AJIF is open to considering proposals in a wide range of fields that meet the specified criteria. For this round, AJIF is particularly interested in projects in the following broad areas that bring together both countries’ stated priorities in science, technology, innovation and health and capture research complementarities, namely:

Mining & Metal

Decarbonisation, efficiency and worker wellbeing across the mining, steel, aluminium and chemical sectors.

Including but not limited to:

  • Green steel enablers: hydrogen-based direct reduction, Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF), electrolysis of iron ore, biomass as a reducing agent, alternative ironmaking technologies

  • Decarbonisation of the aluminium, steel and chemical sectors

  • Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and low-carbon materials

  • Efficiency improvement in mining: automation and robotics, real-time data analytics and monitoring, energy efficiency and optimisation, advanced mine planning and simulation, digital twin technologies, high-efficiency separation and processing, waste reduction and recycling, enhanced drilling and blasting

  • Mining wellness: occupational health, remote diagnostics, portable medical devices, telehealth for mining, on-site medical services and workforce wellbeing

  • Hydrogen and GHG-reduction technologies applied to mining and metals

Transport

Decarbonisation of fleet, logistics and maritime transport.

Including but not limited to:

  • Fleet and logistics decarbonisation: electric vehicles (EVs), alternative and hydrogen fuels, fleet optimisation and route planning, lightweight materials, digital twins and IoT, autonomous vehicles, sustainable supply chains, carbon offsetting

  • Green maritime enablers: wind-assisted propulsion, electrification and battery technologies, shore power (cold ironing), advanced hull designs, carbon capture and storage (CCS) on ships, zero-emission ports, ballast water treatment, low-emission ship designs

  • Hydrogen-based mobility and GHG-reduction technologies in transport

New energy system

Production, storage and distribution of clean energy.

Including but not limited to:

  • Renewable energy sources and green hydrogen production

  • Energy storage systems and microgrids

  • Smart grids and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies

  • Advanced nuclear technologies

  • Carbon-neutral and synthetic fuels, and advanced biofuels

  • Hydrogen and GHG-reduction technologies across energy production, storage and distribution

Efficiency

Circular economy, water treatment and community digitisation that improve resource efficiency.

Including but not limited to:

  • Circular economy: advanced recycling technologies, product life extension, material innovation, industrial symbiosis

  • Water treatment: membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes (AOP), biological treatment, zero liquid discharge (ZLD), smart water management

  • Community digitisation: smart infrastructure, smart health and wellbeing, smart energy management, smart mobility solutions, data-driven decision-making, digital cultural and educational resources

  • GHG-reduction technologies that improve resource and process efficiencyCommunity Digitisation

 

While the current program focuses on defined priority areas, AJIF may consider proposals from other fields in future programs, provided they align with the mission and general eligibility criteria. Proposals developed in response to industry-identified challenges or through university–industry collaboration will be viewed favourably.