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Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Australia announces 2025 Maitri Grants, aimed at supporting connections and research across sectors
Australia and India are gearing up to strengthen partnerships across vital sectors of their growing bilateral relationship with the 2025 Maitri Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships, recipients of which were announced by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, according to a press statement issued by Australia's High Commission in New Delhi on Sunday. Administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, the Maitri Grants encourage innovative projects and partnerships that reflect the dynamism of the Australia-India bilateral relationship, fostering long-term connections. According to the statement, the recipients of the 2025 Maitri Grants would support connections and research across a wide range of sectors including innovation, enterprise, education, and culture. Welcoming the announcement, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, said, 'Australia's relationship with India is stronger, deeper and more consequential than ever – and its future holds even greater promise. At the heart of this relationship are the people-to-people connections that bind our two nations. The Maitri Grants program builds on these ties, helping unlock the full potential of our bilateral relationship.' One of the key initiatives in this year's Maitri Grants includes funding for the prestigious Lowy Institute to recruit a distinguished scholar as the inaugural India chair. The Lowy Institute is rated among Asia's leading think tanks, providing high-quality research and distinctive perspectives on international trends shaping Australia and the world. The appointment of an India chair will be a step change for Lowy's ability to produce world- class research on India's emerging role in the Indo-Pacific and dynamics in the Indian Ocean region. 'This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape a new program of work at the Lowy Institute – a top Asian think tank,' said High Commissioner Green, adding, 'India and Australia are building a closer partnership, and that makes it more important that we know each other better. An India Chair at the Lowy Institute will contribute to Australians' understanding of India at a deep level. We are very different societies, and research, scholarship and analysis will allow us to maximise the opportunity of our shared interests.' Lowy Institute's Director of Research, Hervé Lemahieu, said in the statement, 'In this era of global uncertainty, geography remains one of the few constants — and India is an anchor for strategic balance for Australia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Understanding India, its trajectory, power, and diffuse interests, has never been more important to us.' 'Australia's public and policy debates are playing catch-up on the rapid evolution of the bilateral partnership. But think tanks also need to do a better job of situating India within a broader regional and international context. The country will be a central player through the chop and change we're experiencing in global politics,' he said. 'This world-class program of research at the Lowy Institute will do just that. It will elevate India in terms of our research agenda. It's an opportunity to bring in new talent, fresh perspectives, and deepen the bench on a vital piece of the puzzle in terms of how Australia looks at and engages the region,' he added. Other projects to be funded by the Maitri grants include a world-class exhibition featuring rare artworks by renowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma in Australia; a project to deliver annual leadership dialogues fostering next-generation of leaders committed to the Australia-India relationship; examining how Australia and India can enhance maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean; innovative research across fields such as clean energy solutions and biomanufacturing; and elevating the stories of Australians of Indian origin. 'I congratulate this year's recipients and look forward to seeing how their work helps foster deeper links between Australia and India,' added High Commissioner Green.


India Gazette
13-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Australian's Foreign Minister Penny Wong announces 34 recipients of Maitri Grants
Canberra [Australia], July 13 (ANI): Australia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong has announced 34 recipients of this year's Maitri Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships. The Maitri (meaning friendship) Grants, administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, aim to support greater exchange and collaboration with India across technology, business, education and culture, according to the statement. The statement said, 'Each project will cultivate deeper connections between our two countries, including: The Lowy Institute's first-ever India Chair, which will lift the quality of research and conversations around India's role as a major power in the Indo-Pacific region. Best-practice playbooks by Asialink Business to support collaboration, capability training and the sharing of successful partnership models in cleantech and agtech.' 'A world-class exhibition featuring rare artworks by renowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma at Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. An incubator of untold narratives from Australia's South Asian diasporas that will showcase Australian-Indian experience to global screen audiences, led by Bodhi Studios,' it added. The 2024-2025 Maitri Grants include 13 Maitri scholarships supporting innovative research across fields like quantum computing technologies and clean energy solutions, and three Maitri fellowships dedicated to exploring opportunities between Australia. The statement said, 'Australia and India's relationship is closer and more important than ever. We are deepening cooperation across priority sectors that are vital to both nations' futures, including in defence, trade, education, and technology.' The recipients of the 2025 Maitri Grants will support connections and research across a wide range of sectors, including innovation, enterprise, education and culture. Administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, the Maitri grants encourageinnovative projects and partnerships that reflect the dynamism of the bilateral relationship, fostering long-term connections, according to the Australian High Commission in India press release. Welcoming the announcement, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, said, 'Australia's relationship with India is stronger, deeper and more consequential than ever - and its future holds even greater promise. At the heart of this relationship are the people-to-people connections that bind our two nations. The Maitri Grants program builds on these ties, helping unlock the full potential of our bilateral relationship.' 'I congratulate this year's recipients and look forward to seeing how their work helps foster deeper links between Australia and India,' he added. (ANI)


United News of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Australian FM Penny Wong announces 34 recipients of this year's Maitri Grants
Melbourne/New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong today announced the 34 recipients of this year's Maitri Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships, aimed at promoting Australia-India ties. She said the Maitri (meaning friendship) Grants, administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, aims to support greater exchange and collaboration with India across technology, business, education and culture. Wong said: 'Each project will cultivate deeper connections between our two countries, including: •The Lowy Institute's first-ever India Chair, which will lift the quality of research and conversations around India's role as a major power in the Indo-Pacific region. •Best-practice playbooks by Asialink Business to support collaboration, capability training and the sharing of successful partnership models in cleantech and agtech. •A world-class exhibition featuring rare artworks by renowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma at Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. •An incubator of untold narratives from Australia's South Asian diasporas that will showcase Australian-Indian experience to global screen audiences, led by Bodhi Studios. 'The 2024-2025 Maitri Grants also includes 13 Maitri scholarships supporting innovative research across fields such as quantum computing technologies and clean energy solutions and three Maitri fellowships dedicated to exploring opportunities between Australia and India in biomanufacturing, maritime cooperation and digital governance. 'Australia and India's relationship is closer and more important than ever. We are deepening cooperation across priority sectors that are vital to both nations' futures, including in defence, trade, education, and technology.' The full list of Maitri Grants recipients is available at: General: Scholars: Fellows: UNI RN


The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Australia sees scope for deeper ties with Coimbatore in clean energy, education, and defence
Australia and Coimbatore have the potential for stronger ties in areas such as clean energy, defence, medical technology, and education, said Tim Thomas, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR), in Coimbatore recently. David Eggleston, Australian Deputy Consul-General, and Mr. Thomas participated in an event at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Coimbatore zone, which discussed Australia's economic vision and its ambitions to strengthen bilateral relationships with Tamil Nadu, specifically Coimbatore. A press release from CII said that Mr. Thomas outlined a broad agenda focused on enhancing engagement across economic, civic, cultural, and sports domains to bridge gaps and build a mutually beneficial partnership. He said that potential is high for collaboration in sectors such as clean energy, agriculture, education, travel, defence, space, medical technology, and sports. Coimbatore remains under-invested, yet highly promising, especially in areas such as edutech, manufacturing, and innovation-driven sectors, he said. Ashok Bakthavathasalam, former chairman of CII Coimbatore Zone, highlighted Coimbatore's strength as a major economic contributor, accounting for approximately 14% of Tamil Nadu's GSDP. A proposal was made to establish a dedicated Australia-Coimbatore Business Forum under the aegis of CII, and CAIR was invited to facilitate an Australian business delegation's visit to the region for deeper engagement. Both sides expressed interest in student and faculty exchange programmes, especially in engineering and healthcare, and in expanding internship opportunities. Mr. Thomas welcomed the proposals and encouraged identifying specific sectors for focused collaboration under the proposed Australia-Coimbatore Business Forum, the press release said.