Smog-busting technology is being developed in a collaboration between Victorian and Chinese researchers – and more innovation grants today become available for local organisations looking to break new ground in China.
Up to $200,000 is available to companies keen to work with counterparts in Jiangsu Province, which had been Victoria's sister state for the past 40 years.
Two previous rounds of the grants program have supported 11 joint projects, including the research by Deakin University and Jiangsu BOHN Environmental Protection Science & Technology Company Ltd into technology that dramatically reduces air pollution generated by industrial manufacturing.
The Deakin-Jiangsu project aims to develop a filtering system based on new solar technology 10 times more efficient than current commercial products.
Victorian Government maintains the largest presence of any Australian state or territory in China, with trade and investment offices (VGTIs) located in Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu, Beijing and Hong Kong.
Victoria is home to some of the Asia Pacific region's top universities, research organisations and companies, offering global strengths across the medical, agricultural, engineering, advanced manufacturing and clean energy sectors.
The Victorian and Jiangsu Province governments have signed a renewed Technology and Innovation Agreement, and the VIC-JS TECH program is one of the key initiatives that will drive advances that can enhance people's lives and the way industries operate across the globe. "We want to encourage more collaboration between our states, connecting our respective tech and innovation economies" said Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade, Martin Pakula about the VIC-JS TECH program.
The Victoria-Jiangsu Program for Technology and Innovation R&D Program (VIC-JS TECH) is open to organisations with interests in:
- biotechnology
- new medicine and medical devices
- new generation ICT
- clean technology and environmental protection
- food and fibre industries
- advanced manufacturing
- aerospace industries.
In October, the Victorian Government signed a new deal with China under the Belt and Road Initiative that will help fast track cooperation in the key areas of infrastructure, innovation, ageing, and trade development, providing more opportunities for Victorian companies and more Victorian jobs.
