IIT Madras, Australian universities to launch Australia-India Centre for Energy to work on SDGs

IIT Madras and Deakin University in Australia are leading the charge in coordinating and driving engagement among partners and external stakeholders in order to expand collaborations between government departments, funding agencies, and individual researchers in both countries.

According to the officials, AICE aims to promote collaboration in the energy domain among universities, research institutes, and industry from both countries. IIT Madras and Deakin University in Australia are leading the charge in coordinating and driving engagement among partners and external stakeholders in order to expand collaborations between government departments, funding agencies, and individual researchers in both countries.

According to Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Marti Mannariah Gurunath Institute Chair Professor and Dean (Global Engagement), all partners will be on an equal footing, and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission will act as a catalyst to foster partnerships with industry in the sector from both countries to the Centre.

“The Centre will bring together multi-disciplinary capabilities from Australian and Indian partners to work on translational research and build capabilities to address the global energy challenge,” said K Baskaran, Pro Vice Chancellor International Research Partnerships, Deakin University, Australia.

“It will also be a catalyst to develop partnerships with other centres in South Asia and ASEAN regions to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the Global challenges,” Baskaran said.

The Center’s primary mission will be to facilitate deep collaborations in the energy sector between Australia and India through transformative research, technology development, and deployment. The AICE will strive to be a leading bilateral platform for academics, industries, and government agencies to engage in science, technology, economics, policy, and governance related to SDG 7 and other related SDGs.

Sarah Kirlew, Australian Consul-General for South India, said, “Australia and India are comprehensive strategic partners, with close cooperation across areas of strategic importance, including critical minerals, clean technology, education and innovation. Our two countries are home to world-leading innovators and researchers”.

According to IIT Madras officials, the AICE’s immediate focus will be on developing joint educational programmes, online MTech courses, and capacity building through research.

According to IIT Madras officials, the AICE’s immediate focus will be on developing joint educational programmes, online MTech courses, and capacity building through certification and diploma programmes, extension centres, and training. “The AICE’s founding members will collaborate on joint problem statements, use mobility grants, and develop joint proposals for bilateral funding support,” a senior official explained.

“The Centre will work to promote seamless research and development by identifying sister labs, where complementary research potential and infrastructure exist and facilitate the movement of research scholars, faculty, Young International Fellows (YIF) and Global Research Fellows (GRF),” the official said.