Australia’s world-leading research partnerships with the United States are delivering breakthroughs in health, technology, defence, space and environmental sustainability, according to the Group of Eight’s flagship publication, Allies in Excellence, launched at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC.
The Australian National University (ANU) Acting Provost and Senior Vice-President Professor Joan Leach joined the Group of Eight (Go8) delegation to the United States (US), speaking at the 17 September launch about the depth and impact of Australia-US research partnerships.
“From Washington, we extend ANU’s national role internationally, deepening the exchange of scholarship, expertise and ideas between Australia and North America, and connecting our people and knowledge with the world," said Professor Leach.
“After 80 years, ANU is proud of its history, clear in its national purpose, and ambitious about the contribution we can make in the decades ahead," she said.
"None of this is a solitary endeavour. It depends upon deep and enduring partnerships, across universities, governments, industry and communities, here in the United States and around the world,” said Professor Leach.
At the launch, ANU alumnus and current Chancellor and President Emeritus of Indiana University, Professor Michael McRobbie AO FAHA, said Allies of Excellence is an impressive and compelling case for the enormous value of research collaboration to both countries, and the strength of the bonds that underpin it.
"Having dual heritage strongly reinforced for me that research excellence does not stop at the borders of any one country. Collaboration was essential to the pursuit of the best research," said Professor McRobbie.
Allies in Excellence highlights the depth, scale and impact of collaboration between Australia’s leading research-intensive universities and their American counterparts.
The publication showcases partnerships with universities, government agencies, research institutes and industry that are helping tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges while strengthening economic resilience, national capability and shared prosperity.
The case studies span fields critical to both nations’ futures, including health and medicine, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, defence, space, environmental sustainability, and workforce development.
Together, they demonstrate how long-standing research relationships are translating cutting-edge discovery into practical outcomes that improve lives and create opportunities.
“When Australia and the United States combine their research strengths, extraordinary things happen,” said Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson.
Australian Ambassador to the United States Greg Moriarty AO said the work and achievements highlighted in the publication gave confidence that the two countries are well placed to advance prosperity, security and opportunity together.
"Together, Australia and the United States are turning shared strengths in research, innovation and technology into discoveries and capabilities that will shape our future. The case studies in this publication provide a powerful window into that collaboration in action," said Moriarty.
The United States is the Go8's largest single collaborative research partner country, with more than 68,000 joint publications between Go8 universities and US partners from 2021 to 2025.
Allies in Excellence is available on the Group of Eight website.
ANU highlights from Allies in Excellence
Supported by the Australian Space Agency, the project has positioned Australia as a trusted partner in next-generation space communications and demonstrated the strength of the long-standing collaboration between ANU and NASA. As the US and its partners prepare for sustained operations beyond Earth orbit, these technologies and capabilities will enable future lunar and deep-space exploration.
The project demonstrates how Australia and the US are investing together in scientific infrastructure that will drive discovery for generations. Beyond astronomy, the telescope is strengthening capability in advanced instrumentation, precision engineering and technologies with applications well beyond scientific research.
The company's journey demonstrates how long-term investment in fundamental research can create new industries, attract international capital and deliver technologies with global impact. By connecting Australian scientific excellence with NASA, US industry and international markets, Liquid Instruments shows how research partnerships can accelerate innovation, strengthen advanced manufacturing capability and generate economic value for both Australia and the US.
Sepsis and inflammatory diseases affect millions of people worldwide and remain a major burden on healthcare systems. This partnership demonstrates how long-term collaboration between Australian researchers and US industry can unlock fundamental biological discoveries, accelerate the development of new therapies and create knowledge that improves health outcomes far beyond the original research question.
