Science and technology are particularly promising areas for collaboration between Australia and India. Our scientific communities have complementary strengths and shared interests in a range of areas, including agriculture, biotechnology, renewable energy and information and communications technology.
Cooperating on cutting-edge science and technology research can help us to find solutions to national, regional and 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 it is Australia’s single largest bilateral science and research fund. Australia has committed a total of $65 million to the Fund with the Indian Government providing matching funding.
By June 2011, more than 90 joint research projects and workshops, valued at over $30 million, had been awared grants under the AISRF.
Visit to Canberra by Dr Thirumalachari Ramasami
On 4 November 2011 Dr Ramasai, Secretary of the Indian Department of Science and Technology, travelled to Canberra. During the visit Dr Ramasami gave a public presentation at the Australian Academy of Science Shine Dome on the topic 'Changing Indian Landscape in Science, Technology and Innovation' [
PPT 3.45MB]. Dr Ramasami also had the chance to visit researchers at the Australian National University and meet with Patricia Kelly, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
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Dr Thirumalachari Ramasami and Patricia Kelly
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Left to right: Mary Finlay, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, Dr Thirumalachari Ramasami, Professor Brian Schmidt, Mr Anil K. Sharma and Professor Mahananda Dasgupta visit 'The Big Dish' at the Australian National University
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AISRF 2011 Joint Committee Meetings
On the 28th and 29th of April 2011, the then Secretary of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Mr Mark Paterson AO, led the Australian delegation at the Australia-India Joint Science and Technology Committee and Joint Biotechnology Committee meetings in New Delhi. The meetings agreed an ambitious agenda of joint activities and approved 18 new collaborative projects for which Australia provided $5 million through the AISRF with India providing matching funding. DIISR and India's Department of Biotechnology extended their MOU on cooperation in biotechnology.
Other initiatives and programs supporting collaboration between Australia and India include: