Inclusive Innovation in the Asia Pacific Region | 2013 - 2014

In 2013, I took part in the Canada-Asia 2013 conference and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) General Assembly. As part of the student program, we were asked to develop a policy brief for the participants. My group focused on “Inclusive innovation in the Asia Pacific Region” and I was tasked with managing this project, which was finalized in April 2014.

Our main recommendations were:

• PECC should identify priority areas for innovative focus in the region, helping entrepreneurs to focus their efforts on common needs of the region, with a focus on both the rich and the poor.
• PECC should encourage the creation of a cross-regional online platform for idea exchange, crowd sourcing and crowd funding within PECC member states.
• PECC should support the creation of a cross-regional incubator with branches in different PECC members member states providing SMEs in the region with services and an opportunity to connect with each other.
• PECC should promote a cross regional competition and or conference focusing on innovation in the region.