Go8 Submission: International Joint Science and Innovation Meetings

·         Institution-Institution – which each Go8 member will pursue; and

·         Go8 strategic collaboration which involves Go8 engagement/advice in developing, for example network to network partnerships and pursuing policy dialogue.

Many of our current institution-institution international activities align with the priorities identified in the Australia-Germany science and innovation meeting (JSIM) as outlined in Attachment B. Examples of science and innovation collaborations between Go8 member universities and German partners include (but are not limited to):

·         A collaboration between the University of Sydney and German Aerospace Centre (DLR) – Germany’s national space agency – on new space engineering projects, announced in 2017;

·         Monash University and Bosch Australia, the Australian arm of the German company who is the largest automotive engineering and electronics firm in the world, launched an ‘ag-tech launch pad’ in Melbourne in January of this year;

·         The Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland is collaborating on research into alternative energy fuels with a number of German partners, including Siemens (Germany), Bielefeld University (Germany), and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany).

Through the Global Research Intensive Universities Network (GRIUN) the Go8 has a direct relationship with the research intensive German Universities 15 (U15). This partnership enables a first ‘port of call’ for our member universities on matters of research policy and broader strategic engagement.

We therefore suggest the international science and innovation priorities should include:

·         Strategic dialogue on Australia engagement with the EU framework more broadly and Horizon Europe, the EU’s 100 billion euro R&D framework programme for 2021-2027.

·         The role of an EU-Australia FTA as a comprehensive economic partnership framework against a rising tide of protectionism and economic nationalism. In this context innovation and research partnerships take on an even greater priority with Germany well placed to play a key role in supporting an FTA with the EU.

·         Agreements to enable reciprocal access to research infrastructure;

·         Streamlining of visa settings to enable exchange.

-Rationale for inclusion

-Key issues/sensitivities/barriers/benefits

In world rankings the Go8 are consistently the highest ranked Australian universities. All Go8 member universities are ranked in the top 150 institutions worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (ARWU), the Times Higher Education World Rankings (THES) and the QS World University Rankings (QS).

We therefore have a particular interest in policy settings that facilitate high quality research collaboration with key international partners, of which Germany is a priority nation.

As Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, the Go8 supports the priorities agreed during the Germany-Australia Joint Science and technology Meeting (JSTM), namely: improving student and researcher mobility: research infrastructure; research-industry links; and cooperation of Fraunhofer institutes and Australian CRCs.

Although Go8 universities already enjoy strong research relationships with German partners – such as through the examples provided above – we believe there is scope to extend these considerably, especially in light of developments such as Brexit and the upcoming Horizon Europe. We note that a new research network – the Australia-Germany University Research Network – will launch later this year, looking to extend and deepen existing research links. The Go8 has been invited to be a founding member of this network.

The Go8 also recognises that – although the Asia-Pacific region will always remain a priority for international engagement – that it would be prudent to consider expanding our partnerships and reinforcing existing relationships beyond this region. We are also well placed to facilitate tri-partner collaborations.

Policy settings that could assist in the development of deeper links include:

·         Australia being accepted as an associated country in the Horizon Europe Framework

·         Streamlining visa processes: to allow for two-way exchanges of research students, academics and researchers between our two countries;

·         Opportunities for flexible funding support: to facilitate exchanges and/or research collaboration in areas of mutual key priority.

-Rationale for inclusion

-Key issues/sensitivities/barriers/benefits

·         Strategic dialogue on EU-AU FTA and ‘place’ of Innovation in that agreement

·         Strategic discussion re access to Horizon Europe R&D Framework

·         Discussions to explore ways of streamlining visa processes and exploring opportunities for flexible funding support, to facilitate academic and research exchanges.

·         We also support the establishment of the Australia-Germany University Research Network as an important initiative to further research connections between our two countries.

(name, phone, email)

Vicki.thomson@go8.edu.au

(02) 6175 0701

·         We are founding participants in the 2017 Nicolas Baudin “Internship in France” initiative, developed by the French Embassy in Australia to facilitate opportunities for Australian students to undertake a research internship in a French laboratory in collaboration with a French company.

·         On the 2 July 2018, the Go8 Chair, Professor Ian Jacobs, signed a letter of intent in France between the Go8, Airbus and the French Embassy in Australia, signalling our intention to work together to develop a two-way research mobility programme with France. The new programme will build on the success of the Nicolas Baudin Internship in France initiative, to address the needs of French industry in Australia, particularly in the Defence and Space industries.

·         Many of our members also have collaborative partnerships with leading French institutions. These include (but are not limited to):

o   A Memorandum of Strategic Engagement signed between the Australian National University (ANU) and Paris Sciences & Lettres (PSL) Research University in March 2017. The Memorandum is based on the intention to create stronger international collaboration in science and technology and humanities research and build closer links with industry partners.

o   French company Airbus is working with the University of New South Wales Sydney spin-off company Skykraft to develop hyperspectral remote sensing technology.

o   Dassault Systèmes, a world leader in 3D design software, 3D digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, particularly for the aerospace and defence industry, will create a new Adelaide-based team comprising staff from France and India, and will host University of Adelaide interns at its Adelaide operations which will be located on-campus.

We therefore suggest the international science and innovation priorities should include:

·         Strategic dialogue on Australia engagement with the EU framework more broadly and Horizon Europe, the EU’s 100-billion-euro R&D framework programme for 2021-2027.

·         The role of an EU-Australia FTA as a comprehensive economic partnership framework against a rising tide of protectionism and economic nationalism. In this context innovation and research partnerships take on an even greater priority with Germany well placed to play a key role in supporting an FTA with the EU.

·         Agreements to enable reciprocal access to research infrastructure;

·         Streamlining of visa settings to enable exchange.

-Rationale for inclusion

-Key issues/sensitivities/barriers/benefits

In world rankings the Go8 are consistently the highest ranked Australian universities. All Go8 member universities are ranked in the top 150 institutions worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (ARWU), the Times Higher Education World Rankings (THES) and the QS World University Rankings (QS).

We therefore have a particular interest in policy settings that facilitate high quality research collaboration with key international partners, of which France is one.

There are a number of prominent French companies with a presence in Australia which are seeking to contribute to Australia’s growing defence and space industries. They recognise the potential for strong collaborations to help position Australia as a leading player in these spaces. As noted by Nicolas Chamussy, Head of Space Systems Airbus:

We want to “walk the talk” and we are determined to do so. Airbus is proud to partner with local industry on dedicated space projects. It is our intention to work with academia, SMEs and start-ups to develop Australia’s space sovereign capability, nurturing and developing areas of strategic priority and leapfrog technologies… Airbus could help Australia in concentrating on new disruptive areas while achieving strategic agreements with international industries and space agencies. [1]

However, capitalising on this opportunity will require the ability for leading research organisations like the Go8 to be able to establish high quality collaborative partnerships with French organisations across industry, as well as the higher education and research sectors. These could include:

·         Streamlining visa processes: to allow for two-way exchanges of research students, academics and researchers between our two countries, especially in the key areas of defence and space science;

·         Opportunities for bilateral funding support: to facilitate exchanges in areas of mutual key priority, such as meeting capacity needs for Naval Group in fulfilling its A$50m submarine contract.

·         Consideration of establishing a CIFRE like programme in Australia: the French CIFRE initiative – Industrial Agreements for Training through Research – is a proven programme that has run over many years, with a track record of linking French PhD researchers with industry. The Go8 strongly urges consideration of establishing such a programme in Australia, especially given the increased need for industry/research links in the growing defence and space industries.

Although the Go8 recognises that providing dedicated funds can be difficult in the current fiscal environment, we urge the dialogues to consider the evidence estimating that research spending is an investment, not a cost. For example, recent analysis conducted by London Economics have shown that every $1 of Go8 research income generates almost $10 in benefits to the private sector, and Go8 research activity contributes A$24.5 billion to the economy each year – or around $1,000 for every Australian.

-Rationale for inclusion

-Key issues/sensitivities/barriers/benefits

From 2010-2015, the Go8 ran a programme via which Go8 students could experience working as an intern in French companies located in both France and Australia. Through the French Company Experience Programme (FCEP), participants were able to spend a total of 6-12 months working in the company’s Australian office followed by a period in the company’s French office. The aim of the programme was to promote cross-cultural understanding across our two countries.

However, the FCEP was discontinued at the Go8 in 2015, due to issues that arose in relation to the status of interns within the Australian industrial relations environment. This vulnerability has been highlighted recently by the case of a former university student suing the National Australia bank over claims of unpaid wages resulting from an industry-based learning placement undertaken as part of his bachelor degree studies.[2]

As noted above, the Go8 is pursuing opportunities with French industry to establish a two-way exchange of research students in the defence and space industries. However, uncertainties around the legal status of interns in Australia could result in such programmes only being able to facilitate mobility in one direction: from Australia to France. This is likely to result in Australia missing out on high quality French talent studying and working in Australia for a period of time.

(name, phone, email)

Vicki.thomson@go8.edu.au

(02) 6175 0701

·         All Go8 universities achieved a rating of either 4 or 5 in Medical and Health Science research;

·         Strong capacity of the sciences, including Mathematical Sciences (7 of the Go8 universities were rated at either 4 or 5), Physical Sciences (all 8 were rated at either 4 or 5), Chemical Sciences (7 of the Go8 universities were rated at either 4 or 5) Earth Sciences (7 of the Go8 universities were rated at either 4 or 5), Environmental Sciences (8 of the Go8 universities were rated at either 4 or 5), and Biological Sciences (8 of the Go8 universities were rated at either 4 or 5);

·         All 6 of the Go8 universities that were rated in the field of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences were assessed at 4 ,i.e. “above world standard”.

As Australia’s highest ranked, research intensive universities, the Go8 understand the importance of establishing and maintaining strong connections with the world leaders in each field, regardless of where they may be located.

And our success in research on the world stage – as reflected in both our ERA results and in the key international ranking systems – demonstrates the importance of our deep and extensive collaborative international partnerships.

We therefore suggest the international science and innovation priorities should include:

·         Facilitation of policy settings to enable academic and research exchanges, so that Australia’s high quality researchers can connect and work with the global leaders in their field;

·         Agreements to enable reciprocal access to research infrastructure;

·         Streamlining of visa settings to enable exchange.

-Rationale for inclusion

-Key issues/sensitivities/barriers/benefits

In world rankings the Go8 are consistently the highest ranked Australian universities. All Go8 member universities are ranked in the top 150 institutions worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (ARWU), the Times Higher Education World Rankings (THES) and the QS World University Rankings (QS).

We therefore have a particular interest in policy settings that facilitate high quality research collaboration with key international partners, including the European Union.

There are two key opportunities to be pursued:

EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement:

Australia’s economic relationship with the EU is strong and dynamic. Two-way trade in goods and services total over $100b, making the EU Australia’s second largest trading partner behind China. However, despite this, the framework for the economic partnership is underdeveloped and is missing an FTA. Such an agreement will be an important strategic signal to the underpinning role our innovation and research sector can play in developing long term partnerships.

Horizon Europe

The current EU research programme – Horizon 2020 – represents the biggest investment in research and innovation in the EU to date, providing nearly €80 billion of funding over 7 years (2014 – 2020).[3]

Although primarily targeted at EU members, Go8 universities participate in 41 Horizon 2020 projects, in areas including quantum dynamics, sensor research, a range of health areas, in projects focused on infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, materials science and global navigation systems.

While this level of participation does bring benefits – such as access to European research infrastructure, providing opportunities to deepen research relationships and ensuring that Australian researchers are part of a significant innovation funding programme – financial benefits have so far been limited. Only three of the 41 projects with Go8 involvement have resulted in direct funding support.

Horizon 2020 is due to expire in two years, with funding for its replacement programme, Horizon Europe (HE), estimated at close to €100 billion.[4]

Plans for Horizon Europe have included consideration of opening to programme to ‘associated’ (i.e. non-European) countries able to demonstrate “a similar level of excellence”.[5] Canada and Australia were specifically mentioned in this context.

The Go8 believes this presents a significant opportunity for Australia to secure itself a place in “the potential nucleus of a global programme for open and science and open innovation, exporting good regulatory practices and improving international trading and investment conditions”. [6]

The risk of not doing so could be to damage our capacity to deliver on the Government’s commitment to entrenching Australia’s position as a world leader in education, training and research.[7]

It is difficult to see how we could do so if we remain on the periphery of the biggest investment in research and innovation in the history of the European Union.

The Go8 therefore recommends that Australia’s participation as an “associated” country in Horizon Europe be a key point of discussion in the joint dialogue.

-Rationale for inclusion

-Key issues/sensitivities/barriers/benefits

(name, phone, email)

Vicki.thomson@go8.edu.au

(02) 6175 0701 

As Australia’s highest ranked, research intensive universities, the Go8 understand the importance of establishing and maintaining strong connections with the world leaders in each field, regardless of where they may be located.

And our success in research on the world stage – as reflected in both our ERA results and in the key international ranking systems – demonstrates the importance of our deep and extensive collaborative international partnerships.

We therefore suggest the international science and innovation priorities should include:

·         Facilitation of policy settings to enable academic and research exchanges, so that Australia’s high quality researchers can connect and work with the global leaders in their field;

·         Agreements to enable reciprocal access to research infrastructure;

·         Streamlining of visa settings to enable exchange.

-Rationale for inclusion

-Key issues/sensitivities/barriers/benefits

In world rankings the Go8 are consistently the highest ranked Australian universities. All Go8 member universities are ranked in the top 150 institutions worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (ARWU), the Times Higher Education World Rankings (THES) and the QS World University Rankings (QS).

We therefore have a particular interest in policy settings that facilitate high quality research collaboration with key international partners, including India.

In April 2017 the Go8 established a joint taskforce focused on establishing a two-way mobility programme for high quality PhD students between Australia and India.

Announced in Delhi by the Australian Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Simon Birmingham, the Taskforce is co-chaired by the Chair of the Go8, currently Professor Ian Jacobs, Vice-Chancellor of UNSW Sydney, and Professor Devang Khakhar, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

Its first outcome was the release of Two-Way Mobility of PhD Students Between India and Australia (Taskforce report), a report identifying the barriers to establishing such an exchange and recommending ways to overcome these.

Many of the points raised in this report, and by the work of the Taskforce, is also reflected in the Australian government’s India Economic Strategy (IES), delivered by Mr Peter Varghese AO, and released on the 12 July 2018.

The IES rightly identifies the education sector as a key pillar of Australia’s engagement with India, however, building research relationships with a view to establishing high quality collaborations must not be overlooked in this process.

The Go8 recommends that the joint meeting focus on key issues raised in both reports, e.g.:

·         Scaling up the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) – IES;

·         Building inter-researcher relationships at an early career stage, e.g. through a two-way mobility programme for PhD students – Taskforce report; and

·         Promote cross-cultural understanding, by promoting Go8 India courses or short-term study or exchange opportunities in India, including through the New Colombo Plan (Taskforce Report); or establishing partnerships between Australian universities and businesses with commercial interests in both countries to promote India literacy courses at universities (IES).

-Rationale for inclusion

-Key issues/sensitivities/barriers/benefits

·         Scaling up the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) – IES;

·         Building inter-researcher relationships at an early career stage, e.g. through a two-way mobility programme for PhD students – Taskforce report; and

·         Promote cross-cultural understanding, by promoting Go8 India courses or short-term study or exchange opportunities in India, including through the New Colombo Plan (Taskforce Report); or establishing partnerships between Australian universities and businesses with commercial interests in both countries to promote India literacy courses at universities (IES).

(name, phone, email)

Vicki.thomson@go8.edu.au

(02) 6175 0701