Federal Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr and China’s Minister of Science and Technology Dr Wan Gang have formalised a new Australia-China Science and Research Fund in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Shanghai.

 

"Together, we will be establishing five new joint research centres at up to $2 million each. For these, we are asking for expressions of interest from the fields of biotechnology, geoscience, energy, engineering and material science – including electric vehicles – ICT, mining, astronomy and the social sciences,” Senator Carr said.

 

The MoU, signed at the 8th Australia-China Joint Science and Technology Commission meeting, will also provide for a $6 million grant for research missions that ‘bring the best and brightest minds from each country together’.

 

Senator Carr said Australia and China celebrated 30 years of highly productive collaboration at the Shanghai World Expo last year and the Australia-China Joint Science and Technology Commission was an outstanding example of the two nations working closely together to continue this partnership into the future.

 

“Delegates at this meeting have discussed emerging issues in science and research, models for research-driven innovation and commercialisation, and future opportunities for bilateral cooperation,” Senator Carr said.

 

The Government's $9 million investment in the Fund will be provided over three years from 2011-12. For more information on the Fund and Australia's research collaboration with China, visit http://www.innovation.gov.au/Science/InternationalCollaboration/Pages/CollaborationwithChina.aspx.