Horizon Europe Launch Event in New Zealand

On 9 July 2023, in the presence of the Commission's President Ursula von der Leyen and New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, RTD Director-General, Marc Lemaître signed the Association Agreement with HE Carl Reaich, New Zealand's Ambassador to the EU and NATO, and HE Marcos Alonso, Ambassador Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Spain to the EU. The agreement is provisionally applicable as of that date.   

As the first country outside the geographic proximity of the EU ever to associate to the Union’s research and innovation framework programme, New Zealand’s association to Pillar II of Horizon Europe is a historic development for our bilateral relations and international science and technology cooperation.

In the wake of a reception in Wellington on 12 July, hosted by Hon. Ayesha Verrall, New Zealand Minister for Research, Science and Innovation, a dedicated Horizon Europe Launch event took place in Christchurch on 13 July 2023.

The event was organized by the New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and hosted by the University of Canterbury. It was attended by over 200 participants representing academia, researchers, institutional partners and civil society, all wishing to celebrate the occasion and to learn about the collaborative opportunities brought by Horizon Europe to the local research and innovation ecosystem, and the prospective policy coordination to be developed between New Zealand and the EU.

The first part of the event featured a high-level policy seminar that was moderated by Dr Bronwen Kelly, Deputy Chief Executive, Universities New Zealand. It brought together Mrs Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General for Research & Innovation, European Commission; Dr Prue Williams, General Manager, Future Research System, MBIE; and Prof. Frank Bloomfield, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Auckland. Their engaging discussion was exploring the synergies between Horizon Europe and the New Zealand Government White Paper “Te Ara Paerangi” – “Future Pathways”, which includes New Zealand’s participation in Horizon Europe. The panelists also discussed strategic opportunities for research cooperation between New Zealand and the EU, and the areas in which both parties  – geographically distant but with shared values – can join forces and learn from each other to tackle the scientific and societal global challenges of our time.

The seminar was followed by an Information Session providing the participants with a practical hands-on overview of Horizon Europe. The session delved deeper into the forthcoming funding opportunities within the six clusters, explored the possibilities provided by the European Partnerships, and highlighted MBIE’s domestic support services for prospective applicants.

More information

International cooperation with News Zealand