Hyderabad figures among the locations being considered to host one of three ‘Landing Pads’ that Australian government proposes to establish as part of its measures to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.

Australian government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda is in the process of establishing “landing pads” in some global innovation hubs. Landing pads are operational physical spaces in which Australian market-ready startups can access entrepreneurial talent, mentors, investors and a wider-connected network of innovation hubs.

Of the five, two landing pads have been established, one each in San Francisco and Tel Aviv. For the three remaining, the evaluation process is under way.

“We will be evaluating the potential for sites such as Hyderabad and other places in India as a location for Landing Pad,” Amanda Hodges, Senior Trade Commissioner of Australian Trade Commission said here on Thursday, while briefing media on the visit of a delegation representing Australian ICT Centres of Excellence to Hyderabad.

The locations are to be finalized in a few months, she said, adding Indian cities have the potential to host the facility. Incubators, accelerators and eco-systems in the cities are being considered as part of the evaluation process. Besides the city, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and New Delhi figure in the visit that began on February 22.

To queries, Ms.Hodges said negotiations towards the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Australia is likely to be finalized in the next six months.

The talks for CECA, or Free Trade Agreement (FTA), between India and Australia started in 2011 to boost bilateral trade and investment.

Hodges also said at the moment, six of the top Indian IT companies have made significant investments in Australia. She said the mission provides an opportunity for Indian companies to discuss opportunities to partner with Australian research institutions and technology firms.