Maitri Grant Program 2026-27

Through a program of impactful and innovative projects, the Centre for Australia-India Relations intends to achieve the following outcomes:

• stronger Australian business awareness of, and capability to engage with, economic opportunities in India
• deeper public understanding of India and a wider pool of experts offering policy solutions relevant to the Australia-India relationship
• greater recognition of the contribution of diverse Indian-Australian communities to our national story
• stronger arts, cultural and sporting connections between Australia and India

The Centre is seeking to fund projects that will:

• drive new areas of business engagement between Australia and India in sectors outlined in A New Roadmap for Australia's Economic Engagement with India, including the four superhighways of growth and other key priorities:
  • clean energy technology
  • initiatives that promote education and skills
  • maximising agribusiness opportunities under the Australian-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA)
  • initiatives that will promote tourism from India to Australia and major events tourism
  • projects that bolster the capacity to increase two-way investment
  • identify and provide education and opportunities for businesses without mature existing channels for market access, including SMEs and First Nations businesses
  • activities that support sports collaboration to generate economic engagement and align with the India-Australia Roadmap for Sports Collaboration
• deliver high impact cultural, and people to people projects, activities and exchanges that may:
  • build India capability at major Australian cultural institutions
  • leverage the Audiovisual Co-production agreement
  • deepen public understanding of India and offer strategic policy options for the Australia-India bilateral relationship
  • harness diaspora influence to promote the Australian Indian relationship.

To be eligible you must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered for the purposes of GST
• be a permanent resident or citizen of Australia
• have an account with an Australian financial institution
• be located in Australia

and be one of the following entity types:

• a company incorporated in Australia
• a company incorporated by guarantee
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
• an incorporated association
• a partnership
• a joint (consortia) application with a lead organisation
• a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
• a publicly funded research organisation
• an individual
• an Australian local government body
• an Australian state or territory government body
• a Corporate Commonwealth Entity
• be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006