Australia India Business

The Importance of Innovation

Senator the Hon. Kim Carr, Australian Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Australia produces 3% of the world’s research papers with just 0.3% of the world’s population. This is a source of great pride, but it still means 97% of the world’s papers are produced elsewhere.
The best way Australia can access the global store of knowledge and ideas is by building international networks and collaborations.
Australian researchers are already doing that. They work with partners in 114 countries. Of the papers published by Australian scientists in 2007, 58% had an international co-author.

Complementary strengths

Australia enjoys formal scientific cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries, including India.
Australia and India have complementary research strengths and a shared interest in fields such agriculture, biotechnology and information and communication technology (ICT). Our bilateral research relationship goes back to the 1986 Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology – and even earlier.
That relationship was strengthened by the visit of India’s Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal, to Australia in February. During that visit, Minister Sibal and I agreed to explore opportunities for even closer collaboration.

Achieving our goals

Australia is keen to build on the success of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund , especially by forging partnerships with India in the global ICT market.
My aim is to see scientists in both countries working together on common problems, many of which are also global problems. Australia and India both recognise the importance of innovation in increasing prosperity and improving social conditions. The more we cooperate, the sooner we will achieve our goals.

Website: http://minister.innovation.gov.au

Reprinted in full from the print edition of Australia India Business 2009.

Tags: Austrailan minister for Innovation, ICT, Industry, Kapil Sibal, Science and Research, Senator the Hon. Kim Carr