Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund – Strategic Element (Round 2) – Australia

The Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund – Strategic Element (GSTDF-SE) is designed to be a strategic, flexible and streamlined approach to supporting international science and research collaboration between Australia and selected international partners. By providing targeted grants, the program aims to support and strengthen Australia’s international science relationships and build Australia’s reputation as a trusted science research partner.

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), will deliver the GSTDF-SE on behalf of the Australian Government.

Objectives

• The objectives of the program are to:
  • boost Australia’s science and technology capability by identifying and supporting strategic international science and research collaborations with identified priority partners through targeted funding.
  • promote growth in the Australian economy by supporting international research-industry collaborations.
  • provide support for Australian researchers to access the world’s best knowledge, technology and research infrastructure, and funding programs.
  • support the development of science capability in partner-countries.

Priority Themes 

• Advanced manufacturing
  • Developing or improving innovative technologies to enhance competitiveness in the Australian manufacturing industry through pre-production, post-production, and sustainable manufacturing processes. For example, development could focus on working towards a net zero manufacturing industry, protection of critical infrastructure, or increasing Australia’s supply chain resilience.
• Artificial intelligence
  • The direct development of or improvement in artificial intelligence technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing or computer vision. For example, this could include AI applications in subfields such as national cybersecurity, national health information, or machine learning in the robotics industry.
• Quantum computing
  • May include the design, advancement, and/or implementation of quantum computing technology, including quantum chips, quantum processors and quantum sensors. For example, quantum computing technology can be applied to expand research understanding in environmental science and in the renewable energy industry, strengthening national cybersecurity, or attempting to solve supply chain challenges facing the manufacturing sector.
• Hydrogen production
  • This may involve research that leads to decarbonisation of the energy, transport and industrial sectors.
• RNA (including mRNA) vaccines and therapies
  • May include development and application in both human and animal health. These may lead to improved standard of care for diseases, previously untreated diseases, tailoring of medicines and addressing animal diseases that threaten Australian livestock industry and food security.

Funding Information

• The value of grant funding available per project is from A$100,000 to A$1,000,000 provided to the successful applicant (the lead Australian organisation).
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate suitable and proportionate project contributions from all project partners, which may be through direct cash funding or in-kind contributions or a combination of both. Cash and in-kind resources will be treated equally for purposes of considering co-contributions. A breakdown is required of the type and value (or estimated value) of contributions coming from all project partners. Project length should be from one year to three years.

Priority Partners 

• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• New Zealand
• Japan
• The Republic of Korea
• Brazil

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must be a single entity acting as lead organisation, on behalf of eligible project partners who have agreed to collaborate to undertake the proposed eligible activities. To be an eligible lead organisation the applicant must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be one of the following eligible entities:
  • a company, incorporated in Australia
  • an incorporated not for profit organisation
  • a Publicly Funded Research Organisation (PFRO), defined as higher education providers listed at Table A and Table B of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth) and corporate Commonwealth entities, and State and Territory business enterprises, departments or agencies that undertake publicly funded research
  • a Cooperative Research Centre
  • an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust, or
  • an Australian State, Territory or Local Government agency or body.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Individual researchers are not eligible to apply for a grant or to participate as a project partner. The delivery partners for the GSTDF – SE are not eligible to apply. In addition, projects must not involve any organisations:
  • on the National Redress Scheme’s list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’.
  • named by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency as an organisation that has not complied with Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012).

For more information, visit Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.