ISIF dangles N3.5m for Internet projects

The Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF) is dangling the sum of $30,000 (about N3,532,200) for each Internet and digital communication based projects.

ISIF is a joint initiative between the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Internet Society (ISOC), and the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), aimed currently at stimulating creative solutions to ICT development needs in the Asia Pacific region.

Under the ISIF guidelines, it provides grants of up to US$30,000 per project to help advance local and regional projects aimed at introducing, improving, and applying Internet and other digital communications technologies for the benefit of Asia-Pacific users and communities.

APNIC Director General, Mr. Paul Wilson said the proposed innovative projects, such as the ones funded by ISIF, are significant drivers to Internet and technology growth in the region.

APNIC, therefore, encourages members of the Asia Pacific ICT community to submit their projects for consideration.

For ISOC President, Lynn St. Amour, it is believed that the Internet could contribute to a better quality of life for people all over the world.

“ISIF helps ensure that local knowledge and experience are directed at tapping the potential of ICTs to address real-world problems with creative, innovative solution,” St. Amour said.

Stressing that in Asia Pacific, for instance, the Internet and mobile phone development are on different trajectories.

Chairman of the ISIF Grants Committee and Regional Director at IDRC, Southeast and East Asia, Mr. Richard Fuchs, said they hope the ISIF research fund could help illuminate and address the new ‘digital divergence’ in the region.

Equally, project proposals from Asia-Pacific based public or private sector organisations, university or research and development institutions, and non-government organisations would be considered. Applications, he said, must be aligned with ISIF programme objectives, selection criteria and administrative guidelines, noting that individuals are not eligible for grants.

The ISIF grant round for 2008 is now open and applications are due 1 September 2008.
A total of US$375,000 (about N44,152,500 million) will be available for grants in 2008 even as the grants would be made on a competitive basis and successful applicants will be required to make project details, outcomes and findings publicly available.


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