UQ European Research Forum

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.

About

London and St Paul Cathedral with blurred people walking across a bridge 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 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.

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: Room 273, Level 2, Global Change Institute (20), 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 (speaker to be announced)
11am-12pm	Research Rapid Fire presentations and overview of key funding agencies (speakers to be announced)
12-12:55pm	Networking lunch
1-2pm	Working with Europe Panel Discussion (speakers to be announced)
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 Room 146 (in-person only) 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 Room 145 (in-person only) 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 Room 145 (in-person only) 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 Room 146 (hybrid) 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 Room 348 (hybrid) 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.

Time

Concurrent sessions

9:30am-12pm

From Projects to Programs: Preparing Coherent Research for Large-Scale Funding
Room 146 (in-person only)

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
Room 145 (in-person only)

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
Room 145 (in-person only)

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
Room 146 (hybrid)

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
Room 348 (hybrid)

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.