Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day official visit to Australia from July 8 to 10 is expected to further strengthen cooperation across sectors, including agriculture, science and technology, space, innovation and clean energy. Over the past decade, these areas have become key pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, complementing the growing strategic and economic engagement between the two countries.
Agricultural cooperation has steadily expanded since 2012, supported by regular Joint Working Group (JWG) meetings. The 6th Joint Working Group on Agriculture was held in Canberra in February 2025, reviewing progress in agricultural trade, research and market access. Bilateral cooperation has also translated into improved market access for agricultural products. Australia opened its market to Indian pomegranates in 2020 and pomegranate arils in 2022, while during the first India-Australia Annual Summit in March 2023, both Prime Ministers welcomed the completion of market access arrangements for Australian Hass avocados to India and Indian okra to Australia.
Science and technology cooperation has remained a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship since the establishment of the India-Australia Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) in 2005. The programme continues to support collaborative research between institutions in both countries, with the 16th round of funding applications launched in 2025. Water security has also emerged as a priority area, with the Australia-India Water Security Initiative (AIWASI) approved in 2022 and the 6th Joint Working Group on Water Cooperation held in November 2023, focusing on sustainable water management and climate resilience.
Space cooperation has witnessed remarkable progress in recent years. The two countries signed an agreement on civil space cooperation in 2012, laying the foundation for growing collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Australian Space Agency.
In April 2024, Australia announced A$18 million to support three joint space projects under its International Space Investment programme. Another major milestone was achieved in November 2024, when ISRO and the Australian Space Agency signed an agreement on crew and crew module recovery for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. The two countries have also expanded commercial space collaboration. Australia’s Space Machines Company partnered with NewSpace India Limited to launch its 450-kg Optimus Orbital Servicing Vehicle aboard India’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle in 2026. The launch of Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India’s Technology, Research and Innovation) has further strengthened collaboration between research institutions, industry and startups in the space sector.
Innovation and startup partnerships have also gained momentum. The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Australia’s CSIRO launched the India-Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator in 2023 to support startups working on circular economy technologies. The inaugural cohort selected 14 startups, with seven each from India and Australia, while the second round has also been announced. Earlier, both organisations had launched the I-ACE Hackathon in 2020 to encourage collaborative innovation.
Energy security and clean energy have emerged as another major area of cooperation. The India-Australia Energy Security Dialogue, established in 2012, has evolved into a broad-based partnership covering renewable energy, hydrogen and critical minerals. During the fourth Energy Dialogue in 2022, both countries signed a Letter of Intent on New and Renewable Energy Technologies, committing to collaborate on ultra-low-cost solar energy and green hydrogen.
The first India-Australia Annual Summit in 2023 also witnessed the signing of the Terms of Reference for the India-Australia Solar Taskforce, while the Green Hydrogen Task Force was launched during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Sydney in May 2023. The partnership gained further momentum with the launch of the India-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership during the second Annual Summit in November 2024.
Critical minerals have become another strategic focus area. In March 2022, India’s Khanij Bidesh India Limited and Australia’s Critical Minerals Facilitation Office signed an agreement to jointly invest in Australian critical mineral assets, supporting resilient supply chains for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
The two countries are also working together through global clean energy initiatives. Australia is a member of the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. During the virtual Leaders’ Summit in 2022, India announced matching Australian contributions of A$10 million each for Pacific Island countries under the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative and the International Solar Alliance, reaffirming the shared commitment of both countries to sustainable development and climate resilience.
As Prime Minister Modi visits Australia, cooperation in agriculture, innovation, science, space exploration and clean energy is expected to feature prominently in discussions, reflecting the expanding scope of a partnership that increasingly extends beyond traditional strategic and economic engagement.
