- 2009 Small Grants Competition
to adopt a cross-learning and iterative approach that will enable all researchers to learn from each other across different types of bio-innovation throughout the region.
- Overview of the Project
to enhance biological innovative capabilities, policies & institutions to support just, equitable & sustainable social & economic development in developing countries.
- Bio-innovations in the NEWS
Policy briefs and articles on relevant dimensions of bio-innovation.
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Can GM food mitigate world hunger?
Source: New York Times
A series of comments were published in The New York Times on the topics whether genetically modified (GM) food can mitigate world hunger or if other changes in food production are needed.
According to Paul Collier from Oxford University, climate change has made the adoption of GM essential. Particularly, Africa will need to accelerate crop adaptation and increase yields to cope with a changing climate and the fast growing population.
Per Pinstrup-Andersen from Cornell University thinks growing more food without damaging natural resources is essential. Science — including GM technology — must play a key role in helping farmers do this. New technologies must, of course, be tested before being released for commercial use but must also be weighed up against the health risks of not using them.
GM crops: still not a panacea for poor farmers
9 February 2010Source: SciDev. Net
Author: Dominic Glover
GM crops have been hailed as a 'pro-poor' technology, but the reality is much more complicated, says technology researcher Dominic Glover.
Genetically modified (GM) crops have been celebrated by some academics, commentators and analysts as a success for poor people in the developing world, with small-scale farmers able to benefit more than most from the technology.
But a closer look at the experiences of farmers reveals a more complicated picture.
It takes much more than the introduction of one or two new genes into a crop plant to transform a complex farming system. Many other technical, agro-ecological, economic and institutional factors must also be in place before poor and marginal farmers can reap the potential benefits of GM crops.
Innovation's development opportunities
27 January 2010
Source: SciDev. Net
Author: Gordon Conway and Jeff Waage
According to the author shared problems, new technology and better communication all mean innovation is ready to drive development. Rich and poor increasingly face shared problems such as agricultural insecurity, infectious and chronic diseases with global spread, and the challenges of developing a low carbon economy and adapting to climate change. There are more new technologies that can be turned quickly and easily towards the problems of rich or poor alike. For example biotechnology which has delivered improved crops and new vaccines for the rich. And because it harnesses fundamental genetic and molecular processes, it is also easily directed towards the crops and diseases of the poor. Rapid growth in information and communication technology is also making it easier for all countries to participate in science innovation — and to engage stakeholders and beneficiaries in this process, across historical boundaries of developed and developing countries. Shared challenges, shareable technologies and improved opportunities for communication and collaboration — all very recent trends — greatly improve science innovation’s chances of driving effective development. From the combined 80 years working in international development, the authors suggest five priority actions for governments in both developed and developing countries: 1) Empowerment; 2) Systems; 3)Accessibility; 4) Results-based; and 5) Profile-raising. To know what actions will best secure new opportunities and accelerate development read the full opinion piece. This opinion piece can be viewed online at the link below:
Innovation's development opportunities
27 January 2010
Source: SciDev. Net
Author: Gordon Conway and Jeff Waage
According to the author shared problems, new technology and better communication all mean innovation is ready to drive development. Rich and poor increasingly face shared problems such as agricultural insecurity, infectious and chronic diseases with global spread, and the challenges of developing a low carbon economy and adapting to climate change. There are more new technologies that can be turned quickly and easily towards the problems of rich or poor alike. For example biotechnology which has delivered improved crops and new vaccines for the rich. And because it harnesses fundamental genetic and molecular processes, it is also easily directed towards the crops and diseases of the poor. Rapid growth in information and communication technology is also making it easier for all countries to participate in science innovation — and to engage stakeholders and beneficiaries in this process, across historical boundaries of developed and developing countries. Shared challenges, shareable technologies and improved opportunities for communication and collaboration — all very recent trends — greatly improve science innovation’s chances of driving effective development. From the combined 80 years working in international development, the authors suggest five priority actions for governments in both developed and developing countries: 1) Empowerment; 2) Systems; 3)Accessibility; 4) Results-based; and 5) Profile-raising. To know what actions will best secure new opportunities and accelerate development read the full opinion piece. This opinion piece can be viewed online at the link below:
Winners of the Second Small Grants Competition Award
Published on Dec 9, 2009
The Launching Event and the award ceremony for the second small grants competition was held on Dec 8 2009, at Rama Gardens Hotel in Bangkok. During the program AIT Vice President for Research Prof Sudip K Rakshit, Senior Program Specialist IDRC Regional Office for Southeast and East Asia Dr Ellie Osir, Associate Professors of AIT Dr Edsel Sajor and Dr Bernadette Resurreccion were present. Five advisory committee members and seven international grant awardees were also present during the award ceremony.
Second Small Grants Competition Winners
Published on November 17, 2009
A total of 108 concept notes were received and were reviewed and evaluated by the AIT Core Team for merit in accordance with the published criteria and the program's focus. Out of the total concept notes received, 15 were shortlisted and requested to submit fully developed proposals. These were then evaluated by the project's advisory committee and seven were selected for the grants award.
We are pleased to announce the second Small Grants Competition winners of the Enabling Bio-innovation for Poverty Alleviation in Asia Programme.
Result of the Second Call for Proposals
Published September 30, 2009
A total of 108 concept notes were received by 22 September 2009, the extended deadline of concept note submission. These were reviewed and evaluated by the AIT Project Core Team for merit in accordance with the published criteria and the program's focus which is on bio-innovations demonstrated to be directly relevant to the social phenomenon of poverty specially on poor people’s livelihoods and basic health. Most concept notes expressed exceptional research ideas and were potentially meritorious contributions, thus short-listing the candidates proved to be a very difficult task.
Out of the 108 concept notes that we had received, 15 were requested to submit a fully developed proposals.
Extension of Deadline for Submission of Concept Notes
Published September 16, 2009
AIT Core Team has decided to extend the deadline of submission of concept notes to 22 September 2009. We encourage those who may be interested to submit their concept notes on or before this date. Shortlisting of applications would immediately follow.
Second Call for Proposals- Enabling Bio-innovations for Poverty Alleviation in Asia
Published August 10, 2009
The Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, with support from Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) launched in August 2009 the second call for proposals for the small grants competition program to tackle bio-innovation and its social and policy implications for poverty alleviation in the Asian Region.
Application Procedure and Deadline
Applications should be submitted in the form of a letter of intent (maximum of 2 pages) introducing the applicant (individual or organization), explaining the proposed research project, and its relevance to the themes discussed in the Call for Proposal.
Short-listed applicants will be requested to submit a 10 to 15 page fully developed research proposal.
Deadline for submission of Concept Notes: September 15, 2009 (extended till September 22, 2009)
Short-listed concept notes announced: September 30, 2009
Deadline for submission of Full Proposal: October 31, 2009
Announcement of Results: November 15, 2009
Small Grants Inception and Launching: December 2009
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Download Call for Proposals, Guidelines and Timeline (PDF)
Kindly check this website regularly for updates regarding the Call for Proposals.
Bio-innovations Asia Launching Event Draws Media Attention
Earlier this month, two Thai research proposals, along with five other foreign research papers, won grants awarded in the "2009 Bio-innovation Asia Competition", a project organised by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in collaboration with Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
The aim of the project is to stimulate and support research in bio-innovation in Asia,which emphasizes poverty alleviation. The awardees were selected from a total of 94 entries from 14 Asian countries. Each winner was granted C$18,000 (541,000 baht) to carry out the proposed study.
To enhance biological innovative capabilities, policies and institutions to support just, equitable and sustainable social and economic development in developing countries. |
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