Indo-Australian Bilateral Collaborative Programme in Biotechnology

India and Australia have signed an MoU to foster cooperation between the two countries in the field of Biotechnology. Under the MoU signed by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and Department of Education Science &Training, Government of Australia, an Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund has been set up. The Fund consists of six million Australian dollars from the Australian Government with a matching Indian grant over five years. The overall objective of the Fund is to develop and support collaborative research activities, which draw upon complementary science and technology strengths in India and Australia. It will support Indian and Australian scientists, from both the public and private sector, for collaborative and leading edge science and technology in order to contribute to the economic, social and environmental well being of both countries.

In the first round following priority areas have been identified - Biomedical devices and implants, stem cells, vaccines/medical diagnostics, transgenic crops, Nutraceuticals and functional foods; and Bioremediation.

A Joint-Biotechnology Committee, comprising senior experts from both countries constituted to oversee the joint programme, met in New Delhi on 14th March 2007 and considered applications received in the priority areas.

Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Science Shri Kapil Sibal today announced seven new projects and two workshops that will facilitate and support biotechnology research collaboration between India and Australia. The successful proposals are from the research areas of transgenic crops, vaccines, biomedical devices and implants, bioremediation and nutraceuticals. The Minister congratulated all the successful round one applicants and was confident that this would mark the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between the two countries and desired that scientists work towards resolving mutually identified National problems. Details are available on DBT website www.dbtindia.nic.in.

A Joint workshop on Bioremediation was also successfully convened in India from 11th -13th March 2007. The workshop on stem cell will be hosted by the Australian Stem Cell Centre in Australia on 12th -13th June 2007.

A call for applications for round two has been scheduled for August this year.

Source : Press Information Bureau

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