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Top scientists will receive funding for cutting-edge research into everything from bioenergy and biofuels to vaccines and medical diagnostics as part of a joint multi-million dollar program with India. The Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund is part of the 65 million dollars Australia-India Strategic Research Fund. The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, said eight collaborative projects between Australian and Indian scientists would receive 2.4 million dollars. Matching funding will be provided by the Indian Government. "This funding will further strengthen the important bilateral relationship between Australia and India," Senator Carr said. "Some of the leading scientists in biotechnology will form partnerships to tackle the big issues facing communities in Australia and India - such as growing healthy crops and making wheat and rice more resistant to disease. "This fund is a joint initiative of the Australian and Indian governments. It is Australia's largest bilateral research fund, providing $65 million over eight years from 2006-07. "India is a strong research nation in its own right and an important partner in work undertaken here in Australia." Projects to be supported under Round 4 of the fund include: establishing an Australian-Indian collaboration on sustaining crop productivity under stress conditions caused by chemical or physical influences such as temperature and water; a project to improve management of diabetic ulcers by identifying diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers; engineering novel disease resistance in wheat and rice; and assessing the role of cyanobacteria in solar bio-fuel and carbon sequestration. Other projects supported by the fund are in nutraceuticals, functional foods, and bioremediation.

Australia to give 2.4 million dollars for biotechnology research with India