Crean endorses India partnership

2 June 2010

Australia's Trade Minister Simon Crean at the IITB in Mumbai with (right to left) the Academy's Professor Mohan Krishnamoorthy, executive coordinator Ms Anasuya Banerji and two IITB administrative staff.

Australia's Trade Minister and Member for Hotham Simon Crean has visited the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) Monash Research Academy in Mumbai.

During his visit to the Academy, Mr Crean met with students who will soon travel to study at a Monash campus in Australia.

Students enrolled in the Academy's highly competitive PhD program are jointly supervised by Monash and IITB. The students will conduct most of their research at the Academy's Mumbai campus but will spend around six months in Australia with their supervisor and on completion of their studies will receive a dually-awarded degree.

"This joint partnership is an example of what Australia and India can achieve together at the leading edge of scientific research in crucial areas such as finding solutions to challenges in health, water and energy," Mr Crean said.

Noting the Academy's strong links with industry - BHP Billiton and Infosys have signed on as foundation partners - Mr Crean welcomed the Academy's efforts to translate publicly-funded research.

"Research and innovation help our companies to stay competitive and develop cleaner, greener and more efficient ways of doing business. The Academy's research priorities dovetail with the broader trade and bilateral relationship, particularly in areas like energy and infrastructure engineering," Mr Crean said.

Mr Crean is a graduate of Monash University. The Clayton campus borders the Federal seat of Hotham, which Mr Crean represents.

In next week's edition of Monash Memo, we meet up with two Mumbai-based PhD students who have recently completed their six months of research in Melbourne.