Australia to invest in India for research-enabling technology

"Collaboration partnership is what is needed if the nations of the world are to bring about real results on sustainable development and more broadly on climate change," Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said at a function here organised by TERI headed by climate change expert RK Pauchari.

As research is an important strategy to tackle climate change, he said, "Our government will invest USD 50 million for the Australia-India Strategic research Fund, USD I million for an innovative Australia-India solar cooling research project."

An estimated 400 million Indians don't have access to electricity, in many cases because they live too far from the main grid infrastructure, while the lack of cold storage leads to the spoilage of an estimated 20 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually, he said. "This would help in solving their problems," he added.

Besides, Australia will also invest USD 20 billion for research into dryland farming in India over five years through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. The additional USD 50 million over five years for the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund will commence from next year at the TERI.

"This will help in engaging with India on a long-term, strategic basis and recognises the central role of science and technology collaboration that will help address some of the pressing challenges that both countries face," Rudd said.

The Prime Minister also lauded India's role in taking lead in tackling global warming and said that "the truth is climate change represents a fundamental threat to its own.

"It has no respect to national boundaries, no respect to individual cultures. Climate change is a truly global and planetary challenge." "What is good that we see strong leadership on the part of India and other emerging economies as we move towards challenges which confront us at Copenhagen," Rudd said.

He added, "Collaboration partnership is what is needed if the nations of the world are to bring about real results on sustainable development and more broadly on climate