Civic Innovation Program

The Civic Innovation Program is designed to tackle pressing societal challenges by fostering partnerships between academic institutions, local governments, and community organizations. Inspired by the MetroLab Civic Innovation Challenge of the National Science Foundation, this program serves as a platform for co-creation, experimentation, and scaling solutions to real-world problems across the Asia-Pacific region. We also actively work through our Co-creation Labs to provide multi-collaboration platforms within and across cities and countries.

Program Objectives

1. Strengthen Local Problem-Solving: Equip local governments, civic organizations, and academia with the tools and methodologies to collaboratively address complex challenges.

2. Bridge Academia and Practice: Facilitate partnerships between universities and local stakeholders to apply cutting-edge research to community needs.

3. Accelerate Innovation: Support pilot projects that can be tested, refined, and scaled for greater impact.

4. Build Resilient Communities: Enhance community adaptability and resilience through innovative and inclusive solutions.

Core Features

1. Challenge Tracks

The Civic Innovation Program focuses on thematic challenge tracks that reflect urgent civic needs:

• • Urban Mobility: Creating sustainable and inclusive transportation solutions.

  • Climate Resilience: Building adaptive capacity for climate impacts.

  • Climate-smart Engineering: Designing solutions and adaptations for climate change.

  • Health Equity: Ensuring equitable access to health services.

  • Digital Inclusion: Bridging the digital divide in underserved communities.

  • Sustainable Development Goals: Addressing community development and equity.

2. Multisectoral Partnerships

We foster partnerships between:

• Local government units (LGUs)

• Academic and research institutions

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

• Private sector innovators

3. Pitching to Potential Funders

Selected projects can pitch for funding to prototype and test their solutions in real-world settings.

4. Capacity Building

Participants benefit from workshops, mentoring, and access to global networks of experts in civic innovation.

5. Evaluation and Scalability

Projects are rigorously evaluated, and successful pilots are supported for scaling and replication in other communities.

Program Phases

Phase 1: Challenge Design

Collaborative workshops to identify and define community challenges that align with the program’s thematic tracks.

Phase 2: Proposal Development

Call for proposals from academic teams and civic organizations. Participants develop project ideas and submit detailed implementation plans.

Phase 3: Implementation

Selected teams receive funding and mentorship to implement and test their solutions over a 12-month period.

Phase 4: Evaluation and Scaling

Outcomes are assessed, and high-impact projects are provided additional support for scaling to other communities.

Who Can Participate?

The program welcomes participation from:

• Universities: Faculty and students interested in applying their research to civic challenges.

• Local Governments: Officials looking to collaborate on innovative solutions.

• Community Organizations: Groups working directly with citizens to address local needs.

• Private Sector: Companies interested in social impact and public-private partnerships.

How to Apply

The application process involves:

1. Submitting an online application form.

2. Providing a concept note detailing the challenge and proposed solution.

3. Participating in a virtual pitch session for shortlisted proposals.

Join Us

Be part of the Civic Innovation Program and contribute to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities across Asia. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and collaboration.