Australia, China open dedicated research fund

Peter Dinham
Thursday, 17 November 2011 01:06

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

Australia-China research collaborations will benefit from an additional $18 million over the next three years, with the opening of a dedicated Australia-China Science and Research Fund (ACSRF) this week.

Under the arrangements for the fund just announced, the federal government is committing $9 million to the fund from 2011-12, with the funding to be matched by the Chinese Government. This is in addition to recent reforms to assist Australian researchers to collaborate with international partners generally.

The federal Minister for Innovation, Senator Kim Carr says the fund, a joint initiative with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, is focused on achieving enduring partnerships between the two countries, and critical mass in areas of mutual research priority. The Minister said the launch of the dedicated fund is in addition to recent reforms to assist Australian researchers to collaborate with international partners generally.

'For example, both Australia and China are keen to see partnerships develop between research and industry, to accelerate the development of technologies which will underpin tomorrow's industries and lifestyles,' Senator Carr said.

'That is why we have crafted this program to include scope for industry participation to benefit from our strong existing science and research relationship with China.

'This is already an area of intense growth, with the rate of joint research publications increasing faster than total national output for either country.'

Announced earlier this year, the fund will support Australia-China joint research centres, with the Australian Government providing up to $1 million for each centre - matched by the Chinese Government. Joint research centres must include at least one Australian eligible research organisation and one Chinese partner.

The Minister said the fund will also support Australia-China group missions and activities that encourage researchers from both countries to exchange research knowledge.

Senator Carr said the demand for grants under the ACSRF is expected to be high and the fund's program guidelines contain detailed information about how the fund will operate.

Applications for funding from joint research centres close on 27 February 2012, while group mission applications will be assessed as they are received.