Key points
- Discover how we work with our Southeast Asian neighbours to build a more equitable and sustainable future.
- From tackling pollution, to the energy transition, food security, digital transformation or disease preparedness.
- We are tapping into the powerhouse that is Southeast Asia to help us solve global challenges.
From strengthening bilateral relationships to tackling some of the region’s most pressing challenges, our collaborations in Southeast Asia this year have been a symphony of science, innovation, and impact.
If our Southeast Asia engagement was a Spotify playlist, here’s what 2024 Wrapped would look like.
1. Leader of the Pack: starting off strong with a Prime Minister's visit
When the Australian Prime Minister hosted the ASEAN-Australian Special Summit 2024 at the start of this year, the focus was on bilateral relationships between Australia and countries across Southeast Asia.
At the forefront of these discussions were the topics of science, innovation, technology and our alignment to the Australian governments Southeast Asian Economic Strategy to 2040.
As part of the ASEAN-Australian Special Summit event, we hosted the Vietnamese Prime Minister in Canberra to discuss the importance of future scientific cooperation and our Aus4Innovation Program (A4I).
Having kicked off in 2018, the A4I Program is a ten-year, $33.5 million flagship program aimed at strengthening Vietnam’s innovation system to support inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. The program is delivered through an enduring partnership between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, CSIRO, and Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology.
This year, the A4I Program awarded $1.45 million to three cutting-edge agricultural projects in Vietnam, among other activities. The partnership grants focused on high-tech solutions, jointly developed by Australian and Vietnamese entities, to address the complexities of modern agriculture. These solutions will help improve productivity, develop markets, adapt to and mitigate climate change, and foster social inclusivity.
If this sounds like music to your ears, keep reading.
2. From trash to treasure: reinventing life without plastic waste
The Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network (IPPIN) supports innovators from across the Indo-Pacific to turn plastic problems into sustainable solutions.
Since its launch in 2022, IPPIN has delivered programs in six languages and engaged over 3,000 participants. More than 100 teams have graduated from IPPIN’s innovation programs, which have distributed over $1.5 million in seed funding. This funding has helped top ventures secure over $5 million in industry co-investment to scale their solutions.
Behind these statistics are powerful stories of innovation and impact in combatting plastic waste. For example, our researchers alongside those from Monash University have been working towards revitalising one of the worlds’ most polluted rivers in Java, Indonesia. They're doing this through the Citarum Action Research Program (CARP).
Over 25 million people depend on the Citarum river for water supply, agriculture, hydropower generation, and livelihoods. Through the CARP initiative, in part funded by IPPIN, 1.6 tonnes of combined plastic and organic waste are removed from the river every week.
That’s just one of many examples of impactful innovation facilitated through IPPIN. Visit ippin.org for more great stories of our impact.
3. Hydro heroes and battery baddies
All you need is love – and sustainable forms of energy!
Southeast Asia accounts for 25 per cent of the increase in global energy demand to 2035. It is on track to surpass overall consumption in the European Union by 2050.
These regional trends have implications for Australia. That’s why we’ve been working with our regional neighbours to exchange and secure more mutually beneficial energy opportunities. Take the CSIRO-A*STAR Research-Industry (2+2) Partnership Grant Program. The 2+2 Program strengthens research and innovation between Singapore and Australia to build networks for mutual market access and sustainable economic alliance. It supports partnerships between Singaporean and Australian researchers and industry partners from both countries.
Round 1 of the program supported researchers from the national science agencies of Singapore and Australia (A*STAR and CSIRO respectively) to work with industry partners SK tes to improve recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIB). These are often disposed of in landfills, which can lead to detrimental environmental impacts.
Technology landscaping reports developed through the project have helped SK tes to shortlist green technology for investment, development and adoption. SK tes will use the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report from the pilot process at their battery recycling facility in Singapore to guide the expansion of their production capacity. Australia will be a key focus in their future plans for this global expansion.
SK tes has been awarded a grant from the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to build a facility in Newcastle to test, repurpose and recycle LIBs from solar energy systems, EVs and portable devices. The new battery treatment facility in Newcastle is projected to generate upwards of 20 green jobs and to handle some 2,000 tons per year of end-of-life LIB units. This includes 800 tons per year from Australia's large and growing solar energy storage battery.
4. Fields of the future, where tech and taste meet
If you’d like to enjoy strawberry fields forever, you might want to pay attention to our food for sustainability programs.
Climate change threatens food security and that’s why along with A*STAR we developed the CSIRO-A*STAR Innovation in Food for Sustainability Program (IF4S Program). It's also why our Venture Exchange Program has such a strong focus on Future Foods.
Through the IF4S Program and connecting into the Singaporean innovation ecosystem, we are supporting science to develop future foods and ingredients safely and sustainably, ready for commercialisation.
This year we also welcomed our first Singapore-Australia Future Foods cohort as part of the Venture Exchange Program. The cohort aims to generate new, world-leading knowledge and technology in novel food and build future protein scientific capability for both countries. They will address major challenges for the economy (food security, industry development), environment (food system sustainability), and society (reducing impact of chronic diseases, ageing and food safety threats).
5. Tech it up a notch - building digital pioneers in Indonesia
No this isn’t about techno – but technology exchanges between Indonesia and Australia.
The Data 4 Development (D4D) Fellowship Program focuses on building capacity in data and design and facilitating locally-led innovation and solutions.
Participants travel from Indonesia to Australia for three months, working with experts at Data61 to solve complex, high-value development and data-related problems.
Data61's capabilities range from cybersecurity, confidential computing, robotics, machine learning and analytics, software and programming, to behavioural sciences and more.
6. Super sick sounds by the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP)
What’s sicker than a music festival? Disease preparedness! And more impressive than an ACDC album? The work of ACDP!
Covid-19 was an important reminder that diseases don’t have passports, so we need science and data to plan and prepare for future pandemics across borders. Our ACDP has a longstanding history of working with Southeast Asia to build capability in disease preparedness and diagnostics over many years.
Through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Partnerships for a Healthy Region program, ACDP have several active projects with Southeast Asia ranging from detecting novel and emerging new pathogens. ACDP works across the region to improve biosafety, bio risk management and help improve laboratory networks and leadership by supporting laboratory placements.
Take a look at ACDP's international work.
We can’t help but wax lyrical about ACDP’s contribution towards a healthier and safer region for all.
What's next?
This sweet melody of science collaboration across the region is led by our Director for Southeast Asia, Amelia Fyfield.
Working with our closest regional neighbours in Southeast Asia means we are leveraging collaborative science, innovation, and technology to address today’s complex, interconnected challenges.
Whether tackling pollution, energy transition, food security, digital transformation, or disease preparedness, we’ve made significant progress on our science impact goals in 2024 – stay tuned for 2025!