India, Australia to co-fund research projects

New Delhi: India and Australia will co-fund 18 collaborative projects
under a multi-million dollar programme that could lead to better
vaccines, more temperature tolerant crops and healthier food, the
Australian High Commission said on Tuesday.

A fund of five million Australian dollars has been granted to joint
scientific ventures between India and Australia, an official statement
said.

A matching fund will be provided by India for the project.

"This funding will enable leading Australian and Indian scientists to
combine their strengths and tackle big issues facing communities in
Australia and India - such as growing healthy crops and protecting
precious groundwater environments," Australian Innovation Minister,
Senator Kim Carr said.

Grants have been awarded to a total of 12 different Australian
universities and research institutions, including James Cook
University, CSIRO, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, the
Australian National University, Melbourne University, the University
of Western Australia and the University of Queensland.

Grants have also been awarded to a total of 14 Indian collaborating
partner institutions including the Indian Institute of Technology -
Bombay, the Indian Institute of Science - Bangalore, Raman Research
Institute and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology.

The key projects will include development of new anti-cancer agents,
design of malaria vaccines, developing methods for the production of
omega-3 concentrates for functional foods, pharmaceuticals and
nutraceuticals, improving high-temperature tolerance in crop plants
and predicting plant distributions under changed climates.

Other projects supported by the fund are in nanotechnology, marine and
earth sciences, biomedical devices and implants, and stem cells. IANS