AUSTRALIA-GERMANY: Funding for research projects

The Group of Eight research intensive universities last week announced funding of 36 new joint research projects worth A$1.2 million (US$1.09 million) under the Go8-Germany Research Cooperation Scheme.

Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the German Academic Exchange Service in 2007, the scheme has provided more than $3 million to foster research collaboration between Australian researchers from Go8 universities and those in Germany.

The scheme targets early career researchers. It funds the mobility costs of collaboration on themes of importance to both countries including sustainable energy production, emissions trading and migration.

Go8 Chair Professor Alan Robson said the group was delighted to be part of the scheme: "We recognise Germany's outstanding record in research and innovation and we hope that together we will be able to generate economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits for both our nations."

Australian Ambassador-designate to Germany Peter Tesch said the Go8 DAAD research scheme facilitated a diverse range of innovative research collaborations and made a significant contribution to enhancing the Australian-German relationship.

DAAD's Manager of Australia and Oceania Department, Dr Ursula Toyka Fuong, said she was delighted the number of applications in the third year of the scheme remained so high because it showed how much interest there was in both countries working together. "The scheme is clearly filling an important need for mobility funding," Toyka-Fuong said.

A list of the projects to be funded in 2010-2011 and in previous funding rounds and a short DVD presentation about the scheme are available here.