The research university lobby advises its members are home to 162 of Australia’s 271 highly cited researchers in the Web of Science list, released Wednesday

“Having researchers of this quality is vital to the Go8 maintaining its position of having more than 99.9 per cent of its research ERA- rated as world class or above,” CEO Vicki Thomson says.

The Eight certainly account for a substantial part of Australia’s overall HiCi growth – there were only 80 such researchers, across all universities in 2014.

Ms Thomson, also points out that her members have more HiCi researchers than all of France (156).  CMM is sure the Elysee will not dislike the comparison and ask Ms Thomson to return the Ordre des Palmes Académiques the Republic awarded her in 2016 (CMM March 16 2016).