Research Councils and Support Organization

in Southeast Asia

A Report on Science,
Technology and
Innovation Systems in
Indonesia, Vietnam,
Philippines, Thailand,
Malaysia and Singapore
 Definition of project concepts*

Science and technology (S&T), as well as

scientific and technical knowledge, refers to the
full range of social, natural, medical and life
sciences, as well the physical and engineering
disciplines.
Innovation is the use of new ideas, technologies
or ways of doing things, in a place where (or by
people for whom) they have not been used
before.
*as defined in the IDRC document entitled Research Councils and Support Organizations in Southeast
Asia: A Report on Science, Technology and Innovation Systems in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines,
Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore
 The Base of the Pyramid
Roughly four billion, a majority of the world’s
population, subsists at the base of the
pyramid (BoP), living on less than 4 US
dollars a day.
Asia, despite spectacular improvements in the
social and economic indicators over the last
few decades, remains home to 2/3 of the
world's poor.

Market opportunity or
public burden?
The BoP approach to finding
solutions to poverty

The BoP approach to poverty alleviation is a

compelling argument for the development of
a more inclusive and equitable capitalism.
The vast majority of the world’s
population constitutes an under-tapped
market that can be served with
innovative products tailored to their
needs and budgets.
- C.K. Prahalad & S. Stuart, The Fortune
at the Bottom of the Pyramid
iBoP Asia: S&T innovations for the BoP

GOAL: Foster S&T-based innovations that can

effectively address the needs of the BoP sector,
particularly in Southeast Asia.

A partnership between
 iBoP Asia: Specific objectives

The project will:

  Help raise awareness on the needs of the poor and the
role that S&T can play in addressing them
  Contribute to the development of policy and governance
tools that encourage S&T innovations for the BoP
 iBoP Asia: Specific objectives
  Build the capacity of researchers and research councils to
conduct studies on pro-poor S&T innovations, in
coordination with other key stakeholders
  Develop an open-platform for information-sharing and
learning among researchers and other innovators in the
region
  Facilitate dialogue among government, private sector, civil
society and BoP representatives to encourage multi-
sectoral partnerships
Regional partnership for promoting
pro-poor S&T innovations formed

iBoP Asia was formally launched on June 11, 2008.

The Project Advisory Committee (PAC) was first
convened on June 10, 2008 to establish a regional
partnership to promote S&T innovations for the poor.

Members of the PAC:

 Hon. Fortunato de la Pena
(Department of Science and
Technology-Philippines)
 Dr. Tusy Adibroto (National
Research Council-Indonesia)
 Regional partnership for promoting
pro-poor S&T innovations formed

  Dr. Damayanti Buchori

(Biodiversity Foundation, Indonesia)
  Mr. Guillermo Luz
(Ayala Foundation-Philippines)
  Dr. Yada Mukdapitak (National Science and
Technology Development Agency-Thailand)
  Dr. Hamid Zakri (Formerly United Nations
University Institute of Advanced Studies-Japan,
now with Academy of Science of Malaysia)
  Dr. Antonio G.M. La Vina
(Ateneo School of Government)
  Dr. Ellie Osir (IDRC Regional Office for
Southeast and East Asia)
 iBoP Asia online portal unveiled
The project’s official website,
www.ibop-asia.net, was
launched last June 11, 2008.

The site is a portal for local

and international news on
the BoP and on emerging
innovations for the BoP. It
provides a venue for
interaction among the key
players in the BoP
movement. Updates on BoP
researches being done in the
region are also made
available online.
 Let’s innovate together!
iTalk: Innovation Talk
(in partnership with the Ateneo Innovation Center)

GOAL: To bridge the gap between the academe and real world
innovators by providing a space and venue for dynamic learning and
collaboration among them. In its pilot run, iTalk will link iBoP’s pool of
grantees/partners with selected faculty members and students of the
School of Science and Engineering of the Ateneo de Manila
University via:

- An online Q&A board (iTalk Mailbox)

- Face-to-face and/or virtual learning dialogues
(iTalk Learning Lab)
iBoP Small Grants Program

The iBoP Small Grant Competition is open to

individual researchers and groups/institutions working
on BoP issues and/or the development of S&T
innovations and related policies.
 iBoP Small Grants Program
  Launched in July 2008 to support research studies on the
value and impact of S&T innovations on the BoP.

  Goal is to focus research efforts on new or emerging S&T-

based solutions to the social, economic and/or environmental
problems faced by those at the BoP.

  Grant awards ranging from CAD15,000 – 25,000 per project,

addressing BoP problems/issues in key areas: water and
sanitation, energy and environment, health, agriculture,
biodiversity and climate change.

  Also considered are projects highlighting enabling factors in

these areas, such as ICT and microfinance.
 2008 iBoP grantees
  Action for Economic Reforms (Philippines)
Clean Fuels for the Poor
  Computer Professionals’ Union (Philippines)
S&T in a Box
  Don Bosco Technical College (Philippines)
Waste Cooking Oil Jeepney Fuel: Evaluation, Promotion and
Business Development
  Ecological and Agricultural Development Foundation,
Inc. (Philippines)
Natural Waste into Organic Fertilizer and Affordable Fuel
 2008 iBoP grantees

  Emerging Futures Lab (Singapore)

Payment strategies for those with irregular income
  Kahublagan Sang Panimalay Foundation (Philippines)
Engaging Farmer-Researchers in a Study of Rainwater
Catchment Systems
  Philippine Business for Social Progress (Philippines)
Business Development Services for the Enterprising BoP
  Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philippines)
Policies and enabling factors for effective BoP participation in
R&D and trade of agricultural commodities
 2008 iBoP grantees

  Setara Foundation / NTFP Indonesia (Indonesia)

Developing mutual value creation through research on value
chain of biofuel production
  Sub-Plant Protection Department, Angiang Province
(Vietnam)
The Farmer and Rice Quality
  WorldFish Center (Philippine Office)
Isda.mobi: Mobile phone interface for small-scale fishers to
access fisheries-related information
 2009 iBoP grantees

  Department of Electrical Engineering, University of

Indonesia (Indonesia)
Solar Power Technology: Reforming the Small Poultry
Entrepreneurs in Rural Areas in Indonesia
  Tri-People Concern for Peace, Progress and Development
of Mindanao, Inc. (Philippines)
Development and Field-testing of Stackable Small-Sized
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines for Energy Generation in IP
communities in Southern Mindanao
  Microventures Inc. (Philippines)
Hapinoy Healthcare Hub
 2009 iBoP grantees

  Water, Agroforestry, Nutrition and Development

Foundation (Philippines)
Closing the Loop Between Sanitation and Food Production
  Aqueous Solutions (Thailand)
Carbon Filtration Drinking Water Systems
  A Single Drop for Safe Water (Philippines)
Impact of Water PODS to Increase Resilience and Self-
Reliance of Vulnerable Populations Through Community-Led
Provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Services
and Appropriate Technologies
 2009 iBoP grantees
  Philippine Rice Research Institute – Social and Agro
Industrial Ventures (Philippines)
Participatory Adaptability Trial of Submergence Tolerant Rice
Varieties, Disaster Resilient Crops and Climate-Change
Adaptable Crop Production Methods
  Food Processing Division, Industrial Technology
Development Institute, Department of Science and
Technology (Philippines)
The Production and Distribution of Emergency Food Reserve
(EFR) from Selected Crops: Government-Private Sector
Cooperation
Visit www.ibop-asia.net to know more about iBoP Asia and our
grantees.