Five Australian universities will work with counterparts in India on research projects spanning AI, e-waste and stopping superbugs after securing almost $4 million from the countries’ long running research fund.
Recipients of round 15 of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund were announced on Wednesday by Science minister Ed Husic.
“From tougher strains of bacteria to e-waste and AI, our bilateral research partnership puts Australia’s brightest minds to creating better solutions for the world’s ongoing and emerging challenges,” he said in a statement.
Individual grants between $600,000 and $1 million will go to the ANU, University of Adelaide, University of Queensland, Monash University and the University of Sydney.
The grants are the latest in more than 360 awarded through the countries strategic research fund over 18 years. The latest $4.8 million round comes after a 2023 round that was awarded more than $5.2 million.
The Round 15 projects are:
| University | Project | Grant |
| ANU | Using the power of the immune system to fight antimicrobial resistance | $788,014 |
| University of Adelaide | Sustainable recycling of critical metals from discarded mobile devices | $732,959 |
| University of Queensland | Camelid antibodies to combat antimicrobial resistance | $990,994 |
| Monash University | Affordable solar-thermal desalination by systems design with nanomaterials | $606,347 |
| University of Sydney | Development of AI based monitoring platform for soil carbon sequestration | $673,841 |
Australia has looked to deepen ties with India on technology, supply chains and education in recent years.
But the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund has existed since 2006 and is now Australia’s largest bilateral science cooperation, having awarded more than $100 million. It also funds early and mid-career researchers to travel to India for research.
“The world isn’t short of complex issues, with collaboration between nations playing an essential role in delivering scientific breakthroughs that will make a difference,” Mr Husic said.
The Albanese government has reshaped its wider science diplomacy efforts, reducing funding and limiting nations eligible for research grants.
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