The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is pleased to announce an open call for applications for the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership (AICCTP): Grant Round 1.

The AICCTP grant program recognises that India and Australia have a key role to play in contributing to the global development of critical and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), next generation telecommunications (5G/6G), Internet of Things (IoT), quantum computing, synthetic biology, blockchain and big data.

The program will consider proposals for practical cooperation and collaboration on cyber and critical technology issues, which will help shape a global technology environment that meets Australia and India's shared vision of an open, free, rules-based Indo-Pacific region.

Grant Round 1 will prioritise emerging and critical technology related proposals that focus on the following areas:

1. activities that facilitate Australia-India research partnerships, in particular involving academics and think tanks, to strengthen understanding of ethical frameworks for emerging and critical technologies, and the development of best practice on translating ethical frameworks (including existing global frameworks like the G20 AI Principles) into practical action;
2. initiatives that encourage the development of technical critical technology standards that advance Australia and India's interests, and enable more meaningful engagement in international standards discussions; and
3. research on the trends shaping the global and technology marketplace or that assesses the opportunities and effectiveness of ethical frameworks or technical standards for emerging and critical technologies.

Applications must be submitted 3.00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on Friday 5 February 2021.

To find out more, including further background on the program, eligibility requirements and how to apply, please see details on Australia's High Commission in India website.