Funding ICTD Research

1. Funding ICTD Research Kentaro Toyama Microsoft Research India Workshop on ICTD (pre-ICTD2006) SIMS, UC Berkeley October 27, 2005

2. Outline Personal Perspective and Introduction Increasing Funding Examples of Collaboration between Universities and MSR

3. Outline Personal Perspective and Introduction Increasing Funding Examples of Collaboration between Universities and MSR

4. The E-mail Dear Kentaro, We met at the Computing Applications for Deep-Sea Fishermen Conference in Goa, back in 1998. I read about the MSR India lab in the news – Congratulations! I’m writing to tell you about a new project of ours. As you know, fishermen have a need to know the weather and market prices in real time. We are planning a pilot to deploy a WiMax-based system with waterproof PCs in fishing boats in Kerala. We need a small amount of funding to get started, around US$250K, for boats, PCs, WiMax tower, and grad-student support. Since there are 10 million such boats worldwide, there is huge potential for Microsoft to drive computers into the mid-sized fishing industry, not to mention the economic benefits to the fishermen themselves. Is this something that Microsoft would be interested in? Please let me know what you think and let us know how we can proceed. Thanks, Pesca Torre ICT4F, Dept of Computer Science University of Machlee Researcher Kentaro

5. Their View? Researcher Gatekeeper Microsoft

6. My View Mad Scientist Kentaro MSR India Microsoft

7. Funding Function m: merit of the project/researchers s: strength of relationship r: perceived return on investment b: budget of sub-organization o: organizational openness to research l : luck factor $ = f (m, s , r, b, o) l Factors

8. Funding Factors l Supreme Being Member of sub-org Researcher Sub-org Organization o m s r b

9. Outline Personal Perspective and Introduction Increasing Funding Examples of Collaboration between Universities and MSR

10. Increasing Funding m: merit of the project/researchers • Demonstrate research experience • Maintain detailed website of project $ = f (m, s , r, b, o) l

11. Increasing Funding s: strength of relationship • Stay in touch • Involve person/organization in relevant activities • Have respect for the person/organization • Express gratitude (if funded) $ = f (m, s, r, b, o) l

12. Increasing Funding r: perceived return on investment • Ask about the goals of the organization • Propose actions that help meet those goals $ = f (m, s , r, b, o) l

13. Possible Goals • Impact • Quantity (e.g., number of people affected) • Quality (e.g., better educated children) • Sustainability • Knowledge and science • Revenue / economic growth • Direct • Indirect, growth in industry • Indirect, growth in economy • Market penetration • Intellectual property • Image and reputation • Mass media • Visibility among peers

14. Possible Goals • Impact • Quantity (e.g., number of people affected) • Quality (e.g., better educated children) • Sustainability • Knowledge and science • Revenue / economic growth • Direct • Indirect, growth in industry • Indirect, growth in economy • Market penetration • Intellectual property • Image and reputation • Mass media • Visibility among peers High value, relatively easy to deliver!

15. Increasing Funding b: budget of sub-organization • Help organization meet its goals (future) • Express gratitude loudly and publicly (if funded) $ = f (m, s , r, b, o) l

16. Increasing Funding o: organizational openness to research • Know the culture of each organization • Choose the right organization $ = f (m, s , r, b, o) l

17. Increasing Funding l : luck factor • Pray • Wear a nice outfit  $ = f (m, s , r, b, o) l

18. Funding Function $ = f (m, r, s , b, o) l $ = Sf (m, r, s , b, o) l

19. Try them all! Ms. X Sub-org 1c Org 1 . . . Mr. Y Sub-org 2f Org 2 Researcher Karishma Windows EM Santosh India SMSG Kentaro MSR India Microsoft Akhtar Community Affairs Tom MSR ERP

20. Outline Personal Perspective and Introduction Increasing Funding Examples of Collaboration between Universities and MSR

21. Microsoft Research Collaborations with Universities Research collaboration Internships Community projects Workshops and conferences • Sponsorship • Organization External research funding • Discretionary funding • PhD fellowships • RFPs

22. Research Collaboration Example Project: sensor network for landslide detection (MSR India and IIT-Bombay) • Close personal ties between principal investigator and MSR India • IIT-Bombay identified and initiated project. • MSR (sr. researcher + intern) joined project and led systems research component. Outcomes: • Synergistic research relationship • Poster paper at SenSys conference • IIT-Bombay received research funding through MSR ERP. • Some mention in press Work by Anmol Sheth (U Colorado), et al.

23. Internships Example Project: study of Akshaya kiosks in a political / economic context • UC Berkeley PhD student Renee Kuriyan spent two months with MSR India, mostly in field in Kerala • MSR provided standard internship package: round-trip airfare, room and board, stipend Outcomes: • Synergistic research relationship • Student furthered PhD work • Microsoft gained deeper knowledge of Akshaya and rural kiosk projects • Potential paper publication An Akshaya telecentre in Kerala

24. Community Projects Example Project: summer computer camp for girls in a Bangalore slum • MSR provided equipment, curriculum, light training • St. Joseph’s College students taught classes Outcomes: • Students met volunteer service requirement • MSR gained first-hand experience of computer education in urban slum • NGO/slum community received inexpensive computer training Holi festival with children in Bangalore

25. Workshops and Conferences Example Project: ICTD 2006 • SIMS, Siemens Research, MSR as main financial sponsors • CMU, SIMS, Siemens Research, MSR St. Joseph’s College students taught classes Expected outcomes: • ICT4D researchers have a new publishing outlet for their work and a venue for more interaction • Community of ICT4D researchers brought together http://sims.berkeley.edu/ictd2006

26. External Research Funding Example Project: Digital Inclusion RFP • MSR External Research & Programs releases request for proposals of research in “digital inclusion”. • Total $1.2M in funding, focus on technological innovation • Worldwide scope Expected outcomes: • Universities gain some funding for research in ICT4D • Microsoft gains greater visibility for Microsoft as a supporter of ICT and development http://research.microsoft.com Introduce yourself to Tom Healy!

27. View funding as a collaborative relationship, and focus on opportunities for synergy.

28. Thank you!