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Science and technology are particularly promising areas for increased collaboration between our two countries. Australia has a strong record of achievement in science with a highly sophisticated research workforce and infrastructure. India has world-class capabilities in the sciences and a long term commitment to excellent scientific and technological research. Our scientific communities have complementary strengths and shared interests in a range of areas, including agriculture, biotechnology, renewable energy and information and communications technology.
India’s economic growth and increasing investment in science and research have opened up new opportunities for collaboration. Cooperating on cutting-edge science and technology research will also help us to find solutions to global problems, such as those associated with climate change.
Australia and India have laid the foundation for a productive, long term scientific and technology partnership through the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF). Established in 2006 with an initial Australian Government commitment of $20 million over five years, matched by the Indian Government, it is Australia’s single largest bilateral science and research fund.
On 12 November 2009, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh agreed to extend the fund and increase the level of funding. The Australian Government will provide $10 million per annum for five years, commencing in financial year 2009-10, a total commitment of $50 million over 5 years. The Indian Government will provide matching funding.
Australian and Indian researchers have shown very strong interest in collaboration and the funding rounds held to date have been highly competitive. Many high-quality projects across a range of mutually agreed priority areas have been funded including: nanotechnology, astronomy, agricultural research, renewable energy and biotechnology.
The Fund has also supported four projects of significant scope and scale, including the establishment of a joint research academy between Australia’s Monash University and the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, which will award dual accredited doctoral degrees.
Examples of the types of projects funded under the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) are available, as well as here more information on projects funded under the AISRF.
In addition to research supported under the AISRF, Australia and India collaborate through a range of other initiatives and programs. These include:
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