Frontier Tech Hub Newsletter #12
Welcome to the twelfth issue of the Frontier Tech Hub’s regular newsletter, with a wide range of updates from across the Hub.
This month, we discussed:
Details of our newest and 8th cohort of FCDO Pioneers
A summary of our evidence about internet-enabled sensors
An interview with one of our brilliant Pioneers
A video from our Futures team about the frontier technologies that are going to have the biggest impact on development in the next 7 years.
12 new innovative experiments to test solutions to global challenges
From gene-editing to chatbots, and from bioplastics to assistive tech, discover the latest pioneering ideas which will apply frontier technologies to global critical challenges.
Our 8th call for ideas has closed, and the newest cohort of pilots and FCDO Pioneers have been chosen. We received applications from 25 countries in total, and after a rigorous application process, we are happy to welcome the winning pilots to the Frontier Tech Hub portfolio.
This time, our pioneers will be approaching challenges in healthcare, waste management, pollution, urban accessibility, and more. Our newest pilots will be testing and learning across the globe, from Malaysia to Senegal.
Click here to discover more about the newest cohort of Frontier Tech Hub Pioneers.
Learning from the Frontier Tech Hub pilots using internet-enabled sensors for impact delivery
Since the programme’s launch, 10 Frontier Tech Hub pilots have used Internet-enabled sensors as part of proposed technical solutions aimed at delivering social, environmental and humanitarian impact.
Our evidence team has conducted a review to understand what has been proven by our pilots, on the potential for these solutions to work within different contexts, and unlock impact. We’ve surfaced some of the key enablers and barriers of testing and scaling these technologies, as well as some outstanding areas of opportunity for further work.
Click here to learn more about internet-enabled sensors for impact.
Learning from the Frontier Tech Hub pilots using internet-enabled sensors for impact delivery
Since the programme’s launch, 10 Frontier Tech Hub pilots have used Internet-enabled sensors as part of proposed technical solutions aimed at delivering social, environmental and humanitarian impact.
Our evidence team has conducted a review to understand what has been proven by our pilots, on the potential for these solutions to work within different contexts, and unlock impact. We’ve surfaced some of the key enablers and barriers of testing and scaling these technologies, as well as some outstanding areas of opportunity for further work.
Click here to learn more about internet-enabled sensors for impact.
Pioneer of the Month - Christina Toepell
The original spark for what eventually became Project Sapling came to Christina Toepell when she was on holiday in the north east of Sierra Leone.
“I was travelling around for my Easter holiday, going on hikes,” says the Private Sector Development Adviser, “and one day a group of young girls passed our way, carrying firewood on their heads. I was told they had been walking like that for eight miles and that they were going to sell the wood at market for less than one dollar. That made me realise that, if we really wanted to help stop deforestation then people would need to be able to make more money from a living tree than a dead one. Otherwise, it just doesn't work. That's where this project comes in: to show communities the real value of a living tree."
That realisation didn’t lead to Project Sapling becoming a reality straight away. It needed a tech partner with a spare drone to enter the picture first. But before we get to that, it’s important to understand the underlying economic and environmental pressures that exist in Sierra Leone, and why the existing approaches to those pressures may not be enough right now.
Click here to discover more about Christina Toepell's drone-based pilot.
What are the frontier technologies showing the most promise for impact in international development?
In 20 minutes, learn about the frontier technologies that are going to have the biggest impact on development in the next 7 years. How this will affect your work. And what potential futures might emerge as those technologies evolve.
That’s all for this edition…
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