PAN: ICT4D in Asia

A few Words about IDRC

• International Development Research Centre• Canadian Crown Corporation that focusses

on research for development• 4 program areas:

– Social and Economic Policy– Environment and Natural Resource Management– Innovation, Policy, Science– Information and Communication Technologies for

Development

PAN Asia Networking

• IDRC program in ICT4D in Asia since

1995• Focused on understanding how ICTs

can solve development problems• In the process of developing a new

prospectus for 2006-2011

PAN Research Projects

* PAN supports ICT4D research in all Asian countries through the R&D Competitive Grants

Knowledge Centre in Pondicherry, India :

Information Village Research Project

Pan Localisation

• Studies on Distance learning in Asia– Accessibility, Acceptance and Effects of DLT in South Asia – The Viability of Mobile SMS Technologies for Non-formal DL in Asi

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– Evaluation and Adaptation of Open Source Software for DL in Asia – A Platform for Virtual Research and Research Training in Asia – Instructional Design Training for ICT-based DL in Asia  – A Repository of Reusable Learning Objects for DL in Asia – E-assessment Methods and Models for Student Evaluation in Asia– Best practices in DL Technology for Capacity Building in

Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam  

PAN Futures: Ideas About Pan Programming

for the Next 5 Years

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PAN in the Future: 3 Themes

1. Policies and Access: Research on Policies for Promoting Knowledge Societies

2. Technologies for Development: Applied Research through Testing ICT Innovations for Development

3. Effects: Capacity Building for Research on the Socio-Economic Effects of ICTs on User Communities

1- Policies

Research on Policies for Promoting Knowledge Societies – IPR: What are the impacts on knowledge

creation and livelihoods of current IPR regimes? What is the potential of alternatives (Creative Commons, etc..)?

– Regulatory reform: What are the impacts of current Asian telecom policies on the poor?

– Regulating in a changing technological environment: What are the policy implications of new technological innovations (Wimax, VOIP, etc)?

2- Technologies

Applied Research through testing ICT Innovations for Development – What technologies are appropriate for solving

health, education, governance and livelihood issues?

– What are the appropriate business models for ensuring technology pilots are sustainable? How can pilots be scaled up?

– How can new, pervasive, technologies like mobile phones, be harnessed for solving development problems?

3- Effects

Capacity Building for Research on the Socio-Economic Effects of ICTs on user Communities – What are the models for understanding the impacts of

new technologies on poverty?– How are technologies like mobile phones changing social

interactions? In what ways is society changing?– Who are the winners and losers in this new Asian

Information society?

How will PAN do its Programming (Modalities) ?

• Thematic regional networks (e.g. ICTs and health, pro poor ICT policy research, etc..)

• Focussed country programming (least developed countries)

• Main partners:– Academic and research institutions in Asia– NGOs – Civil Society– PPPs with Asian ICT innovators

Thank You

www.idrc.ca/panasia