Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) Fact Sheet 

Key Points

• India and Australia are building a broad knowledge partnership, ranging from developing collaborative projects in education to conducting joint research in many fields. Science and technology cooperation is a critical part of this partnership.
• The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) was established in 2009 with an initial commitment of $20 million in Australian funding over five years and matching funding from the Indian Government.
• In November 2009, the Fund was significantly expanded, with the Australian contribution rising to $10 million per annum over five years commencing in 2009-10. Matching funding will be provided by India.
• The AISRF facilitates and supports science and technology (S&T) research cooperation between Australia and India by assisting Australian researchers to participate in leading edge scientific research with Indian scientists and supporting the development of strategic alliances between Australian and Indian researchers.
• The AISRF supports collaborative research that will help deliver practical solutions to some of the complex problems that both countries face in areas of food and water security, energy, health and the environment.
• Following the November 2009 announcement of the AISRF expansion, the Fund will comprise three components:
  1. Competitive grants
     • Indo-Australian S&T Fund
     • Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund
  2. Grand challenge fund
  3. Researcher exchange program
• Australian and Indian scientists have responded enthusiastically to the AISRF, which has attracted approximately 150 applications in each round, seeking total funds in excess of $203 million.
• Round One of the competitive components provided $4.5 million worth of Australian funding for 20 projects. Investment of over $4 million was provided by the Australian Government for 15 projects under Round Two with a similar amount of funding allocated for a further 15 projects under Round Three. Additionally, four large-scale projects and a workshop have been supported under the Targeted Allocations component of the AISRF.
• Applications under the competitive grants component (Round 4) opened on 16 November 2009 and closed on 24 December 2009.
• Round 4 applications are currently being assessed by peer review.
• Details of all successful applications funded under the AISRF can be found on the AISRF website: https://grants.innovation.gov.au/AISRF/Pages/Home.aspx

Facts and Figures

Targeted Allocations