Australian scientists will work with their Indian counterparts on cutting-edge research in everything from agriculture to health thanks to new government grants from the Australian Government.
Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr today announced that nine projects have been awarded $2.7 million in government grants from Round 4 of the Indo-Australian Science and Technology Fund, which is a component of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF).
“These projects will further strengthen what is a very important bilateral relationship between Australia and India,” Senator Carr said.
“India is a leader in science and technology and an important partner for Australian scientists.”
The $2.7 million in government grants will be matched by Indian Government funding and will support projects such as:
- the development of a cancer targeting system using the latest advances in nanotechnology to deliver anti-cancer agents directly to the cancer site;
- the use of adsorption engineering to produce low-cost, high-efficiency water-free biogas; and
- the development of social media technologies for rural and remote communities with limited access to broadband internet.
Other projects focus on earth systems science, astronomy and astrophysics, and renewable energy.
The AISRF is Australia’s largest bilateral research government grant, providing $65 million over eight years from 2006-07. The Indo-Australian Science and Technology Fund is one of four components of the AISRF.
A list of the projects awarded government grants are listed below:
| Project Title | Australian Organisation | Indian Organisation | Funding |
| The study of microwave losses in ferrite thin films for meta materials applications | The University of Western Australia | Indian Institute of Technology | $232,000 |
| Enabling new science with the Murchison Widefield Array, an international low frequency pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array | Curtin University of Technology | Raman Research Institute | $380,000 |
| Smart bombing of cancer stem cells using aptamer-guided nanoliposomal siRNA | Deakin University | Indian Institute of Science | $400,000 |
| Exposing the gold potential of the Neoarchean “Himalaya” of the Dharwar Craton in southern India | Curtin University of Technology | National Geophysical Research Institute | $300,000 |
| Flexible carbonaceous hybrid membranes for separation applications | Monash University | Indian Institute of Technology | $300,000 |
| A novel way to reduce Platinum metal loadings in a carbon nano-composite electrode to produce low cost-high efficiency commercially viable Polymer Electrolyte Membrane(PEM) fuel cells | Queensland University of Technology | National Physical Laboratory | $300,000 |
| Renewable energy from biogas: Technology development | Monash University | Indian Institute of Petroleum | $270,00 |
| Design and implementation of a content distribution architecture for remote and rural areas | National ICT Australia Limited (NICTA) | Indian Institute of Technology | $300,000 |
| From the Magellanic clouds to the Milky Way: A new understanding of galaxy structure and interactions based on kinematics of 5000 stars | University of Tasmania | Indian Institute of Astrophysics | $260,000 |
For assistance with government grant applications contact us to discuss further.