Australia, India to strengthen ties

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research announced the Australian Government would provide AUD$7 million ($6.54 million) for new collaborative science initiatives under the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.

The fund is Australia’s largest bilateral research fund, providing $20 million over five years from 2006-07 for collaborative research projects.

The fund, a joint initiative of the Australian and Indian governments, aims to facilitate and support science and technology research cooperation between the two countries.

Projects supported include areas as diverse as transgenic crops, nanotechnology, plant nutraceuticals and stem cell therapies.