Regional Inclusive Innovation Policy Forum concluded in Beijing
Regional Inclusive Innovation Policy Forum, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Finance of China and the World Bank, organized by the Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC) in collaboration with the State Information Center of China and the KDI School of Public Policy and Management of Korea, is held on May 23-24 in Beijing, China.
The two-day event brought together 111 delegates from the government agencies, academia and the private sector of 13 APEC economies as well as two IFIs, i.e. the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. 33 delegates spoke at the forum, sharing their unique perspectives, insights and experiences on promoting inclusive innovation in their own country and organization.
The forum was opened on May 23 with two keynote speeches from Mr. Wang Zhongjing, Deputy Director General of the International Department of the Ministry of Finance of China, and Mr. Stefano Negri, Practice Manager of Competitive Industries Practice on Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship, Financial & Private Sector Development of the World Bank Group. It was chaired by Dr. Li Kouqing, Deputy Director General of AFDC.
Inclusive innovation is one of the keys to attaining accelerated and sustainable inclusive growth. As Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar, President of Global Research Alliance pointed out in the first conceptual framework analysis session, inclusive innovation is not about stripping products and services to make them cheap but about providing high quality products at affordable prices, i.e. getting More performance from Less cost for More people (MLM). It is about access equality despite income inequality.
There is a potential market at the economic base of the pyramid (BoP). However, it is not just 2.6 millions mouths, but they are 2.6 billion minds, they are grassroots innovators, and grassroots innovation is a vital component of national ecosystem, said Dr. Mashelkar. True inclusion of the 2.6 billion BoP population will require radical rethinking, bold redesigning and reinventing to produce high quality products at low cost for many people.
Inclusive innovation can be achieved through innovations in technology, business process, delivery system, research process, and public policy. All agents of inclusive innovations have important roles to play in the different stages of inclusive innovation. For instance, the private sector has a great opportunity to make a paradigm shift from ‘doing well and doing good’ to ‘doing well by doing good’. It requires great leaders with innovation, passion and compassion. The Government also has an important role to play and it can be a major catalyst, facilitator and champion of inclusive innovation.
Dr. Mashelkar’s very inspirational presentation set the tone for the heated discussion of the forum topics. Following that, delegates had in-depth discussions and interactions around topics of improving access to basic services, promoting and diffusing grassroots innovation, fiscal and monetary policies for inclusive innovation, creating a favorable policy environment for inclusive innovation, collaboration and coordination for inclusive innovation.
Many speakers also shared their country cases in promoting inclusive innovation. Mr. Mahabir Pun, CEO of Nepal Wireless, shared a case on connecting rural areas to the innovation system using wireless ICT; Mr. Nitin Gachhayat, President and Founder of Drishtee talked about how Drishtee serves the rural poor in India through innovative supply chain networks; Prof. Anil Gupta, Executive Vice-Chair of the National Innovation Foundation in India shared the Honey Bee Network-a grassroots innovation network in India; Mr. Asterio P. Saliot, Director of Agricultural Training Institute of the Philippines talked about how the e-Extension Program for Agriculture and Fisheries succeed in bridging the clients and agricultural and fishery production and market systems to enhance their profitability and global competitiveness.
Dr. Kitipong Promwong, Senior Director of National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office of Thailand discussed two types of inclusive development policies in Thailand – creating innovation for the BoP vs. empowering the BoP to create innovation, and his presentation triggered heated discussion among participants; Prof. Joon-Kyung Kim, Managing Director of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management introduced the Saemaul Movement in Korea which is regarded as one of the finest examples of sustainable rural community development in Korea; Mr. Jiao Jiwen, CEO of Tsinghua Solar talked about how his company managed to create a new low cost solar thermal system through R&D innovation for the BoP market to solve the energy issue in China; Dr. Tang Ming, Executive Vice Chairman of YouChange China Social Entrepreneur Foundation shared how his Foundation helped nurture entrepreneurship among college graduates to support grassroots innovation in China.
Reducing disparities in income levels and access to basic services between the rich and the poor, the urban and rural household has been listed as a major priority in the Chinese government’s development agenda. The forum serves as very useful and meaningful attempt in promoting inclusive innovation in China as well as the whole world so that more BoP population can participate in and benefit from the economic development process. With the support of the Chinese government, AFDC will continue to cooperate with the World Bank to explore the connotations of inclusive innovation to promote inclusive development.
