Bhubaneswar : The University of Western Australia (UWA) and the Science &Technology (S&T) Clusters (An initiative of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a structured, long-term collaboration across India’s national Science & Technology (S&T) Cluster framework. The partnership aligns UWA with India’s federal science and innovation architecture, enabling mission-driven collaboration across priority sectors critical to national development and the Indo-Pacific region.

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser serves as the highest-level scientific advisory body to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, providing strategic direction on science, technology, innovation, and research policy. Under the Office of PSA, India has established eight S&T Clusters across major innovation hubs including Bengaluru, Pune, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, and Hyderabad. These clusters bring together universities, national laboratories, startups, MSMEs, industry partners, and state governments to address mission-oriented challenges through coordinated, translational research and innovation.

Dr Vishal Choudhary, Scientist-’F’, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India said: “India’s S&T Clusters are designed to foster coordinated, mission-oriented research that addresses national priorities through strong academia–industry–government partnerships. This collaboration with the University of Western Australia brings valuable global expertise into our innovation ecosystem and supports our objective of building scalable, policy-relevant, and internationally connected research platforms.”

Through the MoU, UWA will integrate into this cluster-led ecosystem, enabling scalable and nationally aligned collaboration rather than isolated institutional partnerships. The engagement is designed to foster structured academia–industry–government collaboration, accelerate lab-to-market pathways, and enable international research mobility aligned with India’s development priorities.

Professor Amit Chakma, Vice-Chancellor of UWA, said: “This MoU represents a significant step in deepening Australia–India scientific collaboration at the highest level. By working closely with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser and its S&T Clusters, we are aligning our research strengths with India’s national priorities — from energy transition and critical minerals to climate resilience and advanced technologies. Together, we can accelerate translational research, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and deliver solutions that are both nationally relevant and globally impactful.”

Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar, Chairman, BCKIC said: “Partnership between UWA and Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster (BCKIC) is for a big purpose & beyond academic activities. Strategically, We will work in the area of Blue Economy on a mission mode and  bring the best practices to deploy affordable, adaptable and scalable solutions in the sector.” 

Under the MoU framework, UWA and the S&T Clusters will:

•    Drive mission-oriented research aligned with national priorities such as energy transition, climate resilience, advanced manufacturing, AI, deep tech, water systems, and health technologies

•    Enable joint research programs and co-funded initiatives with national impact

•    Strengthen lab-to-market pathways through translational research, commercialization, and startup collaboration

•    Facilitate doctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty mobility, including joint PhDs and visiting scholar exchanges

•    Promote global research partnerships and international scientific exchange

•    Support policy dialogue and bilateral science forums aligned with India–Australia cooperation

The collaboration is closely aligned with UWA’s globally recognised School of Earth and Oceans, advancing joint research in sustainable mining, renewable energy, climate science, and ocean systems — sectors critical to both countries’ economic resilience and environmental stewardship. The Cluster model ensures research moves beyond collaboration for its own sake, translating into policy-relevant outcomes, scalable innovation, and real-world solutions.

Strategically, the MoU represents a federal-level entry point for UWA into India’s science and innovation landscape, reinforcing its role within India–Australia science diplomacy and the broader Indo-Pacific strategic framework. The collaboration is expected to enhance long-term research cooperation, innovation exchange, talent mobility, and institutional connectivity between the two countries.

The engagement reflects a high-leverage, government-aligned model for international collaboration — providing UWA structured access to India’s premier research institutions and innovation ecosystems while contributing meaningfully to India’s national science and technology objectives.

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