PA/07/08 7 May 2008
Australia, India sign scientific research collaboration agreement
The Australia-India science relationship today received a significant boost with the signing of a Heads of Agreement between two pre-eminent scientific research bodies of the two countries in the presence of the Indian Minster of Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, who visited Australia in February 2008.
Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and India’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) formally signed a Heads of Agreement committing both agencies to a strategic partnership with a focus on environmental sustainability issues. Already, three initial projects have been agreed covering: new membranes for water desalination made from carbon nanotubes; apomixis technologies for improving crop yield and protecting the environment; and new materials and methods for separating hydrogen for future pollution-free fuels.
At the agreement signing, the Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr John McCarthy, said that there was great potential to extend this partnership even further into the future. Prof. Samir K Brahmachari, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (on behalf of CSIR), commented that the Agreement provides a valuable framework for enhancing collaborative research between CSIRO and CSIR.
The Australian Government is supporting the Agreement with funding under the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF). The Fund has been allocated $20 million over five years. The CSIRO is also contributing to projects established under the Agreement and CSIR will fund its involvement separately.
The Heads of Agreement sets out the principles under which this collaborative research will take place. Later in 2008, CSIR and CSIRO will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two institutions.
In 2001, the two institutions exchanged letters to signal their intent to build increased mutual understanding and awareness, and in 2003 CSIR, CSIRO and seven other international research organisations together formed the Global Research Alliance. This alliance aims to facilitate international research cooperation in an effort to address the problems facing the developing world.
CSIRO
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia’s national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse scientific research organisations in the world. CSIRO and Australian science more broadly, is absolutely committed to the importance of international partnership. Enhancing international collaboration is also a key theme in the review of Australia’s national innovation system announced by the government in January this year.
CSIRO’s cooperation with India dates back to the establishment of the organisation in 1926. By the following year, CSIRO was collaborating with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute on biological controls for an infestation of buffalo-fly in northern Australia.
CSIRO’s interactions with Indian researchers have gained momentum since Australia first signed a science and technology cooperation agreement with India in 1975. Over the last four years, CSIRO has averaged approximately 30 activities per year in India or with Indian partners. As an example, CSIRO and Indian partners are currently collaborating on antenna design as part of the work towards the international Square Kilometre Array radio telescope. Web link: www.csiro.au/
CSIR
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is India’s largest and most diverse group of publicly-funded civilian laboratories in the world, with over 20,000 staff, and its mandate and scope are similar to that of Australia’s CSIRO. Web link: - www.csir.res.in/
For further information, please contact Ms Shweta Datt, Advisor, Education, Science and Training, on 98107 96348.