Three quarters of all future telecommunication connections around the world will be made in today's emerging markets. The users of these services sit at what is often referred to as the “bottom of the pyramid”, and most of them reside in developing Asia.

 

With the explosion in Internet connectivity, and the expansion of and convergence to IP networks, it is no longer a question of whether ICT will make an impact in social/economic activities in this region, but of how it will do so. With the increased penetration of microelectronics, mobile and wireless technologies, for example, there is a great opportunity for innovation in extreme local data collection, management, and representation. In the context of complex challenges such as climate change (and the need to understand them), technological innovation could well tip the balance in favour of survival and prosperity, as opposed to catastrophe.

 

However, much of the funding for such innovative research is concentrated among a group of established institutions – many which are based in non-developing parts of the world. As such, there is a need to provide opportunities to individuals and institutions based in developing regions of the world to conduct practical applied research projects, based in local expertise and experience, and where small amounts of seed funding can produce much more innovative and effective outcomes.

 

This small grants programme is aimed at supporting practical applied research towards the provision, development and application of Internet and related ICTs. Innovation is the driving criterion for project selection – innovations in technology and models where ICT has a role in solving development problems; and innovations for expanding the provision and uses of the Internet and other ICTs. Based on lessons from similar granting programs previously supported, such as the PAN ICT R&D Grants Program [add link], this program includes robust communication, knowledge sharing and community-building practices.

 

Research proposals can range from those that examine architectural and technical issues - such as the implementation of IPv6, localization and standards - to those which develop alternative modes of connectivity - such as wireless deployment, public access models and related user and business incentives. In looking at development interventions, ICTs have been shown to be effective in the delivery of health, government, and educational services. While common characteristics and benefits, such as efficiency gains, are cited, the small grants allows for experimentation and in situ knowledge of how innovative applications of ICT can be useful or not.

 

The small grants mechanism is a means for PAN to explore action research pilots and technological research and development in areas of health, education, governance, and livelihoods. 

 

We expect that the project will yield a body of evidence that serves to better understand which technological innovations are best suites to solved development problems in the areas of health, education, governance and livelihoods.  It is also expected that the project will yield development of innovative ICT applications.