The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand in partnership with the International Development Research Center (IDRC) has launched the grant for carrying out research in bio-innovations that can lead to alleviation of poverty in Asia. NGOs and individuals both can apply for the grant. This grant research programme aims to increase the relevance of bio-innovation fulfilling socially responsible goals. Although high quality research has been undertaken in bio-technology, it is often seen that this is mostly relevant for private and multinational companies who use it for profit-oriented purposes only. However, this research intends to change this basic perception and support the idea where bio-innovations can be used for alleviating poverty in the developing countries of Asia.
As innovation will be the critical component of the programme, it is viewed “as the widespread generation and utilization of knowledge in society involving the following features: interaction of diverse research and non-research organizations, individuals and groups; combinations of technological and institutional innovations; continuous evolutionary cycles of learning; shifting roles of information producers, users and a need based exchange of knowledge; and an institutional context that supports interactions, learning and knowledge flows. Innovation therefore is a social process involving and interlinking individuals and groups nested and operating in various domains or components such as: the research domain (e.g. R&D, universities, and private laboratories); enterprise domain (e.g. seed firms and vaccine manufacturing); demand domain (e.g. farmer users, urban poor residents, primary health centers); and policy domain (e.g. government agencies; international protocols; policies specific to industry and agriculture, or public health and safety).”
Each selected research project is eligible to receive a grant of up to CAD 18,000. Initially, only concept notes are to be submitted after which detailed proposals will have to be furnished on request. The concept note will be a maximum of two pages explaining the research project and giving information about the applicant. The deadline for submitting concept notes is 15 September 2009. For more information, visit this link.
