opportunities.

Vicki and the Ambassador also discussed a proposed Japanese reciprocal visit to Australia in late 2026-early 2027 and - with the excellent news that Australia is fast-tracking our Association to Horizon Europe - possible research partnerships with Japan, who is already an Associate member of the research and innovation fund.

Many thanks to Ambassador Suzuki and the Embassy staff for taking the time to meet with us for the discussion.

The Group of Eight universities educated around 30,000 regional and remote students each year – ensuring that opportunity reaches every corner of Australia. Go8 retention and success rates for regional and remote students consistently exceed national averages.
Check out more of our latest Group of Eight Facts of Distinction here: https://bit.ly/4dUAnLX

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Group of Eight universities are Australia’s research powerhouses. They undertake 70% of Australia’s university-based research, invest $10 billion annually in national R&D - which accounts for more than 20% of Australia’s total research effort - and educate almost half of the nation’s PhD graduates.

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