The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh unveiled the results of the 15th round of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF).

Australia-India Strategic Research Fund

• The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) is a bilateral programme that supports collaborative research projects between Australia and India. 

• It aims to strengthen the scientific relationship between the two countries and address common challenges through joint research efforts.

• Since its establishment in 2006, the AISRF has supported collaborative, leading-edge research between scientists in India and Australia across a range of agreed priority areas.

• This year, the AISRF has awarded funding to five projects across various disciplines, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, biotechnology, urban mining and electronic waste recycling, ultralow-cost solar and clean hydrogen technologies.

Objectives of the AISRF are: 

1) Increase the uptake of leading-edge science and technology (S&T) by supporting collaboration between Australian and Indian researchers in strategically focused, leading-edge scientific research and technology projects, and strengthening strategic alliances between Australian and Indian researchers. 

2) Facilitate India’s and Australia’s access to the global S&T system.

The AISRF provides grants for collaborative research projects with Indian partners.

• The minimum grant amount is $500,000.

• The maximum grant amount is $1,000,000.

• The project must be completed within three years.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)