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CSIRO projects around the world

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Insect protected cowpeas

We are part of a global project to improve cowpea production in Africa and are making progress towards incorporating ‘built-in’ insect pest protection that could help to reduce food shortages in the region.

Cowpeas are an important food crop in Sub-Saharan Africa but yields are often reduced by more than 80 per cent due to pests and diseases.

By developing improved breeding material, CSIRO also aims to transfer knowledge of the technology to Africa to help combat one of the major pests that affect cowpeas – the legume pod borer.

Abuja, Nigeria

Improving cowpea production in Africa

Cowpeas are a staple food and an important source of protein for more than 200 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Mostly grown in West Africa, the leaves and green pods of cowpeas can be eaten before maturity.

The legume pod borer is one of the major pests affects cowpeas. They damage cowpea flowers, young pods and seeds which drastically reduces yield. Communities are unable to use insecticides in this region as they cannot afford them and do not have the equipment to handle them safely. CSIRO researchers are developing a system for genetically engineering cowpeas so that they can introduce new genes for insect protection.

In 2019 a new insect-resistant cowpea variety was successfully registered in Nigeria paving the way for commercial cultivation and transfer knowledge of the cowpea technology to other parts of Africa.

Canada

National Science Foundation Global Centers - Canada

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Global Centers Program is an ambitious new initiative to fund international, interdisciplinary collaborative research centers that will apply best practices of broadening participation and community engagement to develop use-inspired/applied research on climate change and clean energy, leading to foreseeable benefits to society.

This Program will prioritise research collaborations which foster team science, community-engaged research, and use knowledge-to-action frameworks. The proposed research work should maximize the benefits of international, interdisciplinary collaborations.

CSIRO along with the National Science Foundation (NSF), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) are joining forces on a true multi-lateral science partnership that unites leading research institutions across the globe to solve shared challenges on Climate Change and Clean Energy.

Canada Mission

AquaWatch Mission

AquaWatch Canada partnership

We are working with collaborators from across industry, research and government to co-design and deliver a 'weather service for water quality' to help safeguard freshwater and coastal resources in Australia and around the world.

Chile

Our work in Chile

Our largest South American collaborator is Chile, with science projects focusing on industries in mining, minerals, aquaculture and water management.

Chile-Mission

AquaWatch Mission

AquaWatch Chile pilot site

We are working with collaborators from across industry, research and government to co-design and deliver a 'weather service for water quality' to help safeguard freshwater and coastal resources in Australia and around the world.

China - Bejing

Chinese Academy of Science

CSIRO has partnered with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) since 1975. In 2008, the CAS-CSIRO Joint Steering Committee (JSC) was established to oversee the relationship and explore opportunities. The partnership focuses on five key areas:

  • sustainable Agriculture
  • health sciences and biotechnology
  • climate change impacts
  • marine science and blue economy
  • nanotechnology and new materials for energy

China

Our work in China

We work with partners in China to explore opportunities in key strategic thematic areas of mutual benefit to both our nations.

Columbia-Mission

AquaWatch Mission

AquaWatch Mission Colombia pilot site

We are working with collaborators from across industry, research and government to co-design and deliver a 'weather service for water quality' to help safeguard freshwater and coastal resources in Australia and around the world.

The United Kingdom

Developing advanced laser mapping technology

CSIRO's collaboration with the United Kingdom includes developing modern mapping technology and launching it in the commercial market.

Cyprus, Europe

Solar field lights up Cyprus

Helping Cyprus meet its renewable energy targets with half an acre of our unique sun-tracking mirrors, or heliostats, in the sun-drenched Mediterranean.

France

Our work in France

CSIRO undertakes a variety of projects with its French partners, including those relating to space science, agricultural science and food research. CSIRO maintains a small laboratory based in Montpellier, France for 57 years to support Australia's biosecurity.

Germany, Europe

Our work in Germany

CSIRO collaborates with its German partners on various projects in the fields of geoscience, radio astronomy and agricultural science.

India - Delhi

India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion Accelerator

The India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator is purpose-built to help Indian and Australian startups with mature cutting-edge technology fast-track their cross-border impact.

RISE Accelerator is delivered through a powerful partnership between CSIRO and the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.

India - Jaipur

Our work in India

CSIRO's most prominent areas of work in South Asia are agriculture, water and mining. We have well-established projects in India and Nepal.

India

Reducing Plastic Waste

India and Australia share the issues of accumulating plastics waste ending up in landfill or leaking to waterways and oceans resulting in a loss of material value and creating adverse environmental impacts. Both countries also share the ambition to enable innovation across the plastics supply chain through research and industry collaboration to achieve a circular plastics economy. This research prepares the foundation for a circular economy transition by identifying the size of the issue, creating a roadmap, co-developed with industry and government stakeholders, of how to best drive change in plastics supply chains and to demonstrate innovation on the ground in a series of demonstration projects.

India - New Delhi

India-CSIRO Partnerships as part of the India Economic Strategy (IES)

India-CSIRO Partnerships as part of the India Economic Strategy (IES)

Under the updated India Economic Strategy (IES) released in 2022, CSIRO and India have made a commitment to draw on complementary capabilities and resource to solve shared global challenges.

By combining efforts and expertise, the partnerships aim to fast-track cutting edge research and technology to create impact for Australia and the world.

The partnerships are the:

  • India-Australia Innovation and Technology Challenge.
  • India-Australia Critical Minerals Research Partnership.
  • India-Australia Green Steel Partnership.

Indonesia - Health Ministry of the Republic Indonesia

National Clinical Terminology Service Implementation Project

As a key part of Indonesia’s digital health strategy, leaders from Indonesia’s Ministry of Health and CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have launched a project that will implement CSIRO’s Ontoserver and related products as one of the foundations for the country’s national clinical terminology service.

Indonesia High Commission

Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network

CSIRO, is on a mission to achieve an 80 per cent reduction in plastic waste entering the Australian environment by 2030.  

So, we formed the Indo Pacific Plastics Innovation Network (IPPIN) – a collective of researchers, innovators and investors who are redefining the life cycle of plastic from production to recycling. 

Indonesia Jakarta

Data4Development Fellowship Program

Our international data fellowship program in the Asia-Pacific will engage our expertise in data, AI and cyber to help address data related challenges unique to the region.

Indonesia Yogyakarta

Partnership with Indonesia's animal health laboratory

Our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) has a strong tradition of strengthening animal health laboratory capacity in detecting, preventing and controlling existing and emerging diseases throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
In a bilateral collaboration, Indonesia's Veterinary Centre Wates has partnered with ACDP to strengthen the capacity of Indonesia's animal health laboratories. The project is supported by the Australian Government’s Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security, based at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Indo-Pacific

Indo-Pacific Fisheries Management

The International Fisheries domain focusses on fisheries that operate on the high seas and/or cross-national jurisdictions and are subject to international management arrangements (e.g. Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, RFMOs).

The strategic research program for the domain has developed innovative methods for monitoring, assessment and management systems for large-scale international fisheries. We are world leaders in management advice for sustainable fisheries, which has food security and economic impacts for Australia and our regional neighbours in the Indo-Pacific. 

Japan-Mission

Hydrogen Industry Mission

Australia-Japan Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain – Pilot Project

The CSIRO Hydrogen Industry Mission focuses on leveraging CSIRO's hydrogen research capabilities in partnership with government, industry and the research community.

Tokyo, Japan

Piotrek and CSIRO to make next-gen lithium batteries for global market

A partnership between CSIRO, and Japanese specialist chemical manufacturer, Piotrek, will see Australian-developed battery technologies commercialised globally.

Japan - Tokyo main

Our work in Japan

CSIRO has been collaborating with Japan since the mid 1980's. We work with Japanese universities, research organisations and commercial businesses to deliver on science impact projects.

Japan - Tsukuba

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

We have been collaborating with National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) since the organisation's formation in 2001, and have a number of collaborative and staff exchange activities.

We have also worked with AIST in the areas of:

  • energy: clean coal, energy storage, PV and thermal solar energy
  • metal membranes/inorganic films
  • CO2 geological capture and storage/geothermal power generation
  • standard generalised markup language (GeoSci ML)
  • calibration of satellite data
  • flexible electronics

Yokohama, Japan

Australian solar shines on Japan

Japan is aiming to increase the percentage of its power that is generated from renewable sources.

It is the second international deployment of our solar thermal technology, following on from a similar project in Cyprus.

Korea

Our work in Korea

CSIRO collaborates with Korea on various projects and is planning further collaboration with Korean industry, research organisations and universities.

Malaysia

Our work in Malaysia

CSIRO has collaborated with organisations in Malaysia for more than 20 years. More recently, CSIRO and Malaysia have collaborated on projects in biosecurity and the mineral resources sector.

Malaysia - Mission

AquaWatch Mission

Malaysia AquaWatch pilot site

We are working with collaborators from across industry, research and government to co-design and deliver a 'weather service for water quality' to help safeguard freshwater and coastal resources in Australia and around the world.

Mexico

Hylogging: saving millions through automated drill core logging

HyLogging ticks two boxes for the Australian mining industry – it is making a demonstrable difference to exploration and mining competitiveness and it is improving our mining services exports.

Considered a major step forward in providing consistency and objectivity in the drill core logging process, the HyLogging system provides new information on the mineralogy of ore deposits.

It dramatically improves geologists' efficiency and productivity by providing them with 'a new set of eyes' to map mineral composition rapidly and objectively.

Philippines

Our work in the Philippines

CSIRO has worked on strategic research projects in the Philippines for many decades in agriculture, biosecurity and broader research impact frameworks.

Papua New Guinea

Regional development for marine sustainability

We're working with Papua New Guinea and Indonesia to develop effective sustainable fisheries management and provide capacity building to in-country fisheries agencies and universities.

Our work with PNG's shark and ray fishery has led to new biodiversity discoveries and will support sustainable management of the fishery into the future.

Yule Island, Papua New Guninea

Rock lobster fishery balances lifestyle and livelihood

Researchers are studying the Torres Strait tropical rock lobster fishery to develop a scientific approach to integrate cultural factors into natural resource management.

We have developed an objective scientific approach that reflects the importance of cultural considerations in Indigenous communities. It also takes into account these communities are often driven by considerations that are not economic.

Singapore

MOU for Cooperation on Low-Emissions Solutions

Australia is working with Singapore to find solutions to global climate change challenges through the Singapore-Australia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cooperation on Low-Emissions Solutions.

Singapore City

Sustainable Agriculture across ASEAN

CSIRO is a lead partner of the ASEAN FAW Action Plan aimed at improving integrated pest management practices and effective control of Fall Armyworm across Southeast Asia.

Singapore

Our work in Singapore

CSIRO has an extensive portfolio of projects that we undertake with our Singaporean researcher partners. Our work in Singapore spans health, deep tech, disaster resilience and more.

Singapore Mission

Future Protein Mission

Singapore Future Protein, Innovations in Food for Sustainable Partnerships

The Future Protein Mission aims to create and value-add $10 billion worth of nutritious and high-quality protein products to feed the world. It will use innovative science and technology to achieve this ambitious goal by 2030.

Southeast Asia

Earth Observation for Climate Smart Innovation

Australia’s national science and geoscience agencies, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia, are embarking on an initiative to support the growth and implementation of Earth observation based products and services in South-East Asia.

The Earth Observation for Climate Smart Innovation project (EOCSI) will deploy a new Earth observation analysis platform powered by CSIRO’s Earth Analytics Science and Innovation hub (EASI) that uses Open Data Cube technology. The new platform will be used to engage local government, business and education institutions to take advantage of Earth observation for the development of climate smart applications.

Thailand

Our work in Thailand

CSIRO has worked with partners in Thailand since the 1980s in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and has recently expanded the scope of our partnerships to include astronomy, food and health, and biosecurity.

Thailand - Bangkok

Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network

CSIRO, is on a mission to achieve an 80 per cent reduction in plastic waste entering the Australian environment by 2030.  

So, we formed the Indo Pacific Plastics Innovation Network (IPPIN) – a collective of researchers, innovators and investors who are redefining the life cycle of plastic from production to recycling.  

Thailand - Nonthaburi

Energy storage and hydrogen

CSIRO and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on energy storage technologies, batteries and clean hydrogen.

UK-Mission

AquaWatch Mission

AquaWatch UK pilot site

We are working with collaborators from across industry, research and government to co-design and deliver a 'weather service for water quality' to help safeguard freshwater and coastal resources in Australia and around the world.

UK - NSF Global Centers

National Science Foundation Global Centers - United Kingdom

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Global Centers Program is an ambitious new initiative to fund international, interdisciplinary collaborative research centers that will apply best practices of broadening participation and community engagement to develop use-inspired/applied research on climate change and clean energy, leading to foreseeable benefits to society.

This Program will prioritise research collaborations which foster team science, community-engaged research, and use knowledge-to-action frameworks. The proposed research work should maximize the benefits of international, interdisciplinary collaborations.

CSIRO along with the US National Science Foundation (NSF), United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) are joining forces on a true multi-lateral science partnership that unites leading research institutions across the globe to solve shared challenges on Climate Change and Clean Energy.

USA-California-Mission

AquaWatch Mission

AquaWatch California pilot site

We are working with collaborators from across industry, research and government to co-design and deliver a 'weather service for water quality' to help safeguard freshwater and coastal resources in Australia and around the world.

Golden, Colorado, USA

Our work in the USA

The United States of America is CSIRO's largest international partner and we have long-standing and extensive relationships with US government and corporate organisations. 

CSIRO US supports the Australian Government's National Innovation and Science Agenda and increases Australia's capacity to bring world-leading technologies to global markets.

San Francisco

Our team in the USA

The CSIRO US team helps facilitate relationships that connect Australian researchers with US projects in a number of different industries.

USA-SanFran-Mission

AquaWatch Mission

AquaWatch San Francisco pilot site

We are working with collaborators from across industry, research and government to co-design and deliver a 'weather service for water quality' to help safeguard freshwater and coastal resources in Australia and around the world.

Seattle, USA

Our partnership with Boeing

CSIRO and Boeing's thriving 30 year relationship.
Our alliance with Boeing entices the brightest minds to advance innovation in space sciences, advanced materials, data analytics, energy and direct manufacturing. Together we have delivered a range of technological breakthroughs.

Washington DC, USA

US National Science Foundation

We are joining with the US National Science Foundation to deepen collaborations between Australia and the US and to increase the global impact of scientific research and technology.
In 2022, CSIRO and the US National Science Foundation established a memorandum of understanding to establish multiple pathways for expanding and deepening research collaborations between the US and Australia. Like CSIRO, the NSF has fuelled discoveries and innovations, which have improved lives. By supporting both curiosity-driven research and solutions-oriented work, the NSF empowers researchers to make giant leaps forward in discovery, redefining the boundaries of science, and making the world a better place for everyone.

Vietnam - Australian Embassy

Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network

CSIRO, is on a mission to achieve an 80 per cent reduction in plastic waste entering the Australian environment by 2030.  

So, we formed the Indo Pacific Plastics Innovation Network (IPPIN) – a collective of researchers, innovators and investors who are redefining the life cycle of plastic from production to recycling.  

Vietnam - Hanoi

Aus4Innovation

Aus4Innovation is a 10-year A$33.5 million development assistance program that aims to strengthen Vietnam’s innovation system, prepare for and embrace opportunities associated with Industry 4.0, and help shape Vietnam’s innovation agenda in science and technology.

Through the Aus4Innovation program, managed by CSIRO, Australia and Vietnam will work together to explore emerging areas of technology and digital transformation, trial new models for partnerships between public and private sector institutions, and strengthen Vietnamese capability in digital foresight, scenario planning, commercialisation, and innovation policy.

Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam

CSIRO's partnerships with Vietnam span many decades. We have collaborated more recently on projects in the areas of aquaculture, space science and our digital future.

Vietnam - Mission

AquaWatch Mission

AquaWatch Vietnam Pilot Site

We are working with collaborators from across industry, research and government to co-design and deliver a 'weather service for water quality' to help safeguard freshwater and coastal resources in Australia and around the world.