India and Australian Government have established an Indo-Australian Fund for Scientific and Technological Cooperation in Biotechnology (Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund). The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund will be to the tune of $20 million, with a major biotech component. The Fund will begin in 2006-07 and will close in 2010-11.

The Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund is jointly managed by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. The Indian Government is committed to providing matching funding for collaborative activities between Australia and India, Dr Renu Swarup, adviser, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, told Pharmabiz.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between DBT and DEST on March 6, 2006 envisaging the development of specific arrangements, which would further foster co-operation between India and Australia in the field of Biotechnology.

The Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund provides support, assessed on a competitive basis, to promote and support scientific and technological cooperation between Indian and Australian researchers in both the public and private sectors, drawing on complementary strengths in both countries. The Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund provides funding support for collaborative research activities and workshops. Within each research project one to two fellowships for Australian and Indian post-Doctoral scientists may be funded.

She added, Australian and Indian Governments have identified areas of priority for bilateral collaboration, which will be reviewed from time to time. While applications in other areas may be considered, the current priority areas are Biomedical devices and implants; Stem Cells; Vaccines, medical diagnostics, Transgenic crops; Nutraceuticals and functional foods; and Bioremediation.

With the exception of international travel costs and living allowances, there is no prescribed funding limit on individual applications or activities. However, from time to time, a funding cap on individual applications may be applied as the funding available under the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund dictates. Support will not be provided for activities undertaken prior to the execution of the funding agreement.

Projects may range from short international visits to more complex projects spanning up to 3 years. Projects cannot extend beyond the life of the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund, which is June 30, 2011. The overall objective of the Fund is to develop and support collaborative research activities, which draw upon complementary science and technology strengths in India and Australia.

To be eligible to apply for funding under the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund, the Indian applicants must have obtained the agreement of their proposed Australian research partners to undertake the project activities. They can represent any 'eligible Indian organisation' which can be an education institution, cooperative research centre, registered business or industry group, public sector research agency or private, not for profit, research organisation. The projects must address each of the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund assessment criteria.

The Department of Biotechnology has called for proposals for research projects on September 25, 2006, which can be submitted till November 25, 2006. Projects are likely to be selected by March 31, 2007 and the work on these projects may commence by end of June 2007.