Australia India Institute
The Australia India Institute is a non-profit policy research centre founded in 2008, hosted at the University of Melbourne, that produces research, publications, and track-1.5 dialogues to strengthen the Australia-India bilateral relationship across security, sustainable economies, cultural diplomacy, and education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Australia India Institute does
The Australia India Institute (AII) is a non-profit policy research institute founded in 2008 and hosted at the University of Melbourne, with approximately 35 staff. It is positioned as Australia's leading centre dedicated to the Australia-India bilateral relationship and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, operating across five named programmes: Security & Geopolitics (with a Defence sub-programme and a Seabed programme focused on submarine cable security), Sustainable Economies, Cultural Diplomacy, Education, and the Seabed programme. Its underlying technology footprint is minimal — AII does not sell commercial products; its deliverables are policy research, publications, and a portfolio of branded track-1.5 dialogues (Australia India Leadership Dialogue, Defence Conclave, Cables Dialogue, Kolkata Dialogue, Sydney Defence Tech Dialogue, Renewables Dialogue, plus newer 2025 events in Fiji and a trilateral Australia-India-Indonesia format).
The institute also operates the ARCH-India researcher cooperation platform (arch-india.org) and the Australia India Women Researchers' Exchange (AIWE) as collaboration infrastructure. Its revenue model is grant- and partnership-based rather than commercial: AII is funded through the Australian Government, the State Government of Victoria, the University of Melbourne, a DFAT grant under the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership, and institutional partnerships with bodies such as Investment NSW, ANU National Security College, La Trobe University, and India's Observer Research Foundation. Its customer base is therefore not commercial buyers but a stakeholder set of government policymakers, academic institutions, think tanks, and the Indian diaspora in Australia, consuming AII's research, dialogues, and media commentary (with senior staff appearing on ABC, Bloomberg TV, CNN-News18, and the Australian Financial Review).
Australia India Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Australia India Institute
- Legal name
- Australia India Institute
- Website
- https://aii.unimelb.edu.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Australia India Institute is a non-profit policy research centre founded in 2008, hosted at the University of Melbourne, that produces research, publications, and track-1.5 dialogues to strengthen the Australia-India bilateral relationship across security, sustainable economies, cultural diplomacy, and education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Australia India Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Policy Research and Think Tank Services
- NAICS
- International Affairs (92812), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG)
Keywords
Where Australia India Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Australia India Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Australia India Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Australia India Institute is a non-profit research and policy centre dedicated to promoting support for and understanding of the Australia-India bilateral relationship and Indo-Pacific cooperation. It delivers policy research, hosts track 1.5 dialogues, and runs education and cultural exchange programs including the ARCH-India researcher cooperation platform.
Product overview
The Australia India Institute is Australia’s leading research and policy centre dedicated to the Australia-India bilateral relationship. Rather than a unified software product, it offers a portfolio of programs (Security & Geopolitics, Sustainable Economies, Cultural Diplomacy, Education, and Seabed Programs), event-based dialogues (including the Australia India Renewables Dialogue, Defence Conclave, Cables Dialogue, Kolkata Dialogue, and Sydney Defence Tech Dialogue), and the ARCH-India researcher cooperation platform. The institute also produces policy publications on strategic topics such as Indo-Pacific submarine cable security.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Security & Geopolitics Program
- Sustainable Economies Program
- Cultural Diplomacy Program
- Education Program
- Seabed Program
- ARCH-India
- Australia India Women Researchers' Exchange (AIWE)
- Australia India Renewables Dialogue
- Australia India Defence Conclave
- Australia-India Cables Dialogue
- Kolkata Dialogue
- Sydney Defence Tech Dialogue
- Securing Indo-Pacific Submarine Cable Networks Report
Companies that use Australia India Institute
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Australia India Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Australia India Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- ANU National Security CollegemajorCo-hosted roundtable on Indian Ocean Maritime Security in Canberra with ANU National Security College.
- Investment New South WalesmajorPartnership with Investment NSW for the Australia India Renewables Dialogue on sidelines of Australian Clean Energy Summit.
- University of MelbournecoreThe institute is hosted at and supported by the University of Melbourne, providing academic infrastructure and research capabilities.
- Australian GovernmentcoreThe Australian Government is a key partner in supporting the institute's work on bilateral relations.
- State Government of VictoriacoreVictoria State Government partners with the institute to promote Australia-India relations.
- Observer Research Foundation (India)corePartnership with India's leading think tank for the Kolkata Dialogue to promote Australia-India cooperation in building resilience and security of Indo-Pacific Island States.
- La Trobe UniversitymajorResearch Fellow Dr Samuel Bashfield is based at La Trobe University, contributing to Indo-Pacific security research.
- Australian India Women's Coalition (AIWC)minorListed as a partner organization, focused on women-related exchanges between Australia and India.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Australia India Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Perth USAsia Centre: Australian think tank focused on the Indo-Pacific with policy research and convening. Overlaps with AII on Indo-Pacific policy, geopolitical analysis, and Australia-Asia engagement.
- Brookings Institution: Large US-based public policy organization covering international affairs including India and the Indo-Pacific. Comparable as an established, multi-program policy research institution.
- Atlantic Council: US-based international affairs think tank with significant Indo-Pacific programming. Comparable as a global policy research and convening institution with government and corporate partnerships.
- Centre for Policy Research (India): Leading Indian public policy think tank covering governance, economic, and foreign policy issues. Comparable as a non-government policy research body engaging Indian and international audiences.
Emerging players
- India Foundation: India-based think tank focused on foreign policy and international relations, with growing engagement on Australia-India ties. Comparable as a foreign policy research and dialogue body.
Direct peers
- Lowy Institute: Australia's premier international affairs think tank. Overlaps directly with AII on Indo-Pacific foreign policy research, policy commentary, and government engagement.
- Australian Strategic Policy Institute: Australian defense and strategic policy think tank. Directly comparable on security and geopolitics research, including the Indo-Pacific, where AII's Security & Geopolitics program competes for mindshare and funding.
- Carnegie India: Carnegie Endowment's India center, focused on Indian foreign policy, security, and political economy. Comparable as an internationally backed policy research outlet working on India-related international affairs.
- Observer Research Foundation: India's leading foreign policy think tank and a confirmed AII partner via the Kolkata Dialogue. Directly comparable as a non-partisan policy research institute focused on international relations and Indo-Pacific issues.
- Ananta Centre: India-based policy dialogue platform with a strong Australia-India track. Comparable niche focus on bilateral dialogue, policy convening, and track 1.5 engagement.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Australia India Institute social profiles
Digital presenceAustralia India Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Australia India Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Australia India Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Australia India Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Australia India Institute
What does Australia India Institute do?
The Australia India Institute is a non-profit research and policy centre dedicated to promoting support for and understanding of the Australia-India bilateral relationship and Indo-Pacific cooperation. It delivers policy research, hosts track 1.5 dialogues, and runs education and cultural exchange programs including the ARCH-India researcher cooperation platform.
Is Australia India Institute a public or private company?
Australia India Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Australia India Institute founded?
Australia India Institute was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Australia India Institute based?
Australia India Institute is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.
Who are Australia India Institute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Perth USAsia Centre, Brookings Institution, Atlantic Council and Centre for Policy Research (India). India Foundation is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Lowy Institute, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Carnegie India, Observer Research Foundation and Ananta Centre.
Does Australia India Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Australia India Institute.
What industry is Australia India Institute in?
Australia India Institute's product category is Policy Research and Think Tank Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAMAJ, Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory, with a secondary code of BPAIAIAG, Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration. Its NAICS code is 92812 and its SIC code is 9721.