HECs Grand Challenge Fund 2020 HISTORY, APPROACH, THEMATIC AREAS, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

HEC’s Grand Challenge Fund 2020 HISTORY, APPROACH, THEMATIC AREAS, AND SOME POINTERS JAN 29, 2020 DR. ATHAR OSAMA, PROGRAMME CHAIR, GRAND CHALLENGE FUND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION

Presentation Outline  Grand Challenges: Definitions and History P 3-5  Grand Challenges in the World P 6-12  HEC’s GCF Model: Underlying Assumptions and Themes P 13-17  Researchers Must Dos & HEC’s Additional Support P 18-20  What Would a Successful GCF Project Look Like? P 21

Grand Challenges: Definitions A grand challenge is one or more specific  critical barrier(s) that, if removed, would help solve an important health problem in the developing world with a high likelihood of global impact through widespread implementation. Grand Challenges Canada has  developed a concept called Integrated Innovation to describe the importance and potential impact of combining scientific/technological, social and business innovation. The core of this concept is that:  Integrated Innovation is the coordinated application of scientific/technological, social and business innovation to develop solutions to complex challenges.

Grand Challenges: A Brief History Dr. David Hilbert first applied the concept of a Grand Challenge to the field of mathematics  in which he identified 23 specific challenges. There is also, some similarity between Grand Challenge idea with that of Prizes promoted primarily through the X Prize Foundation. The concept was revitalized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who, in 2003, identified  14 Grand Challenges in Global Health. In 2008, they also launched a new $100M, five-year initiative called Grand Challenges Explorations, which is an extension of the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative. At the same time that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was developing its Grand  Challenges Explorations initiative, a group of prominent global health scientists, under the leadership of Dr. Abdallah Daar, identified a set of Grand Challenges in Chronic NonCommunicable Diseases that were published in Nature November 2007. Finally, in the summer of 2010, Dr. Rajiv Shah (the Administrator of the United States Agency  for International Development – the United States government agency for foreign economic and humanitarian assistance), committed to use science, technology and innovation to address Grand Challenges for Development. Lately, number of Grand Challenge Initiatives have been launched in the UK including a  GBP 1.5 billion Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and several smaller initiatives

Benefits of the Grand Challenge Approach  Grand Challenges provides a sharp focus . A strong Grand Challenge is both highly specific and highly focused identifying a specific barrier preventing progress in a area. This leads to a targeted requests-for-proposals, effective accountability system based on clearly defined performance parameters.  Grand Challenges brings the best minds to the table. By articulating important challenges that have the potential to deliver real impact and by allocating significant resources to address these challenges it brings the best minds to the table by engaging leading scientists who might not otherwise be engaged this research.  Grand Challenges help build and strengthen communities of innovators – communities that are collaborative, interdisciplinary, and global.  Grand Challenges can capture the public’s imagination . Project teams led by world-leading scientists working to solve pressing challenges can offer compelling storylines to capture the interest of media and the public.  Grand Challenges can be used as a platform to address policy and governance issues.

WHO Grand Challenges in Global Health Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in 2003, identified 14 Grand Challenges in Global Health. Since these Grand Challenges were first  identified, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has worked with a number of partners including the Wellcome Trust, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health to invest more than $450M to fund 44 research teams across the world who are developing and implementing solutions to these challenges. 14 Grand Challenges focusing on vaccines,  disease transmission, nutrition, drug resistance, chronic infections, etc.

Grand Challenges in Non Communicable Diseases Article Published in Nature (2007) by A. Dar et al took a very detailed look at one problem, 6 goals, 20 grand challenges…  Raise Public Awareness  Enhance economic, legal, and environmental policies  Modify risk factors  Engage business and community  Mitigate health impacts of poverty and urbanization  Re-orientate health systems

UK’s Global Challenges Research Fund The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) is a £1.5 billion fund announced by the UK Government in late 2015 to  support cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges faced by developing countries. Equitable Access to Sustainable Development  secure and resilient food systems supported by sustainable marine resources and agriculture  sustainable health and well being  inclusive and equitable quality education  clean air, water and sanitation  affordable, reliable, sustainable energy.  Sustainable Economies and Societies  sustainable livelihoods supported by strong foundations for inclusive economic growth and innovation  resilience and action on short-term environmental shocks and long-term environmental change  sustainable cities and communities  sustainable production and consumption of materials and other resources.  Human Rights, Good Governance and Social Justice  engaing in fragile and conflict-affected states, while multiple refugee crises are applying mounting pressure in countries of  origin, transit and destination. The GCRF will also support research and innovation that enables us to: understand and respond effectively to forced displacement and multiple refugee crises  reduce conflict and promote peace, justice and humanitarian action  reduce poverty and inequality, including gender inequalities.  Support excellent research that addresses a significant problem or development challenge, directly contributing to the  sustainable and inclusive prosperity of people in developing countries.

UK Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund We will put the UK at the forefront of the AI and data  revolution. We will harness the power of innovation to help meet  the needs of an ageing society. We will maximise the advantages for UK industry from  the global shift to clean growth – through leading the world in the development, manufacture and use of low carbon technologies, systems and services that cost less than high carbon alternatives. We will become a world leader in shaping the future  of mobility. We are on the cusp of a profound change in how we move people, goods and services around our towns, cities and countryside. This is driven by extraordinary innovation in engineering, technology and business models.