The Deakin SME Research Centre has been named one of the recipients of the Australian Government’s 2025 Maitri Grant, securing $340,000 in funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to lead a groundbreaking initiative aimed at strengthening Australia-India innovation ties.
The awarded project, titled ”Empowering Innovation: Australian FDI Initiatives for Building Innovation Centres in India,” will focus on enhancing Australian small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) engagement with India through foreign direct investment (FDI) strategies. The initiative will support the development of innovation centres in India, particularly in the high-impact sectors of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Pharmaceuticals.
Led by Professor Rui Torres de Oliveira, Director of the Deakin SME Research Centre, the project brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts from across Deakin University. Collaborators include A/Prof Sam Tavassoli, A/Prof Alfred Presbitero, Prof Rajiv Dube, and Prof Andrew Noblet from Deakin Business School, Prof Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz from the Faculty of Health, A/Prof Santu Rana from A2I2 and strategic support from Deakin South Asia.
Professor Rui Torres de Oliveira says: ‘This grant represents a critical step in unlocking the innovation potential of Australian SMEs in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. By fostering deeper Australia–India partnerships in high-impact sectors like AI, robotics, and pharmaceuticals, we aim to support sustainable, long-term economic collaboration through innovation-led foreign investment. We’re proud to lead this important initiative and work alongside a world-class, multidisciplinary team.’
The project will deliver a series of practical workshops, policy white papers, and a targeted roadshow in India, equipping Australian companies with the tools and insights needed to invest and innovate successfully in the Indian market.
Now in its third year, the Maitri Grants Program — named after the Sanskrit word for ‘friendship’ — is administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations. The program supports initiatives that deepen bilateral ties across economic, cultural, and research domains. In 2025, a total of 34 projects were funded, including 13 Maitri Scholarships and three Maitri Fellowships.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia and India’s relationship is closer and more important than ever: “We are deepening cooperation across priority sectors that are vital to both nations’ futures, including in defence, trade, education, and technology,” she says. “The Maitri Grants, Scholarships and Fellowships are a symbol of this, and I congratulate the worthy recipients whose contributions will bring our countries’ strong links to life.”
Swati Dave Chair of the Centre for Australia India Relations says: “I congratulate all 34 recipients of the 2024-2025 Maitri Grants, Scholarships and Fellowships program. Their work will help deepen engagement between Australia and India across business, arts, culture, and community.”
“The Maitri Scholarships and Fellowships will deliver innovative research in areas such as quantum computing, clean energy and biomanufacturing. Expanding our relationship with India in these fields is more important than ever as we look to increase productivity and secure our prosperity.”
This recognition underscores Deakin University’s ongoing leadership in fostering international collaboration and innovation and highlights the vital role of SMEs in shaping the future of Australia-India economic engagement.