26 researchers receive funding to support projects to address challenges posed by COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific region. Successful applicants have been announced for the Regional Collaborations Programme COVID-19 digital grants.

The Regional Collaborations Programme COVID-19 digital grants will help fund projects that use digital methods of collaboration to address shared regional challenges that either directly or indirectly relate to the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery in the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative is part of the Australian Government’s Global Innovation Strategy.

Successful recipients include:

• A project to share and analyse data from infrared spectroscopy of the COVID-19 virus generated by the Australian Synchrotron and other labs from around the world, providing researchers with detailed data on virus mutations
• The creation of an Asia-first digital repository for the transportation sector to advance a gender-inclusive response in the region in the wake of COVID-19.

The projects are expected to commence soon and must conclude by 31 January 2022.