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    Funding for French-Australian research

    Labor HQ posted Thursday, 17 December 2009

    A
    French-Australian collaboration in robotic astronomy, improving flood
    forecasting and investigating the origin and evolution of magnetic
    fields in space are some of the 14 innovative projects to share in over
    $250,000 in funding from the 2009 French-Australian Science and
    Technology (FAST) Program.

    Announced today by Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation,
    Industry, Science and Research, the FAST Program is designed to promote
    and support scientific and technological cooperation between Australian
    and French researchers in both public and private sectors.

    Senator Carr said the FAST program considerably boosts the potential
    for scientific breakthroughs to come out of the two research intensive
    countries - enabling Australia and France to share best practice ideas.

    "The FAST Program offers significant mutual benefits for Australia and France," Senator Carr said.

    "It is as much an investment in world-class research as it is an investment in strong international relations.

    "As seen in previous FAST funding rounds, there are some fantastic
    projects to be funded, such as improving flood forecasting, which has
    the potential to save infrastructure and livestock.

    "There is also a funded project dedicated to robotic astronomy which
    utilises the Australian Zadko Telescope which will strengthen our
    countries' space capabilities.

    "Since renewing the memorandum of understanding with the French
    Government in 2008, our capacity for future joint breakthroughs is
    limitless and I look forward to seeing the results of this year's
    projects," Senator Carr said.

    For more information on the FAST Program visit www.innovation.gov.au

    Tags: Innovation, Research