Funding round opens for Australian research collaborations with key regional partners
The Australian Government’s Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund (GSTDF) is providing funding to strengthen research collaboration between Australian institutions and international partners in research and industry.
Administered by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) in partnership with the Australian Academy of Science, the second round of GSTDF grants offers up to $1 million per project to support partnerships across priority sectors.
The Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund (GSTDF) aims to foster innovation by linking Australian researchers and businesses with counterparts in Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The program focuses on national research priorities, including advanced manufacturing, hydrogen production, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and RNA vaccines.
How the Fund Works
The fund provides flexible support for collaborative projects, allowing Australian organisations to engage in both bilateral and multilateral partnerships. Eligible activities must involve at least one priority partner country and address one of the identified research themes.
The initiative is designed to enhance scientific research, drive economic growth, and expand access to technology while also supporting partner countries in developing their science and technology capabilities.
Hon. Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science emphasised the program’s role in strengthening ties, saying: “Collaborations with our nearest neighbours underscore our commitment to play a constructive role in the region, while also addressing our biggest challenges at home.”
Round One Projects in 2024
The first round of funding in 2024 supported nine projects that brought together Australian researchers with international collaborators. Among these, several projects focused on hydrogen production and advanced manufacturing:
- Advancing Sunlight-to-Hydrogen Conversion for a Sustainable Future – Led by Professor Rose Amal from the University of New South Wales, this project partners with researchers in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore to improve hydrogen production from solar energy.
- Solar Thermal-Plasmonic Seawater Splitting for Hydrogen Production – Professor Zongyou Yin from the Australian National University is working with teams in Japan and Singapore on an innovative approach to extracting hydrogen from seawater using solar energy.
- An Additive Manufacturing Solution to the Critical Minerals Supply Challenges in Rare-Earth Permanent Magnets – Professor Simon Ringer from the University of Sydney is collaborating with Japanese researchers to enhance manufacturing techniques for rare-earth magnets used in clean energy technologies.
- Advanced Green Manufacturing and Automation Technology for Next-Generation Solar Cells – Macquarie University’s Professor Shujuan Huang is working with the Republic of Korea to develop more efficient solar cell manufacturing processes.
“The high-quality applications received in the first round illustrate the power of international science collaboration enabling research and innovation that no single country can achieve on its own,” Australian Academy of Science Chief Executive Anna-Maria Arabia said, reiterating the value of international partnerships.
