In the successful first round in 2019, three innovation partnerships received a total of more than AUD 1.63 million.

Themed “Scaling existing Australia - Vietnam Innovation Partnerships,” grants of between AUD 100,000 and AUD 1,000,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis to existing partnerships between Australian and Vietnamese institutions to support tested initiatives that are ready to scale up and have the potential to deliver ecosystem-level impact. Grantees will have up to 12 months to implement their proposed activities.

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At the first round of Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants. Photo: techtimes.vn

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie confirmed that the second round of Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants demonstrates the country’s continued commitment to work with the Government of Vietnam in general and the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology in particular to further enhance the innovation ecosystem.

Innovative ideas in different sectors that have potential for wide-scale application, deliver lasting socio-economic impact, and can help strengthen the Vietnamese innovation ecosystem will be supported, the Australian diplomat added.

Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Bui The Duy expressed his excitement when witnessing the great partnerships created in the first round of this grant scheme as they scale up novel technologies and proven innovation models in Vietnam. He looked forward to more partnerships of this nature; where Australian and Vietnamese partners continue working together to address challenges and create opportunities in our growing economy.

Duy highlighted programs like Aus4Innovation, saying that they help enhance Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem, making it better connected so it functions more effectively.

Eligible applicants are invited to download the Grant Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions and send in their Expression of Interest to apply at address https://csiro.smartygrants.com.au/PGRound2 no later than March 17, 2020.

Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants is an important part of the AUD 11 million, four year (2018-2022) flagship Aus4Innovation program to help strengthen the Vietnamese innovation system and prepare for Vietnam’s economic and digital future. It is co-funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and InnovationXchange (IXC), managed by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam (MoST).

Song Anh