Australia funds scaling up agricultural solutions to cope with climate change

With the theme “High-tech innovation to solve agricultural challenges towards sustainable development”, this funding round will target technology application ideas with the following goals: Improving productivity in production and processing; contributing to adaptation/mitigation and increasing resilience to climate change; improving the efficiency of agricultural resource use; developing markets for agricultural products and ensuring the rights of disadvantaged groups.

e-sea-water-monitoring-system-developed-in-aus4innovation-program-project-in-phu-yen.png — The Aus4Innovation program hands over a seawater monitoring system in a funded project to the Song Cau district government, Phu Yen province. Photo: Aus4Innovation program

The grant aims to scale up proven initiatives that address challenges and opportunities in Vietnam’s innovation system. In this round, collaborative projects between Australia and Vietnam will receive grants worth between A$250,000 and A$700,000, on a competitive basis. Grantees will have up to 24 months to implement their proposed activities.

Previously, the Aus4Innovation program has undergone 3 funding rounds with a total of 12 projects implemented.

Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam shared: “In previous funding rounds, we have funded meaningful technology application projects in the fields of health , agri-food, disaster management and environment. In this round, with a focus on high-tech agriculture to respond to climate change - an emerging topic in Vietnam, we expect innovative solutions, along with close cooperation between units from both countries to make these solutions effective.

The Innovation Partnership Grants program has been working effectively to connect the innovation communities between Australia and Vietnam, creating opportunities for the exchange of ideas and technology transfer between the two countries. With the extension of the Aus4Innovation program until 2028, Australia is committed to continuing to support Vietnam to develop an even stronger innovation system.”

According to Mr. Bui The Duy, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, the Innovation Partnership Program is a great opportunity to nurture innovative ideas and strengthen existing cooperation between Australian and Vietnamese organizations. “We hope that projects funded by the Aus4Innovation program will be a testament to innovation when jointly implemented and developed by the two countries. Realized ideas can create change and bring about sustainable development in the economy, society and environment. This will contribute to building a deep and strong relationship between the innovation systems of the two countries,” Mr. Bui The Duy emphasized.

Interested organisations can apply on the Program website at https://research.csiro.au/aus4innovation), by 25 September 2023.

The Innovation Partnership Grant is part of the Aus4Innovation Program - funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, co-funded and managed by CSIRO - Australia's national science agency, and strategic partner, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam.

With the Aus4Innovation Program, over 10 years (2018-2028), the Australian Government commits to supporting Vietnam with 33.5 million AUD to strengthen Vietnam's innovation system, towards sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.

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