Building on the momentum of the Think Europe event in October 2025, we are excited to announce the UQ European Research Forum.
The UQ European Research Forum is a hybrid event delivered by UQ Global Partnerships in collaboration with the UQ Research Office. The event will showcase European research funding opportunities, major agencies including Horizon Europe, and support UQ researchers and staff navigate and access major UK and European funding programs while strengthening international collaboration.
Registrations are now closed.
About
This initiative arrives at a pivotal moment for Australia and Europe. President von der Leyen's recent visit to Australia and the commencement of formal negotiations between the European Commission and Australia for association with Horizon Europe (Pillar II) signals a new era of partnership. With Australia on track to apply for Horizon Europe research calls from early 2027, Australian institutions will be able to compete for funding alongside European Union (EU) member states and other associated countries. This opens an unprecedented opportunity for Australian researchers to strengthen their participation and leadership in international, collaborative research addressing the world's most pressing challenges.
To support UQ researchers and professional staff in navigating and accessing Horizon Europe and other UK and Europe research funding opportunities, the UQ Research Office and UQ Global Partnerships will co‑host the UQ European Research Forum. The program will feature a keynote address providing strategic insight into European research priorities and the funding agencies that support them. This will be complemented by rapid‑fire presentations in a Three Minute Thesis (3MT)–style format, highlighting successful UQ–Europe collaborations and globally important research funded by European funding agencies.
Featured speakers
His Excellency Gabriele Visentin
EU Ambassador to Australia
HE Gabriele Visentin is the Ambassador of the European Union to Australia since November 2022. Before his posting to Australia, he served as the EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific. Prior to that, he led the Parliamentary Affairs Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels. His career within EU institutions also includes pivotal roles such as the European Commission’s representative to the EU’s Civilian Crisis Management Committee (CivCom) and as Head of Cabinet to the last President of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
Professor Kerrie Wilson
Queensland Chief Scientist
Professor Kerrie Wilson commenced her role as Queensland Chief Scientist on 1 November 2023. She is responsible for supporting the generation and translation of globally significant science to ensure sustainable economic growth in Queensland.
With a distinguished career in academia and conservation, Professor Wilson has held prominent positions at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), including Pro Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Research Integrity) and Executive Director of the QUT Institute for Future Environments. Her previous leadership roles include Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy Australia, and she currently serves as a natural sciences expert on the Australian Heritage Council.
Professor Wilson holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (First Class Honours) from The University of Queensland and a PhD from The University of Melbourne, completed in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge, UK.
Mr Daniel Gschwind
Honorary Consul of Switzerland
Mr Daniel Gschwind has been the Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Queensland, since 2008. He was the CEO of Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) from 2001 to 2022, representing the industry in numerous committees and forums. Since August 2022 he is Professor of Practice in the Griffith Institute for Tourism at Griffith University. Mr Gschwind is also the Chair of the Tourism Reef Advisory Committee of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), the Chair of QMF: Queensland Music Trails, he is currently a Director and founding member of the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC), a Director of Tourism Whitsundays and a board member of the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival. From 2002 to 2025 he was the Chair of Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ). He is an Adjunct Professor at University of Queensland since 2002.
Program
Please note that sessions will be noted in the program as in-person or hybrid (in-person and online) below.
Day 1
Date: Tuesday 14 July 2026
Venue: *Updated* Room 348, Level 1, Physiology Lecture Theatre (63), UQ St Lucia campus
Day 1 features a keynote address on European research priorities and Australia–EU collaboration, followed by rapid 3MT-style presentations showcasing UQ partnerships and a panel discussion on engagement with Europe.
This is a hybrid event.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:30-10am | Registration |
| 10-10:15am | Welcome remarks by Professor Sue Harrison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), UQ |
| 10:15-11am | Keynote address:
|
| 11am-12pm | Overview of key funding agencies:
Research Rapid Fire presentations:
Audience Q&A:
|
| 12-12:55pm | Networking lunch |
| 1-2pm | Working with Europe Panel Discussion:
Audience Q&A:
|
| 2-3pm | Horizon Europe update: Planning for Pillar II Applications (Strategy and UQ Approach):
|
| 3pm | Closing remarks by Professor Paul Spee, Research Hub Leader (Practice and Process Studies), School of Business, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, UQ |
Day 2
Date: Wednesday 15 July 2026
Venue: Level 1 & 3, Priestley Building (67), UQ St Lucia campus
Day 2 features a series of concurrent, hands‑on workshops designed to build capability and confidence across the full lifecycle of international research funding. Overviews of each workshop are provided below to help you choose the sessions best aligned to your needs and career stage.
| Time | Concurrent sessions |
|---|---|
| 9:30am-12pm | From Projects to Programs: Preparing Coherent Research for Large-Scale Funding Securing major international research funding requires more than a strong project idea. It requires a clear research direction, a coherent body of work, and the ability to explain how related activities, collaborations, outputs, and outcomes connect over time. In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore how to move from project-level thinking to program-level framing, using structured tools to clarify their research direction, strengthen the logic of their ideas, and identify what may be needed to position their work for large-scale, collaborative, or international funding opportunities. This session is ideal for researchers with promising ideas, existing streams of work, or emerging collaborations who want to strengthen their long-term funding prospects. Finding the Right Research Collaborators: Building Confidence and Capability Successful research collaborations don’t just happen—they’re built through clarity, strategy, and confidence. This interactive 2.5-hour workshop helps researchers build confidence and practical skills for developing effective research collaborations. Participants will learn how to identify the expertise and capabilities needed for a funding opportunity, recognise what they already contribute to a collaboration, and articulate this clearly and authentically to potential partners. The session also covers practical approaches to finding and engaging collaborators locally and internationally, supporting the development of purposeful, reciprocal research collaborations. |
| 12-2pm | Lunch break (catering not provided) |
| 2-3:30pm | Thriving in Global Teams: Practical Tips You Can Use Today Figuring out what to say, when to jump in, and how to read the room can feel a little awkward at first especially when working within global teams. The good news? It’s not as complicated as it seems. It’s really just a small shift from how we already work at UQ—plus a bit of awareness. Join us for an engaging afternoon session where you’ll pick up practical, real-time tips and tricks to confidently use while collaborating with international colleagues. The session is designed for researchers who are beginning to work in international or culturally diverse teams and want to strengthen everyday collaboration skills that underpin successful, high-quality research delivery. Decoding International Funding Calls: How to Read, Plan, and Prepare Competitive Research Proposals Understanding what a funder is really asking for is the first step toward a winning application. This practical 1.5-hour workshop will guide researchers and research support staff through the essentials of interpreting application guidelines and funding rules. Participants will learn how to identify key requirements, evaluation criteria, and hidden expectations within funding documents. The session will also cover how to plan and structure project budgets—including direct and indirect costs—and how these interact with institutional policies. Finally, we’ll discuss broader considerations for developing strong, compliant, and strategically aligned applications. By the end of the session, participants will have a clear framework for reading, analysing, and responding effectively to any funding opportunity. Thinking Beyond the Award: Integrating Post‑Award Realities into International Proposal Development In this practical workshop, participants will explore the often-overlooked post-award realities that should shape strong pre-award planning for international research funding applications. Learn how to confidently construct budgets that involve multiple currencies and how to plan for international research agreements that differ from standard Australian templates, including IP expectations and financial compliance requirements. By understanding these post-award considerations up front, participants will be equipped to design more robust applications and set their projects up for smoother delivery once funding is secured. |
