New chapter in Australia-India relations

Monash University and the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay (IITB) have opened a new chapter in Australia-India relations with the formal launch of a joint-venture research academy. In what is thought to be a unique research collaboration, an innovative research plan has been developed at a newly created IITB-Monash Research Academy which enables doctoral students to undertake research projects and receive a dual, accredited PhD degree from both Monash University and IIT Bombay. Each student will be simultaneously enrolled in both institutions, have a supervisor from each institution and will study primarily in India with a minimum six month period spent in Australia. Monash University Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said the Academy, located in a purpose-built A$5 million facility on the IIT Bombay campus, would build on the combined and complementary strengths of both institutions and benefit business and communities in India, Australia and across the world

"Monash University and IITB have joined forces to create a cutting-edge research facility that is working towards sustainable water resources, clean, cheap and reliable energy supplies and the development of new and effective vaccines," Professor Larkins said.

"This academy will be a training ground for the next generation of researchers and is an extremely important investment for Australia and Monash given the number of multi-national companies operating in India and others interested in setting up research and development centres in India.

"It one again puts Monash University on the world stage and has the potential to be one of the most significant research institutions to have been established in recent times."

The start of the joint venture and the construction of a purpose built facility at the Powai campus of IIT Bombay, was marked with an official opening ceremony followed by three days of thematic workshops.

The Academy has been made possible by a generous strategic grant from the Australia-India strategic research fund. There are 36 research projects already underway which include:

• Producing a natural additive to speed concrete drying times
• Storing carbon dioxide in unproductive coal seams
• Protecting groundwater from landfill run-off
• Modelling, design and optimisation of novel stem-cell bioreactors.

When fully operational the Academy will support nearly 400 research projects each year, focussing on six key themes of interest to both countries, including computer engineering, infrastructure engineering, clean energy, water, stem-cell research, and nanotechnology.

These themes address future research and development challenges of several industry sectors including petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, infrastructure, biotechnology, life sciences, IT, and financial markets.

Monash University Dean of Engineering Professor Tam Sridhar said the Research Academy would seek to meet the future talent and research challenges of India and Australia by producing a constant supply of highly qualified, skilled and trained PhD students. The Academy connects Monash researchers to the multi-national research labs in India.

"The Academy will be a high-quality research institution that will grow the Indian talent pool while, simultaneously, contributing to the research challenges and needs in Australia," Professor Sridhar said.

The Academy will be a not-for-profit, autonomous institution with an independent Governing Board and a high-powered Advisory Council, which includes captains of industry and research luminaries.

Mr Narayana Murthy (former CEO and chief mentor at Infosys) is the Chairman. Other members include Dr Pawan Goenka (managing director Mahindra and Mahindra), Mr Prasad Menon (managing director Tata Power), Dr V Rao Aiyagiri (Department of Science and Technology), Sir Gus Nossal (Former President of the Australian Academy of Sciences), Dr Ramesh Mashelkar (Former Director-General CSIRO), Dr Swati Priamal (director Piramal Healthcare) and Dr Edwin van Leeuwen (BHP Billiton).

The Vice-Chancellor of Monash University and the Director of IIT Bombay are ex-officio members of the Advisory Council.