Australia-India research helps tackle major challenges

Australian-Indian research collaboration aimed at tackling medical, agriculture and water quality challenges, received a boost today with $1.86 million in funding announced by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon. Karen Andrews.

“The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund brings together talented Australian and Indian scientists to deliver practical solutions to the major issues facing both countries, as well as the global community,” Mrs Andrews said whilst visiting the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University.

“Grants announced today will build on the solid foundations of our bilateral science relationship and shared commitment to building scientific knowledge that is of direct benefit to innovative industry and the community.

“Support is continuing beyond today’s announcement thanks to the Abbott Government’s additional $20 million investment announced in September 2014, which extends the Australian-Indian Research fund for another four years and is strong evidence of our commitment to science collaboration long term,” Mrs Andrews said.

The projects include measures to improve agricultural productivity, turn waste materials into energy, benefit human health and nutrition and monitor water quality.

The ten successful projects announced today include research to enable:

  • Sustainable water management for agricultural irrigation through joint research by the RMIT University and the University of Pune
  • Pre-clinical trials of a Hepatitis C vaccine, through joint research by the University of Adelaide and Indian Institute of Science
  • Improved drought tolerance and wheat productivity, through joint research by the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and Punjab Agricultural University
  • Development of eco-friendly approaches to control cotton pests, through joint research by the University of Queensland and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
  • Monitoring and management of effluent discharges into rivers, to maintain water quality, through joint research by CSIRO and the Indian Institute of Toxicological Research
  • Development of a liquid fuel produced from agricultural waste biomass, through joint research by the University of Queensland and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology.

The Indian Government also supports each Indian teams’ participation in the joint projects.

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