The Australian government has rolled out a $6 million grant program that would help researchers establish partnerships with their counterparts in India.
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic is urging Australian researchers to apply for the 15th round of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF).
The fund marks the Australian government’s largest investment in a bilateral science program, according to Husic.
Husic said AISRF seeks to highlight the importance of Australia’s relationship with India and support scientific collaborations that seek to address problems faced by both countries.
“The AISRF helps build links between Australia and India’s top universities and research institutions. It continues to enhance Australian-Indian collaboration in mutually significant areas,” Husic said in a media release.
“Science and commercialisation are essential to the productivity and economic growth of both countries, and we will continue to achieve great things by working together.”
Established in 2006, AISRF has since supported over 360 projects, fellowships, and workshops in areas of importance to Australia and India.
Previous projects supported by the funding have made significant impact on the development of agriculture, biomedical, devices and implants, renewable energy, nanotechnology, and vaccines, Husic said.
The AISRF is jointly administered by the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources, and the Indian Government’s Department of Science and Technology and Department of Biotechnology.
The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund offers grants ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. The grant will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project expenditure.
Applications for the research funding project’s 15th round are open until 15 March.
