Priority Areas 

To be eligible, your project must be mutually advantageous for both Australia and India, and involve research in any of the following priority areas: 

Indo-Australian Science and Technology Fund (administered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in India) 

• artificial intelligence and machine learning 
• new and renewable energy technologies (specifically ultra-low-cost solar and clean hydrogen) 
• urban mining and electronic waste recycling 

Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund (administered by the Department of Biotechnology or DBT in India) 

• antimicrobial resistance 
• RNA vaccines and therapies

Eligible Activities 

The project must be: 

• in line with the intended objectives and outcomes of the fund 
• include eligible activities directly related to the project
• include eligible expenditures  (Appendix A and B of the guidelines provide information on what is considered eligible and ineligible expenses)

Some examples of eligible activities are: 

• joint scientific research projects with Indian partners 
• application and commercialisation of research results 
• personnel exchange/secondment between Australia and India 
• workshops and conferences 
• new research-related information exchange and communication initiatives

Eligible Entities 

To be eligible, the company or entity must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be one of the following: 

• incorporated in Australia 
• registered non-profit organization 
• Publicly Funded Research Organisation (PFRO) as defined in Section 14 of the guidelines 
• a Cooperative Research Center (CRC) 
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust 
• an Australian state/territory government agency or body

A maximum of two applications from the lead organisation are allowed, but only one application is allowed for each priority area. Joint applications involving multiple Australian partners are acceptable if the lead applicant is the project’s primary organiser and is qualified to apply. 

Assessment Criteria 

There are three assessment criteria each with a different weighting:

• Assessment Criteria 1 (40 points): How the project will advance the research in priority areas 

• Assessment Criteria 2 (30 points): The company or entity’s capacity, capability, and resources to accomplish the project 

• Assessment Criteria 3 (30 points): The benefits for both Australia and India 

For an application to be recommended for funding, it must perform well against the criteria and receive a score of at least 50% on each criterion.  

We like to remind you that the closing date for this grant is on March 15, 2023. To know more about this grant, kindly check out the official call for this round as well as the key documents. 

If you need help, we at Innercode can assist you with your application to better highlight how your project meets the criteria to increase your chances of getting this grant. The first consultation is free.  

If your project is not eligible, fret not as there are many other grants and incentives that may fit your projects. You may take our eligibility quizzes to find government programs that can support you. 

Further reading: 

1. ‘Claiming R&D for Startups’. Innercode, https://innercode.com.au/innercode/claiming-rd-for-startups/ 

2. ‘Early-Stage Innovation Company (ESIC)Tax Incentives’. Innercode, https://innercode.com.au/innercode/services/esic/ 

3. ‘R&D Tax Incentive’. Innercode, https://innercode.com.au/innercode/rd/