BACKGROUND and OBJECTIVES
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.
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.
SUPPORT AVAILABLE UNDER ROUND FIFTEEN
Support is provided for collaborative research projects involving Indian and Australian partners.
Maximum support from Indian side is between Rs 70-80 lakhs
We cannot fund your project if it receives funding from another government grant for the same activities. If you receive Australian government funding for your core activities, you will need to demonstrate that the activity you are carrying out for the project is additional to your core activities. If you have received AISRF project funding in a previous round, you cannot receive funding for the same activities in this round.
Duration of projects
Projects may range from short bilateral collaborations to more complex projects spanning up to three years.
INDO-AUSTRALIAN S&T FUND
The Indo-Australian S&T Fund is jointly managed by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and the Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST).
The priority areas for collaborative research projects in Round Fifteen of the Indo-Australian S&T Fund are:
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning
New and Renewable energy technologies (particularly ultra-low-cost solar and clean hydrogen)
Urban mining and electronic waste recycling
All applications for the Indo-Australian S&T Fund must fall within one of this priority area. Applications not related to this area will not be considered.
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 organisations’ (or a consortium of eligible organisations):
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 organisation (Recognised by Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Govt. of India organisation as S&T organisation)
Address each of the Assessment Criteria
Seek funding for eligible expenses; and
Not seek funding for activities funded under another Indian Government program.
Eligible activities and expenses
Under the Indo-Australian S&T Fund, the Indian Government will support the direct costs of bilateral collaborative research projects in one of the priority areas of research
Indian side will provide for the following expenses:
International economy excursion class return airfares for Indian researchers travelling to Australia to participate in collaborative research projects (international airfares for Australian researchers travelling to India will be met by the Australian Government);
Living expenses, including accommodation and meals, for Australian researchers travelling to India to participate in collaborative research projects and workshops. Indian side will contribute a maximum of Indian Rs. 2,500/ per person per day (for 14 days) or Indian Rs. 25,000/- per student (for one month) and Guest House Accommodation Charges.
Living expenses, including accommodation and meals, for Indian researchers travelling to Australia will be met by the Australian Government, Australian side will contribute a maximum of AUD$300 per person per day, or AUD$4,000 per person per month, whichever is the lesser amount.
Travel and living expenses combined must not exceed 20% of the approved grant amount. Travel restrictions imposed by governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as staff policies of individual institutions and businesses, may preclude international and/or domestic travel during part of your project. Please consider carefully to what extent travel is likely to be feasible during the proposed timeframe of your project.
Manpower-Salaries and on-costs for Indian researchers employed specifically for the project (this includes JRF/RA etc.) as per DST norms.
Equipment (if specific)
Consumables upto 2 lakhs per year
Contingency and overhead
Submitting an online application
To submit a proposal to DST:
All documents and forms required for a project application are accessible at www.onlinedst.gov.in
Please write to sharma.jyoti@nic.in for any query related to the AISRF Round 15 call. Any query related to the AISRF Round 15 will not be entertained after 10 March 2023.
The deadline for the submission of proposals is 15 March 2023.
The Indian researchers can download the proposal formats from websites www.dst.gov.in/www.onlinedst.gov.in and should submit a completed application form and all relevant information.
Proposals must be submitted to DST through the e-application system provided at www.onlinedst.gov.in
Australian researchers may complete the online application form via business.gov.au
It should be ensured that application with identical title has been submitted by his/ her Australian counterpart to Australia by due date.
Proposal submitted only on one side will not be considered.
Deadline for submission of complete proposal: 15 March 2023 (5 PM IST)
Deadline for submission of concept note/expression of interest to R&D Department – 25 February 2023, EoD. The project proposal in prescribed format or the concept note as the case may be, should be sent to Dean R&D (dean.research@ddn.upes.ac.in), with CC to Associate Dean (R&D) (smtauseef@ddn.upes.ac.in) well in time.
For more information, please see attachment and visit https://onlinedst.gov.in/Projectproposalformat.aspx?Id=Indo%20Australia%20Strategic%20Research%20Fund%20AISRF.