A project to grow sustainable manufacturing of Australian technology in India, workshops connecting Australian energy transition researchers and start-ups with India, and an artistic duo who will turn Melbourne’s Federation Square into a living canvas are among the recipients of this year’s Maitri Research and Cultural Partnerships Grants.
The Maitri (meaning friendship in Sanskrit) grants are administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations to deepen links with India and allow for closer collaboration between our two countries.
The five Maitri Research Grants will explore opportunities between Australia and India in agribusiness, critical technology, energy transition and advanced manufacturing. This will provide a pathway for commercialisation of Australian research and technical capabilities with India and explore new avenues for industrial collaboration between our countries.
The Maitri Cultural Partnerships support connections between Australian cultural organisations and India’s creative sector. This round will fund fourteen collaborations between Australia and India, including three First Nations collaboration projects.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong said,
“I congratulate the recipients of this year’s Maitri grants and look forward to seeing how their work helps foster deeper links between Australia and India.
“Whether it’s shared research, commercial innovation, cultural exchanges – or just laughing together – we are proud to support these initiatives, because we understand that human connections and people to people links have always been at the heart of the Australia-India relationship.”
Tim Thomas, CEO, Centre for Australia-India Relations added,
“The Maitri Cultural Partnerships support innovative collaboration between small and large cultural organisations in Australia with India’s thriving creative sectors.
“The Maitri Research Grants will assist Australian businesses to harness the opportunities created by India’s economic transformation and build on its track record in innovation.
“They are focused on sectors of the economy that are indispensable for Australia’s future growth.”
The Centre for Australia-India Relations is a national platform established by the Australian Government in 2023 to support and facilitate greater collaboration and engagement with India.
The Centre works across all levels of government, industry, academia and civil society to build greater understanding of the Australia-India relationship and the opportunities flowing from our burgeoning connections.
It does so through its programming, advocacy and promotion of bilateral exchange, and in its management of the Maitri Grants, Cultural Partnerships, Fellowships and Scholars programs.
The Maitri Cultural Partnerships support greater exchange and collaboration between Australian and Indian creative industries.
This year, the grants were divided into three streams:
– Maitri Cultural Partnerships Major Collaboration Grant
o Supporting major Australian cultural organisations to engage Indian partners (funding up to $250,000)
– Maitri Cultural Partnerships First Nations Collaboration Grants
o Cultural collaboration that supports First Nations’ participation (funding up to $250,000)
– Maitri Cultural Partnerships Collaboration Grants
o Supporting collaboration of small to medium sized Australian cultural organisations and community groups (funding up to $70,000) with Australian and Indian creative industries.
Among those who have received the Cultural Partnership grants this year are The Australian South Asian Centre and Laugh Club India, Asia TOPA, in collaboration with Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa and Varuna, The National Writers’ House in Katoomba and Sangam House in Bengaluru.
The Australian South Asian Centre and Laugh Club India will host a series of comedy shows in Australia and India featuring seven female comedians aimed at bridging divides, enhancing the comedy ecosystem, and elevating the voices of women in the field.
Director / Founder, Australian South Asian Centre Daizy Maan said,
“The Australian South Asian Centre exists to amplify under-represented South Asian women who are determined to make a difference through entrepreneurship, creativity and leadership.”
“This grant will support our initiative Brown Women Comedy which is now Australia’s largest comedy show platforming under-represented Indian and South Asian women comedians at major comedy festivals. “
“The Maitri Cultural Partnerships program will support us to feature an impressive lineup of prominent women comedians from Indian and Australia across six cities—Sydney, Melbourne, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai.”
“The collaboration aims to engage a broad and diverse audience, bridge cultural gaps and enhance mutual understanding and appreciation between the two nations.”
Asia TOPA, in collaboration with Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, will bring artistic duo Thukral & Thagra to transform Melbourne’s Federation Square into a living canvas exploring Punjabi heritage.
“As Australia’s major triennial festival of Asia Pacific contemporary performance, Asia TOPA is committed to strengthening ties and advancing cultural exchange across the region.
This timely support from the Maitri Cultural Partnerships program will enable us to embark on a rich, multifaceted collaboration with India’s Serendipity Arts Festival, supporting artists from both countries to engage with communities, develop new skills and present ambitious, contemporary work to wide audiences across India and Australia”, said Melanie Smith, Executive Director, Performing Arts, Arts Centre Melbourne
Varuna, The National Writers’ House in Katoomba and Sangam House in Bengaluru will organise writers’ residencies in Australia and India, exploring shared experiences of First Nations and Adivasi writers.
Veechi Stuart, Executive Director of Varuna said,
“This funding will enable two Adivasi writers to travel from India for a month-long residency at Varuna, The National Writers’ House, Katoomba, and for two First Nations writers from Australia to travel to the prestigious literary residency of Sangam House in Bengaluru, India”
“Australian First Nations writers face many similar challenges to those faced by Adivasi writers, including marginalisation of tribal languages, the loss of oral storytelling traditions, and a lack of recognition by publishing houses. Choosing First Nations and Adivasi writers for this program offers a clear path for artistic and creative excellence.”
The Maitri Research Grants program supports research activities to build business capability and create opportunities for greater collaboration between Australia and India. Funding will support research into new avenues for industry collaboration and opportunities to commercialise Australia’s technical capabilities with India.
The inaugural Maitri Research Grants program round is divided into two streams:
– Research into new forms of industry collaboration with India (funding up to $300,000)
– Supporting collaboration to investigate Indian market opportunities for Australian technology (funding up to $300,000)
Among those who have received the Research grant is Murdoch University for renewable energy, energy transition and advanced manufacturing.
Murdoch University will connect Australian energy transition researchers and start-ups with India’s manufacturing hubs through joint workshops, site visits and conferences, forging new commercial partnerships in the areas of renewable energy, energy transition and advanced manufacturing.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Murdoch University, Professor Peter Eastwood said,
“Securing this grant is instrumental in advancing our organisational mission to drive global cooperation in renewable energy, energy transition, and advanced manufacturing. It will significantly enhance our ability to establish meaningful partnerships between Australia and India, thus promoting the development and commercialisation of innovative energy technologies.”
“The funding will be utilised to facilitate a series of collaborative activities, orchestrate comprehensive group meetings, conduct site visits to critical industrial manufacturing hubs in India, facilitate joint workshops, and organise prominent conferences. These strategic initiatives are crucial for establishing and solidifying partnerships with Indian manufacturers, paving the way for joint manufacturing ventures and the commercialisation of cutting-edge renewable energy solutions.”
For the full list of Maitri Research Grant recipients please see: https://www.australiaindiacentre.org.au/our-programs/maitri-research-grants
The full list of Maitri Cultural Partnership recipients is available at: https://www.australiaindiacentre.org.au/our-programs/maitri-cultural-partnerships
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