Initiative aims to increase country’s soft power in Asia-Pacific region
The Australian government has opened the first round of a A$40 million research collaboration fund in a bid to increase its clout in Asia-Pacific science and technology development.
The Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund opened its Strategic Element funding round on 20 March, with up to A$6m in total available in the first round for Australian collaborations with Asia-Pacific researchers.
In a statement, foreign minister Penny Wong said the government was “deploying all elements of our national power to make Australia more stable, confident and secure at home, and more influential in the world”.
Science minister Ed Husic said the fund “cements our commitment to play a constructive role in the region”, adding that it built on a 2022 commitment of more than A$10m to support an International Science Council Asia-Pacific office.
Five priorities
The diplomacy fund money is available for projects involving Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Brazil.
Five research priorities have been identified: advanced manufacturing, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, hydrogen production and RNA research.
The funding will be jointly administered by the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
A joint statement from the academies said that “the fund will play a pivotal role in advancing the science and technology landscape in our region”.
Applications to the first round close on 31 May.