International Impact

The challenges facing the world today, from climate change and health crises to technological disruption and economic resilience, require Australia to be at the forefront of global research and innovation.

The Group of Eight is Australia’s gateway to the world’s leading  research institutions. Through extensive international partnerships, Go8 universities connect Australian researchers,  students and industry to global knowledge networks and cutting-edge discovery.

The Go8 is a member of the Global Research-Intensive Universities Network (GRIUN), linking Australia’s leading research universities with peer networks in Europe, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the United States and Japan,

Go8 universities collaborate with   partners around the world and host more than  12,000 PhD students from over 130 countries. Between 2021 and 2025, Go8 researchers co-authored  14,400 papers with the European Union,  12,800 papers with the United States,  10,400 papers with the United Kingdom and  10,300 papers with China, contributing more than half of Australia’s internationally collaborative research output.

The Go8 also plays a leading role in advancing Australia’s global research interests. Through sustained advocacy, the Group of Eight helped secure Australia’s pathway to association with Horizon Europe, the world’s largest research and innovation program, opening new opportunities for Australian researchers and strengthening the nation’s international research competitiveness.

International engagement is central to the Go8’s research leadership, ensuring Australia remains connected to the world’s best ideas, talent, discoveries and technologies, while advancing our national prosperity, security and global influence.