Frontier Tech Hub Newsletter #8
Welcome to the eigth issue of the Frontier Tech Hub’s regular newsletter, with a wide range of updates from across the Hub.
This month, we’re doing a deep dive into our portfolio of active pilots in the Latin America region. In the region, we’re testing the potential applications of technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain in areas such as the illegal wildlife trade and healthcare. Some of the FT Hub team are visiting pioneers and partners across the region throughout March, so here’s an overview of some of the pilots that we’re looking forward to meeting in person very soon.
Can DNA forensics help authorities tackle the illegal wildlife trade in Colombia?
The Latin American region holds around 40% of the world’s biodiversity, making it appealing for the illegal wildlife trade. This pilot aims to use DNA sequencing technologies to generate information from specimens to help prevent and fight this illicit trade. The team are planning a workshop with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Sustainable Development, scientists, and law enforcement in Colombia, during which DNA sequencing and forensics will be demonstrated in real-time. The technology reduces the turnaround time for DNA sequencing from 8 days to 2, which will help rehabilitate animals faster thus reducing their time in detention facilities. Right now, the team is collecting samples, and focusing on at-risk and high-priority examples of reptile, mammal, and bird species, starting with the Yellow-spotted river turtle, White-faced capuchin, and Military macaw. Click here to find out more about this pilot.
Can AI-powered software improve access to healthcare in remote areas of Peru?
Many Peruvians outside of Lima face major challenges in accessing healthcare. There is a lack of necessary infrastructure and equipment, few primary care entities are properly equipped, and there is a shortage of medical staff nationwide. Starting with challenges related to diabetes, this pilot will utilise cutting-edge software to collect and analyse patient data to understand their needs and connect them to doctors. This month we have been shared the contact of 3 hospitals to collaborate with, and the team pitched the idea to over 200 key stakeholders creating both visibility and enthusiasm for the pilot. Click here to find out more about this pilot.
Can Augmented Reality make education more engaging and fun for kids in Mexico?
Mexico has one of the worst scores on the OECD Education Index. According to the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic caused Mexico to fall two years behind in schooling. This pilot explores the potential future use cases and impacts of Metaverse technologies in education settings, including important issues around ethics. Having finished a stakeholder mapping exercise and with a further research event upcoming in March, this pilot is learning how Augmented Reality (AR) may improve classroom engagement and educational outcomes, and if these technologies can be scalable in Mexico. Click here to find out more about this pilot.
Make it stand out
Can satellites and big data provide insights to support a sustainable cocoa production market?
Colombia has 12.8M hectares suitable for cocoa growing, providing economic opportunities for 52,000 rural families. For Colombia, cacao is more than just a crop to export; it’s a symbol of peace, prosperity, and opportunity. Unfortunately, even though international buyers are legally bound to only import from cacao farmers whose crops are traceable and pose no threat of deforestation, many smallholder farmers have limited access to these international markets. In some regions, smallholder farmers may be incentivised to grow illicit coca instead, which is linked to deforestation, violence, and child labour. This pilot aims to connect producers and buyers through a data-rich platform that demonstrates true traceability of cacao, by combining data collected from the ground with geospatial data captured by satellite imagery. The geospatial data will provide due diligence around rainforest protection, and potentially measure the crops’ health. The pilot is about to engage and map key actors across the cocoa value chain, in order to determine the minimum critical data requirements to enable true traceability. Click here to find out more about this pilot.
In other news…
📢 Any FCDO staff member can apply to the Frontier Technology Programme - come along to CfDA Tuesday on March 7th [14:30-15:00] for details. Please join us to find out about the opportunities available to all staff through the FCDO-funded Frontier Technology (FT) Programme. It is designed to help FCDO apply frontier technologies to the biggest challenges in development and is open to funding innovative proposals from staff across FCDO. Phil Outram (RED) will outline this opportunity to work directly with a range of external partners, strengthen links across FCDO and have a positive impact on those most in need of development support. CfDA’s Phil Cockerill will share his experiences of being a Frontier Tech Pioneer working on a data-related project. In the meantime why not jump into our project portfolio for some inspiration?
🎤 On March 13th, we’re hosting a real-life, in-person event at the Embassy in Bogota. The event 'How can frontier technologies support my work?' will aim to introduce the Hub and showcase the existing portfolio across Latin America, as well as be an opportunity to think through how frontier technologies can practically be applied to challenges in the context.
🚆 Funding opportunity for innovators working in transport. The High Volume Applied Transport Research Programme (HVT) has launched a competition funding innovation to improve transport in low- and middle-income countries. The Transport-Technology Research and Innovation for International Development (T-TRIID) is an open-call grant competition welcoming all innovative ideas with the potential to make an impact in advancing transport systems in LMICs. T-TRIID provides 100% grant funding and is open to all businesses, organisations and universities to conduct pilot projects whose outputs are applicable to the Global South. You can find out more and apply here.
That’s all for this edition…
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