**Executive Summary**
On February 18, 2026, India and Australia agreed to expand their science and technology partnership towards mission-oriented collaboration in critical and emerging technologies. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and Australian Assistant Minister Dr. Andrew Charlton MP reviewed progress on the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), which concludes its second decade in 2026, and finalized five joint research projects under Round-16. The collaboration emphasizes industry participation and translating research into scalable solutions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **AISRF Review and New Projects:**
* The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) will complete two decades in 2026.
* Five joint research projects were finalized under Round-16.
* Projects span critical minerals processing, quantum technologies, advanced manufacturing, climate-resilient agriculture, and cellular immunotherapy.
* Projects align with clean energy transitions, supply chain resilience, and advanced biotechnology priorities.
* **Project Focus Areas:**
* Three projects focus on high-value electronic waste recycling, green chemistry for critical minerals recovery, and adversarial resilience in quantum machine learning.
* Two projects will advance engineering of thermotolerant crops and cellular immunotherapy solutions.
* **Strategic Partnership:**
* India is pursuing a mission-mode approach in areas like advanced materials, quantum technologies, AI, clean energy, and critical minerals.
* Ministers emphasized embedding industry participation and translating research into solutions.
* India and Australia reaffirmed the role of the Joint S&T Committee and Joint Biotechnology Committee as apex mechanisms for guiding bilateral cooperation.
* Future collaboration will focus on larger, impact-driven, multi-institutional projects aligned with national priorities and sustainable development goals.
* **AISRF Overview:**
* The AISRF, launched in 2006, has supported over 370 collaborative activities.
* Australia committed AUD 90 million to the Fund between 2006 and 2020.
* India's DST and DBT have supported projects worth around ₹140 crore since inception.
* Joint publications have more than tripled, yielding technology demonstrators, patents, and sustained researcher mobility.
* **Expanded Cooperation:**
* Areas for expanded cooperation include space, Earth observation, climate resilience, agriculture, disaster management, and maritime applications.
* Focus on space situational awareness and sustainability of outer space.
* **Researcher Mobility:**
* Deepening two-way mobility of researchers through joint doctoral and postdoctoral programs, industry-linked fellowships, and co-supervision models.
**Impact Analysis**
**India's Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Biotechnology**
**Impact:**
* Supporting research projects in areas like electronic waste recycling, green chemistry, quantum machine learning, thermotolerant crops, and cellular immunotherapy.
* Contributing to advancements in critical minerals, quantum technologies, AI, clean energy, and biotechnology.
**Action Required:**
* Continue supporting selected projects and ensuring alignment with national priorities.
* Facilitate industry participation and translation of research into scalable solutions.
* Engage in discussions about future collaboration areas and modalities.
**Indian and Australian Researchers**
**Impact:**
* Increased opportunities for collaboration on joint research projects and fellowships.
* Potential for researcher mobility and co-supervision.
* Enhanced access to funding and resources for research in critical areas.
**Action Required:**
* Participate in joint research projects and fellowships.
* Explore opportunities for researcher mobility and co-supervision.
* Contribute to the translation of research into scalable solutions.
**Indian and Australian Space Agencies, Research Institutions, and Private Enterprises**
**Impact:**
* Potential for closer engagement in space-related activities, including Earth observation and space situational awareness.
* Opportunities for collaboration on research and development projects in the space value chain.
**Action Required:**
* Engage in discussions about potential areas for collaboration in space-related activities.
* Explore opportunities for joint research and development projects.
* Contribute to the long-term sustainability of outer space.
**Indian and Australian Industries**
**Impact:**
* Opportunities for partnerships with research institutions and universities.
* Potential for commercialization of research outputs.
* Enhanced access to technology and innovation in critical areas.
**Action Required:**
* Participate in joint research projects and collaborate with research institutions.
* Explore opportunities for commercialization of research outputs.
* Invest in technology and innovation in critical areas.
Key Entities Referenced
Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF): A bilateral research fund between Australia and India supporting collaborative activities.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister for Science and Technology of India, key figure in the collaboration.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): Indian government department supporting projects under the AISRF.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT): Indian government department supporting projects under the AISRF.
New Delhi: Location where meetings and discussions regarding the India-Australia collaboration took place.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Dr. Jitendra Singh Calls for Mission-Driven India–
Australia Tech Collaboration
Five Joint Projects Finalised Under 20-Year "Australia–India
Strategic Research Fund" (AISRF) Framework
India Seeks Industry-Linked, Impact-Focused Research
Expansion with Australia: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Minister Bats for Deeper Quantum, Critical Minerals
Partnership with Australia
Posted On: 18 FEB 2026 5:17PM by PIB Delhi
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 18 : India and Australia on Tuesday agreed to expand and realign their
science and technology partnership towards mission-oriented collaboration in critical and emerging
technologies, following talks between Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh and
Australian Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and Digital Economy Dr. Andrew Charlton MP.
The Australian Minister called on the Indian Minister, accompanied by a high level official delegation.
The two Ministers reviewed the progress of the Australia–India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), which
completes two decades in 2026, and welcomed the finalisation of five joint research projects under
Round-16 of the programme. The projects span critical minerals processing, quantum technologies,
advanced manufacturing, climate-resilient agriculture and cellular immunotherapy, reflecting a sharper
alignment of bilateral research with clean energy transitions, supply chain resilience and advanced
biotechnology priorities.
Three of the selected projects, supported by India’s Department of Science and Technology, focus on high-
value electronic waste recycling through photovoltaic panel reuse, green chemistry for recovering critical
minerals from batteries, and adversarial resilience in quantum machine learning systems . Two projects
supported by the Department of Biotechnology will advance engineering of thermotolerant crops and
cellular immunotherapy solutions for viral infections in immunocompromised patients. The Ministers
noted that the joint announcement of the Round-16 outcomes would mark a significant step in
strengthening applied research partnerships.
During the discussions, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised that India is pursuing a mission-mode approach in
frontier domains such as advanced materials, quantum technologies, AI-enabled research, clean energy
transitions and critical minerals, and highlighted the BioE3 policy aimed at positioning India as a globally
competitive bio-economy hub. He underscored the importance of embedding industry participation and
ensuring translation of research into scalable solutions.Both sides reaffirmed the role of the India–Australia Joint S&T Committee and Joint Biotechnology
Committee as the apex mechanisms guiding bilateral cooperation, and took note of the deliberations held
at their 10th meeting in November 2024 on innovation policy alignment and research translation. The
Ministers agreed that future collaboration should focus on larger, impact-driven and multi-institutional
projects aligned with shared national priorities and sustainable development goals.
The AISRF, launched in 2006, has supported more than 370 collaborative activities including joint
research projects, fellowships and workshops. Australia committed AUD 90 million to the Fund between
2006 and 2020 and has announced continued allocations for subsequent rounds, while India’s DST and
DBT have collectively supported projects worth around ₹140 crore since inception . Joint publications
have more than tripled over the period, and the partnership has yielded technology demonstrators, patents
and sustained researcher mobility between the two countries.
The Ministers also discussed expanding cooperation in space, including Earth observation for climate
resilience, agriculture, disaster management and maritime applications, as well as space situational
awareness and long-term sustainability of outer space. They noted the potential for closer engagement
between space agencies, research institutions and private enterprises across the full space value chain.
Both sides agreed to deepen two-way mobility of researchers, including joint doctoral and postdoctoral
programmes, industry-linked fellowships and co-supervision models, to ensure that the partnership
remains future-ready.
The meeting underscored the growing centrality of science, technology and innovation in the broader
India–Australia strategic partnership, with both countries signalling their intent to move beyond
conventional collaboration towards co-development, co-creation and industry-integrated innovation in the
Indo-Pacific context.
PHOTO: A high-level delegation led by Australian Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and
Digital Economy Dr. Andrew Charlton MP calling on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at Kartvaya
Bhawan-3, New Delhi on Wednesday.*****
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