The ICT R&D Grants Programme for Asia Pacific has the objective of building institutional research capacity in the developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region, in the area of Internet networking. It is directed at encouraging original and innovative networking solutions to specific development problems.

The Programme is overseen by a Committee established by UNDP-APDIP, AMIC, APNIC, IDRC-Pan Asia Networking and Microsoft. Grants for suitable research and development projects are available to Asia-based organisations on a competitive basis. Preference is given to projects that focus on practical solutions to real problems in Internet policies and technology applications.

Scope

• Research and development into innovative ICT applications, with a clear focus on practical and replicable approaches and techniques.
• Research on Internet infrastructure design, performance, management policy and related topics.
• Research with clear learning outcomes and social impacts from specific ICT policies and interventions and application of Internet technologies.
• Research on policy matters affecting Internet networking in the Asia-Pacific region, especially linked to areas such as culture, environment, gender equity, health, social equity, sustainable community development, technology diffusion/transfer, and benefits to rural areas.

• Development of practical solutions based on the application of proven and readily available Internet technologies with minimum basic research.

• Technology-related issues such as broadband connectivity, “last mile innovation, mobile and wireless technologies for the developing world, and increasing the capacity or efficiency of existing network infrastructures.

Eligibility

• Applications to ICT R&D Grants Programme are encouraged from developing country organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. Applications from a consortium of developed and developing country organizations are also encouraged as the programme promotes cross-country research and partnership, teamwork, transfer and sharing of research experiences and know-how. Project proposals that reflect co-funding with other agencies are favourably considered.
• Applicants must be a government body or a legally incorporated entity.
• Applicants from private organizations have to be in partnership with civil services / non-government organizations / not-for-profit organizations.
• Applications from unaffiliated individuals, or from teams of such individuals, will not be accepted.
• Applications that have been rejected by the Programme may not be re-submitted for consideration again.

Funding & Duration

The ICT R&D Grants Programme is for project funding only, and may not be accessed to cover core or recurrent funding needs. Two levels of grants can be applied for, as follows:

• Grants, up to a maximum budget of US$9,000 will be available over a term not exceeding 12 months.
• Grants, up to a maximum budget of US$30,000 will be available over a term not exceeding 24 months.

Approval Process

The ICT R&D Grants Programme Committee meets twice a year to review proposals. Responses to submissions will generally be given by the committee within 3 to 4 weeks of being reviewed. In certain cases this may take longer, depending on the complexity of the proposal and whether further information needs to be sought by the Committee.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Specific monitoring and evaluation processes to be used throughout the project will have been outlined in the proposal. Regular project progress reports (normally on a semi-annual basis), including internal formative evaluation reports and administrative and financial status reports, will be required. From time to time, the Programme may conduct evaluation that involves clusters of individual projects.

Copyright & Dissemination

The results of the ICT R&D Grants Programme projects will be transparent and made available publicly via the Internet and other means, as appropriate. Project results including papers, research data and findings, resources, techniques, and tools will be openly available and distributed in the interests of sharing research results and research experiences widely. Recipients under the ICT R&D Grants Programme agree to the condition of free dissemination of their project research results. The Programme will not seek their permission in disseminating and publishing research results in any form, and will duly acknowledge the authors of the work. Permission is not required for reproduction by users, the only conditions being that the project researchers should be appropriately acknowledged, and that copies of such reproductions should be provided to the Programme and the project researchers. Copyright for project results will reside with the research team and the Programme (and additionally with other funding agencies in the case of co-funded projects).