AJIF Hosts Inaugural Roundtable in Sydney to Showcase Impactful Australia–Japan Research Collaboration
AJIF successfully hosted its inaugural roundtable in Sydney, welcoming 15 distinguished guests from government, corporate, and academic sectors. The event served as a platform to highlight the impact of AJIF’s funding model in fostering cross-border innovation and collaboration between Australia and Japan.
A key highlight of the evening was a compelling presentation by Dr. Mitra from ANSTO, who shared the progress of her AJIF-supported project, “Extending the Precision of Particle Therapy: Translating Science into Survival.” She detailed how the grant enabled critical advancements in her research and strengthened her collaboration with the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (NIRS-QST) in Japan.
Dr. Mitra’s story exemplifies the type of transformative work AJIF aims to support—scientific breakthroughs with real-world impact and strong bilateral cooperation.
We are proud to champion leading-edge research like this and remain committed to empowering projects that bridge the Australia–Japan innovation ecosystem.
National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (NIRS-QST)
AJIF is pleased to welcome MUFG Bank as a new financial partner.
MUFG is committed to driving innovation both within its organisation and across industries by supporting advanced technologies and research that promote sustainable growth. With Australia’s strong foundation in science, technology, and innovation, MUFG sees significant opportunity to collaborate on high-impact projects.
By partnering with AJIF, MUFG will leverage AJIF’s deep network and expertise in Australia’s research landscape to advance initiatives that contribute to environmental sustainability and innovation. This partnership also strengthens the connection between Australia and Japan, fostering closer collaboration between companies and research institutions in both countries.
Together, AJIF and MUFG aim to accelerate projects that build a more sustainable and connected future.
AJIF Grant Program 2024 – Grantee Announcement
AJIF is pleased to announce the successful recipients of the AJIF Grant Program 2024, selected after an exceptionally competitive application process. This year, we received more than 100 high-quality applications from a diverse pool of talented individuals and organisations from across Japan and Australia, each demonstrating remarkable potential and commitment to excellence in their respective fields.
After a rigorous and thorough assessment process conducted by AJIF's selection committee, we are proud to award the 2024 grants to Valentina Hurtado McCormick and the CSIRO team and, Catherine Stampfl and the University of Sydney team. These recipients stood out for their innovative approaches, dedication, and the potential impact of their proposed projects.
The selection process was challenging due to the high volume of outstanding applications. We extend our gratitude to all applicants for their submissions and efforts, and we encourage those who were not selected this year to consider applying again in the future.
Congratulations to our recipients, and we look forward to supporting their projects and witnessing the positive contributions they will make to the Australia Japan bilateral relationship.
Meet Our 2024 Grantees
1. Exploring Algae-Based Circular Economy Opportunities for Biological Mine Water Treatment
Team: Valentina Hurtado McCormick and the CSIRO team
Grant Amount: $200,000 AUD
Project Summary:
This project investigates the potential of algae to support the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria and their synergistic interactions for mine water treatment. If successful, the research could enable cost-effective mine drainage treatment while enhancing circularity in the mining industry.
2. Conversion of CO₂ into Methanol via an Innovative Photocatalytic and Electrocatalytic Process for Sustainable Energy Applications
Team: Catherine Stampfl and the University of Sydney team
Grant Amount: $100,000 AUD
Project Summary:
This initiative aims to develop groundbreaking catalytic processes that convert CO₂ into methanol using advanced 2D materials engineered through machine learning-assisted quantum mechanical calculations. Collaborating with Australian and Japanese partners, the project seeks to optimise methanol production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to sustainable energy solutions.
Presentation at the Australia-Japan Innovation Alliance Forum: Smart Society Towards 2030
We are pleased to announce that our colleague, Kaoru Nishinakagawa, will be speaking at the Australia-Japan Innovation Alliance Forum, which takes place on October 22, 2024, as part of the side event to the 61st Annual Joint Business Conference hosted by AJBCC and JABCC in Nagoya.
Kaoru will participate in the session titled "Where to From Here?", focusing on the development of structured mechanisms to enhance bilateral innovation collaboration and address the increasing demand for impactful partnerships between Australia and Japan.
This event offers a valuable opportunity to gain insights into innovation and engage with industry leaders.
Event Details:
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 (10:00 AM - 6:00 PM JST)
Location: Nagoya Innovator's Garage
Session Time: 4:45 pm - 5:15 pm JST
Language: English and Japanese, with simultaneous interpretation available.
For more information, visit the event page here.
Calling all researchers and innovators interested in applying for the AJIF Grant Round 2024
We’re hosting two Q&A sessions to answer any questions you may have regarding the Expression of Interest (EOI) application. This is your opportunity to get insights into the application process, ask questions, and get guidance in either English or Japanese!
🗓 1st Session: Monday, 7th October, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (AEST) 🔗 Join here
🗓 2nd Session: Monday, 14th October, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (AEST) 🔗 Join here
AJIF Welcomes 4 New Board Members to Strengthen Bilateral Research and Innovation Efforts
The Australian-Japan Innovation Fund (AJIF) is pleased to announce the appointment of 4 distinguished leaders to its board, further enhancing the organisation's ability to drive meaningful collaborations between Australia and Japan in science, technology, and innovation.
Richard Andrews, CEO of the Australia-Japan Business Co-operation Committee (AJBCC), and Caroline McMillen, distinguished academic and former Chief Scientist of South Australia, are the newest additions to the AJIF board. They bring decades of experience in fostering international relationships and advancing innovation across sectors.
This follows the recent appointments of Penny Alexander and Llewelyn Hughes, who joined the board earlier this year, and who have already begun contributing to AJIF's mission of strengthening Australia-Japan research partnerships.
AJIF remains committed to supporting transformative research projects that address global challenges through Australia-Japan collaboration and cooperation. The diverse experience of its board members will play a pivotal role in driving the fund’s future growth and success.
AJIF Launches 2024-25 Research Grant Program: Now Accepting Expressions of Interest
The Australia-Japan Innovation Fund (AJIF) announces the opening of its 2024-25 research grant program. From September 15 to October 31, 2024, we are accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for grant funding. We encourage you to share this opportunity with colleagues and relevant parties, and we welcome the broad distribution of the attached announcement and flyer.
With renewed support from Rio Tinto and a new partnership with Mitsui, we are excited to support projects with greater depth and breadth this year. These enhanced collaborations allow us to offer even more impactful opportunities for research and innovation.
AJIF’s mission is to promote collaboration between academic institutions, industry, and government across Australia and Japan, supporting individuals who forge strong bilateral relationships through innovative partnerships. One primary way we achieve this is through our project grant programs.
Grants ranging from AUD $50,000 to $250,000 are available across eight key themes. Eligible projects must involve partnerships between industry and academic institutions. Applications can be submitted by a lead applicant from a university, research institute, charity, not-for-profit, educational institution, government entity, or corporation. The grants support new or ongoing research with Australian and Japanese counterparts, covering stages from design to prototype testing. They also enable researcher exchanges, fostering long-term collaborations.
For detailed guidelines, including project criteria, please visit our website: AJIF 2024-25 Grant Applications.
Exciting Changes at the Australia Japan Innovation Fund
After a decade of exceptional leadership, Murray McLean is retiring as Chair of the Foundation for Australia-Japan Studies. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Murray for his significant contributions to Australia-Japan relations and his role in guiding the Foundation’s growth.
Murray’s remarkable career includes serving as Chair of the Australia Japan Foundation, Deputy Secretary at DFAT, and Australia’s Ambassador to Japan. His work on the Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement and his leadership during the 2011 Tohoku disaster are just a few highlights of his impactful service. We wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
We are thrilled to announce that the Foundation for Australia-Japan Studies will now be rebranded as the Australia Japan Innovation Fund. Alongside this exciting change, we are pleased to welcome Jason Hayes as the new Chair of the Fund. Jason, a Partner at PwC, brings over 29 years of international experience, including eight years in Japan. He is a respected commentator on Japanese trade and investment and leads PwC’s Asia Pacific Japan Practice (excluding Japan). Jason’s expertise and vision make him an excellent choice to lead the Australia-Japan Innovation Fund into its next chapter.
We are also excited to introduce Kaoru Nishinakagawa as the new Chief Advisor to the Australia Japan Innovation Fund. Kaoru co-founded Innovation Dojo and has extensive experience in driving cross-cultural innovation projects and incubation programs. With a background in innovation consulting at Fusion Labs and Deloitte, she has led numerous corporate innovation programs and startup initiatives. Most recently, she served as Internal Innovation Lead at News Corp and is a startup adviser for JETRO, helping Japanese startups expand into the Australian market. Her wealth of experience and strategic insights will be invaluable to the Fund’s mission.
Please join us in expressing our gratitude to Murray McLean for his exceptional service and welcoming Jason Hayes as Chair and Kaoru Nishinakagawa as Chief Advisor as we embark on this exciting new chapter.