Deadline: 11-Apr-25
The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) is a platform for bilateral collaboration in science, jointly managed and funded by the governments of India and Australia.
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. It has also helped to build linkages between premier research institutions in both countries.
Objectives
- The objectives of the AISRF are to:
- 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; and
- facilitate India’s and Australia’s access to the global S&T system.
Priority Areas
- The Indo-Australian S&T Fund is jointly managed by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry and Resources (DISR) and the Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST).
- The priority areas for collaborative research projects in Round Sixteen of the Indo-Australian S&T Fund are:
- Critical minerals processing technologies and methods
- Quantum computing and communications
- Remanufacturing and product end-of-use recovery including electronic waste recycling
Funding Information
- Support is provided for collaborative research projects involving Indian and Australian partners.
- Maximum support from Indian side is between Rs 70-80 lakhs.
- Projects may range from short bilateral collaborations to more complex projects spanning up to three years.
- You must complete your project by April 2029.
Ineligible Cost
- The following activities/costs will not be funded by the Indian Government:
- any cost incurred prior to the execution of a funding agreement with the Indian Government;
- costs that duplicate the in-kind support from the applicant or other participants in the project;
- capital expenditure for the purchase of assets such as office furniture, motor vehicles, computers, printers or photocopiers;
- costs involved in the purchase or upgrade/hire of software (including user licenses) and ICT hardware (unless it can be used only for the project);
- administration and infrastructure costs;
- Indian project manager’s salary and salaries for existing staff, including salary related expenses;
- staff recruitment and relocation costs;
- international travel and living expenses for undergraduate and Master’s students;
- costs associated with the protection or patenting of intellectual property;
- costs associated with the internal preparation of finance and audit statements; and
- debt financing.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible to apply for funding under the Indo-Australian S&T Fund, the Indian applicant must:
- Seek support for a bilateral collaborative research project in one of the priority areas of research;
- Have obtained the agreement of their proposed Australian research partner to undertake the project activities;
- Be one of the following ‘eligible organizations’ (or a consortium of eligible organizations):
- Education institution
- UGC recognized Universities/ Deemed Universities
- Academic Institutes and National Research & Development Laboratories/Institutes
- Public sector research agency; or
- Private, not for profit, research organization (Recognized by Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Govt. of India organization as S&T organization)
- Seek funding for eligible expenses; and
- Not seek funding for activities funded under another Indian Government program.
For more information, visit Department of Science and Technology.