Australia-India Strategic Research Fund Collaborative Research Projects

Key dates for Australia-India Strategic Research Fund Collaborative Research Projects Round 14

Proposals open: 1 July 2021
UQ Internal Expressions of Interest due to UQ Research and Innovation (UQ R&I): 2 August 2021
UQ Full Applications close internally: 24 August 2021
Full Applications close externally: 31 August 2021

Overview

The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund provides funding to increase the uptake of leading science and technology by supporting collaboration between Australian and Indian researchers; to strengthen strategic alliances between Australian and Indian researchers; and to facilitate Australia and India’s access to the global science and technology system. Funding is between $500,000 and $1,000,000 for a three year project.

To be eligible, an application must have an Indian partner who has submitted, or is in the process of submitting, a corresponding application to India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) or Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

The project must be aligned with one of the round's Priority Areas:

Indo-Australian Science & Technology Fund (administered by DST in India)

Quantum technologies
Earth observation remote sensing
Groundwater resources management
Downstream processing, recycling and tailings reclamation of critical minerals.

Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund (administered by DBT in India)

COVID-19 long-term health impacts
Infection prevention and control
Digital health and telemedicine
Biomaterials (including bioplastics).

The lead organisation can submit a maximum of two applications but only one application per priority area.

How to apply

Internal nomination process

According to the AISRF Guidelines, the University of Queensland can be the lead organisation on a maximum of two applications in this round, and only one per Priority Area. Applicants are therefore required to complete a mandatory online Expression of Interest (EOI) form which will be ranked by a selection panel of senior academics.

UQ teams that are partnering with an eligible Australian industry partner might like to consider whether the partner organisation could be approached to lead the bid, in the event that the UQ team is not shortlisted in the internal EOI round.

Step 1: AISRF registration and scheme reading

Familiarise yourself with the key AISRF program documentation (see below).
The lead partner submitting the Application will need an active account in the Commonwealth Government's Business.Gov.Au portal.

Step 2: Completing the online EOI Form

Submit the completed Expression of Interest form by the Key Date listed above.
If there is UQ cash involved, complete the UQ Cash Commitment Proforma (see below).

Step 3: UQR&I selection panel review and feedback

Internal assessment and selection by the UQ Central Selection Panel. Applicants will be advised of the outcome.

Step 4: Final submission

Full Applications submitted to UQ (including Industry-led applications) will be provided with UQ R&I central feedback and compliance checking. Advise UQ R&I that your application is ready for Internal Review by:
Providing a completed UQ Funding Application Coversheet (UQ-FAC). This is needed to initiate internal review of your application.
Use the AISRF online application form to create a PDF copy of your draft application, and email this in conjunction with the UQ-FAC to the UQR&I Industry Grants team. Alternatively, consider adding industrygrants@research.uq.edu.au as a participant on the application so that we have access to the online portal.

Readership and researcher support

Before applying, we recommend you:

Contact your faculty or institute research manager for advice on peer readership programs.
Join the UQ R&I Mailer to stay up to date with round developments.
Access the UQ R&I Grants Library, a helpful resource of past successful proposals.
If offered, attend UQ R&I information sessions and access PowerPoint presentations from presentations and slides.
Contact your UQ liaison librarian for advice on bibliometrics, online identifiers and data management planning.