Australia and India will announce five new joint research projects worth $3.76 million to mark the 20th anniversary of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF).
AISRF embodies the simple but powerful idea that Australia and India should combine their scientific talents to create solutions that benefit our common future.
The 16th round of AISRF will support five new collaborative projects focused on AI-powered biotechnology, remanufacturing, quantum and RNA vaccine development.
The five projects are:
- Monash University and the National Plant Genome Research Institute aim to use artificial intelligence and genome editing to engineer heat tolerance in plants. This will increase the agricultural productivity of rice, an important staple crop for both India and Australia.
- La Trobe University and Indian Institute of Technology Indore are developing insulated panels by recycling photovoltaic waste (PV panels). The project focuses on the high-value reuse of difficult components such as glass and silicon wafers. Supporting Australia and India’s net zero and circular economy efforts.
- The University of Southern Queensland and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras will develop an eco-friendly method to recover critical materials from used batteries to tackle e-waste using eco-friendly solvents, ionic liquids and bioleaching.
- The Queensland Medical Research Institute Council and the CBI Medical Education Society are working on a unique antiviral technology for allogeneic T cell production. This partnership will expand the application of this technology to India to address a significant unmet need in transplant recipients.
- Queensland University of Technology and Indraprastha University of Information Technology Delhi will design proactive defense mechanisms in quantum systems. This project will demonstrate a solution for safely using quantum computing in self-driving cars.
These grants range from $200,000 to $1 million per project and address priority areas and challenges common to both countries.
AISRF’s Career Research Fellowships will also support 12 emerging Australian research leaders to work on collaborative projects of one to three months at major scientific institutions in India.
AISRF has a strong track record of supporting frontier technologies with real-world impact, from quantum-enabled gravimeters for critical mineral exploration to AI-powered retinal imaging for early detection of disease in rural areas.
For more information about AISRF, please visit the Ministry of Industry, Science and Resources website.
Quoted by Dr Andrew Charlton, Under-Secretary for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy:
“For 20 years, AISRF has shown what is possible when Australia and India share ambition in world-class science.
“These new projects highlight the strength of our partnership with India and the importance of collaborative research in addressing global challenges.
“By investing in joint research, we are building a foundation for innovation that will benefit both countries and contribute to a more sustainable and secure future.”
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