Australian and Indian Prime Ministers open expanded Deakin-TERI Nanobiotech Centre
Media releaseResearch into global challenges around food security and sustainable agriculture has received a boost thanks to an expansion of the world's first dedicated nanobiotechnology research centre, to be opened in India today.
The new facility, a partnership between Deakin University and The Energy and Resources Institute of India (TERI), will be unveiled digitally by Australian Prime Minister the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull, alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a State Banquet at the Hyderabad House at New Delhi at around 5pm Australian time.
The Banquet will also be attended by Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander AO, Deakin Chancellor John Stanhope and Australian Education Minister the Honourable Simon Birmingham.
Professor den Hollander said the new facility, within the existing TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (TDNBC), would improve research focused on global concerns including water quality, efficient farming practices, waste management and innovative, agriculture-dependent, ways to treat human disease.
“With depleting natural resources and an increasing demand for food and medicines, the role of nanobiotechnology has never been more crucial to countries such as Australia and India, which are challenged by environmentally significant factors, such as unreliable rainfall, poor soils and climate change,” Professor den Hollander said.
“These are vital issues for humanity and it is extremely satisfying to think of the hugely positive implications of this research.
“Deakin is passionate about supporting the communities we serve and ensuring our graduates are prepared for the jobs of the future. This partnership helps to ensure we can do that, while helping to make a real difference to populations around the world.”
The centre, which first started when Deakin and TERI began their partnership in 2010, is currently home to 16 full-time research scientists, 13 research and technical staff and seven PhD students. So far, eight PhD theses have been awarded under a joint PhD program between Deakin and TERI.
Students based at the centre, located at Gual Pahari near New Delhi, are enrolled as PhD candidates at Deakin and receive joint supervision from the University and TERI under the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI), created in 2009 to bridge the innovation gap between academia and industry.
Six to eight months are spent at Deakin with the Australian supervisor, making use of the University’s advanced research facilities.
“As the first Australian university to establish an office in India in 1994, Deakin is proud to continue to strengthen our relationship each year, providing opportunities to students around the world and helping to improve lives both in India and Australia,” Professor den Hollander said.
In its 22 years in India, Deakin has developed more than 40 strategic research and academic partnerships and 15 corporate partnerships with India’s leading universities, research institutions and corporations.