​14 September 2013

A senior delegation, led by Deputy Secretary Sue Weston from Department of Industry and Anne Baly, Group Manager from the Department of Education, visited India to attend the annual meetings of the Indo-Australian Joint Science and Technology Committee (JSTC) and Joint Biotechnology Committee (JBC) in New Delhi on 6 and 7 August 2013.

The JSTC and JBC formally agreed to support collaborative research projects and workshops in round seven of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), spanning fields such as earth and marine sciences, information and communication technology, vaccines and biotechnological interventions for improved agricultural productivity. Australia’s commitment in this round will be more than $5 million spread across a dozen universities and research institutions.

The delegation met with a number of key government officials and scientists at the Indian Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Biotechnology, the Planning Commission, and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. The delegation also took the opportunity to meet with the Hon Dr Pallam Raju, Minister of Human Resource Development, to following his recent visit to Australia, and the Hon Shri Jaipal Reddy, Minister for Science and Technology, to reinforce the importance of science to the bilateral relationship.

Since its inception in 2006, the AISRF has supported over 200 joint projects and other collaborative activities, involving 90 top universities and research institutes in Australia and India, in key areas of priority to both nations. With a total Australian commitment of $64 million over 10 years, it is by far Australia’s largest bilateral science and research fund.

Back: Ms Susan Bennett, Professor Robin Batterham, Ms Sue Weston, Ms Anne Baly, Ms Saloni Sharan, Front: Dr Claire Glendenning, Dr Peter Nolan