The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) – Horizon Europe Grant Scheme supports Australian participation in leading international collaborative research under Horizon Europe, which is the European Union's (EU) key funding program for research and innovation. Horizon Europe facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation while tackling global challenges. It supports the creation and better dispersion of excellent knowledge and technologies.
NHMRC selects topics that align with the health priorities identified in the NHMRC Corporate Plan, and are guided by the principles of the NHMRC’s International Engagement Strategy 2023–2026 to support collaborative approaches to health and medical research internationally.
Programme Description
The following topics are being considered by NHMRC for the 2025 NHMRC-Horizon Europe grant opportunity. NHMRC will invite Australian-based researchers who are listed on eligible applications deemed fundable by the European Commission to apply to NHMRC for support of the Australian component of research under the following topics submitted through the single-stage deadline model:
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-DISEASE-01: Testing safety and efficacy of phage therapy for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-DISEASE-03: Development of antibodies and antibody-derived proteins for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases with epidemic potential
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-DISEASE-04: Leveraging artificial intelligence for pandemic preparedness and response
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-DISEASE-07: Tackling high-burden for patients and under-researched medical condition
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-TOOL-01: Enhancing cell therapies with genomic techniques
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-TOOL-02: Advancing cell secretome-based therapies
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-TOOL-05: Boosting the translation of biotech research into innovative health therapies
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-IND-01: Optimising the manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs)
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-IND-02: Digitalisation of conformity assessment procedures of medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices
and submitted through the single-stage deadline model: - HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-STAYHLTH-01-two-stage: Improving the quality of life of persons with intellectual disabilities and their families
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-ENVHLTH-01-two-stage: The impact of pollution on the development and progression of brain diseases and disorders
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-ENVHLTH-02-two-stage: Advancing knowledge on the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on human health
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-DISEASE-02-two-stage: Advancing innovative interventions for mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders
- HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-IND-03-two-stage: Facilitating the conduct of multinational clinical studies of orphan devices and/or of highly innovative ('breakthrough') devices.
Further information about Horizon Europe topics can be found on the European Commission’s webpage.
Application Process
- European Commission invites submissions against advertised research topics
- European Commission conducts peer review
- European Commission advises NHMRC Administering Institution/s of favourable evaluations
- NHMRC Administering Institution/s notify NHMRC of applicant details
- NHMRC will invite Australian researchers who are listed on eligible applications deemed fundable by the European Commission to apply to NHMRC for support of the Australian component of research by submitting an application in Sapphire
- NHMRC reviews the budget requested for the Australian components of the research
- Funding recommendations approval process.
Eligibility
The NHMRC-Horizon Europe scheme has eligibility criteria and applications will be excluded from consideration if eligibility requirements are not met:
- Australian applicants must be listed on eligible applications deemed fundable by the European Commission
- The Administering Institution for the NHMRC- Horizon Europe scheme application must be listed as an Associated Partner in the EU application
- Evidence, such as the EU grant agreement or a letter from the EU, which indicates that the relevant EU application has been evaluated favourably and will proceed to the preparation of the grant agreement
- Applications must be under the selected topics as listed by NHMRC.
