Centre for Australia-India Relations

The Centre for Australia-India Relations is a national platform established in 2023 to support and facilitate greater collaboration and engagement with India. The Centre works across all levels of government, industry, academia and community to build greater understanding of the Australia-India relationship and the opportunities in our existing and growing connections.

A New Roadmap for Australia's Economic Engagement with India

A New Roadmap for Australia's Economic Engagement with India (the Roadmap) will take stock of existing economic initiatives with India and explore innovative ways of doing more together. It will support efforts to secure Australia's place in a changing global economic and strategic landscape through our 'Future Made in Australia' initiative.

The Roadmap is part of a range of activities to deepen economic integration with India. This includes the India Economic Strategy Update and the India Economic Strategy to 2035.

Expanding our Diplomatic Footprint and Technology Sector Cooperation

• Our Consulate-General in Bengaluru helps strengthen Australian businesses into India’s booming digital economy and innovation ecosystem, and reinforce our growing links in the space sector.
• The Australia-India Strategic and Technology Policy Initiative (SATPI) seeks to advance the Australia-India relationship by deepening our shared understanding of, and engagement with, the strategic and technology policy issues facing our region.
• An Australia-India Innovation Network helps Australian and Indian firms commercialise critical technologies and services, access investment, and encourage the development of deeper supply chains.
• A India-Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion Accelerator supports Indian and Australian entrepreneurs and SMEs to launch innovation technology solutions to tackle shared national challenges and priorities.

Enabling our Vibrant Diaspora Community and Businesses

• An update to the Australia’s Indian Diaspora: A National Asset report will further increase our understanding of the important social and economic contributions of our Indian-Australian communities. Once published, this research will provide policy-makers, business leaders and experts with a wholistic, evidence-based source of information to assist them in making informed decisions when engaging with Indian Australian communities. 
• The Australia-India CEO Forum is a business-to-business mechanism to accelerate commercial engagement and partner with governments to improve investment conditions and the business environment.

Strengthening our Education and Research Links

• The Maitri Scholars, Grants and Fellowships Initiatives will support some of the best and brightest Indian students to study in Australia, and will build links between our future leaders.
• An industry-led Australia-India Future Skills Initiative is positioning Australia as a skills provider of choice for India to meet critical and emerging labour force requirements.
• The Australian Researcher Cooperation Hub will continue to strengthen bilateral research collaboration and showcase the research excellence of both countries.

Accelerating the New Energy Economy

• The India-Australia Green Steel partnership is supporting innovative technologies that will deliver jobs of the future to the resources sector in the transition to a low emissions economy.

Broadening our Resources and METS Relationship

• An Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Partnership and an Australia-India Critical Minerals Investment Partnership are strengthening supply chains, adding value to Australian exports, and working with India to commercialise technology.
• A Resources and METS Industry Market Access and Preparedness Program is helping resources and METS companies better understand how to do business in South Asia.
• A Global Mining Challenge – The Challenge is connecting Indian miners facing major technical and operational challenges with world-leading Australian solutions.

Building our Science and Innovation Ties

• Ongoing funding for the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund will continue to strengthen our research collaborations with India in strategic areas like critical minerals, critical technologies and new and renewable energy technologies. From 2025, the Australian Government will invest $3.8 million each year to continue the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.
• Expanding International Space Investment Initiative funding to support collaboration on satellite communications, navigation systems, earth observation and its applications, and big data analytics to support mutual policy priorities.

Laying the Ground for Greater Trade

• The Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement helps secure access to the fastest growing Indian market and gives Australian businesses opportunities for trade diversification.
• The Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement will build upon ECTA outcomes to capitalise on the potential for close economic ties between Australia and India.
• A New Roadmap for Australia's Economic Engagement with India will complement and build on existing work under Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement by keeping momentum between negotiating rounds and exploring new areas of bilateral opportunity through public consultations.

Expanding our Regional Presence

• An Australian High Commission in Malé will deepen our education, tourism and broader economic linkages in the Maldives

Boosting the Creative and Cultural Industries

• The Maitri Cultural Partnership will support projects, events, exhibitions and professional exchanges in the visual and performing arts, literature, film, and music sectors.