India, Australia sign scientific research tie-up agreement

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) India and Australia today signed an agreement to carry out joint scientific research on pollution-free fuels, water desalination and improving crop yield.

The agreement was signed between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), committing both agencies to a strategic partnership with a focus on environmental sustainability issues.

''The agreement provides a valuable framework for enhancing collaborative research,'' CSIR Director General Samir Brahmachari said.

Australian High Commissioner John McCarth said there was a great potential to extend the partnership even further into the future.

The Australian Government is supporting the agreement with funding under the Australia India Strategic Research Fund that has been allocated 20 million dollars over a five-year period.

Later this year, CSIR and CSIRO will sign a memorandum of understanding to further strengthen the strategic partnership.

In 2003, CSIR, CSIRO and seven other international research organisations formed the Global Research Alliance, to address the problems facing the developing world.

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