Tech 4 Society Panels, Round-Tables, Workshops & Activities Hyderabad, India February 11-13, 2010
Day 1 9:00am-9:40 The Power of Invention and Innovation to Create Social Change (Welcoming Keynote and Address) After introductions from The Lemelson Foundation and Ashoka, our keynote speaker will kick-off the Tech 4 Society gathering with a powerful speech reminding us of how innovative new technologies and invention have played a critical role throughout history in addressing the world’s biggest challenges and creating social change.
9:40am-11:00am The New Leaders: Serial Inventor Entrepreneurs and the Lessons Learned Plenary Panel The journey from technological innovation to design to production to distribution is a long and hard road, but also one that the many inventor entrepreneurs take over and over again. Be prepared to laugh, cry and be inspired as these Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows share the lessons they have learned along the way.
11:30am-12:30pm Breakout Sessions Engineering Design for the Full Market Panel What does it take to turn great ideas into affordable, desirable products that change millions of lives for the better? This panel will delve into the issues of design for the “Base of the Pyramid.” From materials to form to function, this panel will engage everyone around the challenges and innovations in the field of social design. Recommended for engineers or those who wished they had learned more engineering.
Solar, Wind, & Biofuels: The Future of Alternative Energies Panel Everywhere you turn, renewable energies are a hot topic. Our panel of experts from different alternative energy areas will discuss the latest innovations in bringing alternative energies and power to poor and rural consumers as well as the implications these innovations have for the future of the planet, politics, and the global economy.
The Price is Right: Innovative pricing strategies Facilitated Round-Table
2 Setting the right price on a new technology is tricky enough but what about when your customers are the poorest of the poor? In this lively round-table discussion participants will share their experiences and successful innovations in pricing for the poor through tiered-pricing, cross-subsidies, and micro-credit systems.
Preparing the Next Generation of Science & Technology Leaders: Innovations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education Workshop/Round-table discussion In a world where knowledge and new technology are valued more than ever, preparing the next generation of inventors and social entrepreneurs is an important part of social change. In this roundtable, we’ll hear from some of the most innovative ways that science, technology, engineering and math are taught to young persons. Persons interested in youth development should attend.
12:30 pm-2:00pm Lunch
2:00pm-3:15pm Breakout Sessions Climate Change: Coming Together to Address Planetary Issues (facilitated roundtable) With an issue as large as climate change, finding mechanisms and forums for cooperation is a necessity. Led by the Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows who participated in the Copenhagen Climate Conference, this roundtable will examine ways that the citizens sector and inventor-entrepreneurs can more effectively collaborate to address this planetary problem.
Intellectual Property (Expert-led workshop) At the heart of every invention is a new idea. This workshop, led by a set of experts, will walk through the elements of intellectual property rights and offer steps to help protect the integrity of an inventorentrepreneur’s work.
Changing visions: when your mission shifts (Roundtable of fellows) In a rapidly changing environment filled with new challenges and opportunities, sometimes it’s critical for Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows and other inventor-entrepreneurs to re-evaluate and adjust their mission. This roundtable will allow Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows to explore what happens when they decide that a major strategy shift is needed. Recommended for Fellows who feel they are at or will be at an inflection point in their work.
3:45pm-5:00pm Breakout Sessions Innovations in Payment Systems (Expert-facilitated round-table) Without access to the formal banking system, credit cards, bank accounts, or other payment structures, the majority of the world’s poor are unable to purchase needed goods and services, even if they have the money to pay. This roundtable will explore recent innovations in payment systems, how they are creating vibrant Keynote Address
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Personal challenges and the life of the innovating entrepreneur (Fellow round-table discussion) Being a leading inventor entrepreneur has never been easy, especially trying to balance personal desires and demands with one’s goals of social change. Leaving discussion of projects and business plans behind, this roundtable is intended to give Fellows an opportunity to share their more personal stories, their challenges, and their strategies for maintaining a happy productive work-life balance for themselves, their families, their staff and their clients.
Sanitation: Moving up the Importance Agenda (Roundtable discussion) Sanitation is connected to a range of environmental, medical, and economic challenges. Despite its importance, sanitation is often a neglected and uncomfortable topic of discussion. Neglected no more, at this session we will hear from Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows and others who have dedicated their lives to finding innovative solutions to this messy issue and, as a group, will take a look at recent developments and challenges.
6:30pm-9:30pm Dinner and Reception Each table will have representatives from each of the 5 continents as well as questions to guide conversation provided on the table and guided (potentially) by table facilitators
After Dinner Activities This could include something like Dialogue in the Dark or a game played with musical instruments by guests. Each Guest is given a simple instrument and with everyone participating, the group is a functioning orchestra. Will take place at Mirror Pool outdoor setting on ISB campus.
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Day 2 9:00am Emcee Recap and Announcements (Plenary) Short video or photo slideshow shown of previous day’s site visits, announcements, etc
9:15am-10:30am The Future of Innovation: Young Inventor Entrepreneurs (Plenary Panel) At Ashoka, we’ve learned that learning often flows from the young to the not so young. Be prepared to be astounded by our Youth Venture participants (aged 16-25) and hear about their incredible inventions and innovations and the plans they have for the future. You’ll also get to meet the winner of the Invent Your World Competition.
11:00am-11:30am Demo of the Mobile Sciences Lab (work of Ramji Raghavan) Reaching over 2 million schoolchildren, Ashoka-Lemelson Senior Fellow Ramji Raghavan's Mobile Sciences Lab bring science and technology education to rural and underserved children through exciting experiments and a hands-on curriculum. Come and see a live demonstration of the mobile lab with a group of local schoolchildren engaged in interactive inquiry and discovery.
11:30am-12:30pm Break Out Sessions Bridge to the Future: Building the Business-Social Bridge (Panel) Social sector organizations are asked to have business plans and businesses are often required to address social issues. As these two sectors interweave their activities, this panel will explore the areas where bridges have been built in the last few years and look at ways for the two sectors to work together in the future.
The Ever Green Revolution: Trends in Agriculture (Panel or Round Table) Innovations that help small scale farmers have been at the heart of lifting families out of poverty for centuries. This panel will discuss recent agricultural innovations and explore the complexity of issues affecting rural small producers.
Cell-phones & The Future of Mobile Technologies in Social Change Keynote Address
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5 (Panel or Round Table) From the plains of the Maasai Mara to the rice paddies of Asia, cell phones have brought sweeping social changes and transformed communities, economies, and governments. This roundtable will look at some innovative uses for mobile technologies that go beyond making a simple call.
Half the World: Women and Girls in Science and Invention (Round-table discussion) Despite being half the planet’s population, females are often grossly under-represented in areas of science, engineering, and technology development. Come and learn how leading social entrepreneurs are helping to break this trend and shift traditional gender barriers.
2:00pm-3:15pm Break Out Sessions Reaching Rural & Remote Populations: The New Distribution Highway (Panel) The last mile solution, or reaching the remote rural population, is one of the most challenging parts of development and technology deployment. Our panel is composed of leading entrepreneurs who are venturing into these remote areas, often through surprising channels. Come hear their stories, the lessons they’ve learned, and what the future of rural areas might look like.
Investment Readiness: Lessons from VC’s and other investors (Large workshop) Show me the money. As the social sector continues its rapid growth, being able to access financing is key. This workshop, led by a panel of financiers, will explore the elements of an enterprise from an investor standpoint. If you have been puzzled by investors’ decisions in the past, or feel like you still need guidance in this area, this is the panel you’ve been waiting for.
Regional Trends from Latin America (Panel in Spanish/Portuguese with Translation) Que Pasa? Invention and social entrepreneurship is vibrant in South America, with innovations in clean water, medical devices, and distribution channels. Come and hear as panelists who’ve ventured all the way from Latin America share their experiences. Sequential translation will be provided.
Information Explosion: the power of information in deploying new inventions (Facilitated workshop) With the costs of digital information and data storage declining rapidly, the ability to monitor, track, and analyze data has enabled increasing penetration of remote and low income customers. This session will examine the ways in which improved strategies and tools of information management can assist in the deployment of new technologies and outreach to new customers.
3: 45pm-4:00pm Healthnet Medical Network Demonstration Having access to health care is one of the biggest challenges in a remote rural area. Ashoka entrepreneur Al Hammond will preview the work of his newly opened rural health kiosks, an Keynote Address
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innovative synthesis of various diagnostic and mobile technologies, services, and integrated modes of delivery that he is pioneering in the Punjab.
4:00pm-5:15pm Break Out Sessions The Future of Social Enterprise and other models for Sustainability (Expert-led Round-table discussion) Fellows and other inventor-entrepreneurs are also innovating new models of enterprises aimed at long-term sustainability. Guaranteed to be a lively discussion, our panel will examine the successes, failures, and surprises of a social business.
Medical and Health Innovations (Panel) Inventor entrepreneurs are pioneering new time and cost-saving ways to bring medical devices, diagnostics, and preventative care to millions of the world’s poorest communities. Many of these innovations are changing the way health care is delivered in the developed world as well. This panel will explore many of these innovations and the systems and policies needed to support their spread around the world. Recommended for those with a medical or public health background.
Not a drop to drink: the Global Clean Water Challenge (Panel or round-table) It is estimated that 1 in 8 people in the world do not have access to clean water and 3.57 million people die each year from water-related diseases. Over 98% of these needless deaths occur in the developing world. Luckily there are Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows and other inventor-entrepreneurs around the world pioneering solutions to this global problem. This panel will explore how their innovations are making a difference in the lives of millions of people and what the next steps are for eradicating water-shortages and water-borne disease deaths around the world.
Outsourcing to China (Expert-led workshop) It’s not just large corporations who outsource their manufacturing and production to China, many inventor entrepreneurs are also increasingly looking to China to lower costs and streamline the production of their products for underserved communities. This expert-led workshop will offer an insider’s view into the process and will walk participants through some of the key points to consider as they look to outsourcing in China.
6:30pm-9:30pm Market Place Evening Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows and other guests will have the opportunity to network, partner and learn more about one another’s work during this engaging session o be held in the ISB atrium. Out on the lawn there will be vendors of both local wares from Hyderabad as well as Fellow-produced products from all over India (and from Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows in attendance if they would like to arrange to either carry or ship their products to Hyderabad for the event). Food vendors will also be on the lawn selling snacks and portable dishes and we are looking at contracting a book seller to sell books written by participants of the event. Dinner should also be available for those not wanting (or able) to take part in the marketplace evening.
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Day 3 9:15-10:30am Mind the Gap: Creating Innovative Financing Strategies for Social Change (Plenary Panel) Today, everyone, from large multinationals, to venture capitalists, to non-profits, to banks to everyday individuals, is involved in financing social change and earning revenue from doing social good. This new financial environment is exciting yet sometimes challenging for Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows to navigate and the number one challenge of the inventor entrepreneurs is still obtaining adequate financing to build and scale his/her work. Panelists will discuss available pools of capital and suggestions for bridging the resource gap as well as trends for financing the future of social change.
10:45-11:45am Break Out Sessions Globalizer: Taking Your Vision to the World (Panel) Moving from local to global with an invention or innovation opens a whole new world of opportunities and challenges for the social entrepreneur. But what does going global really mean and what does success look like? This panel will tackle the tough questions of how to successfully bring local knowledge to a global audience, adjust a product or approach for diverse cultural norms, and how to determine when the time is right for going global. Our panelists will share their insights into these challenges and share their ideas for and experiences taking their innovations from local to global and back.
Mass Production and Local Adaptation (Expert led round-table) Reaching economies of scale, improving productivity, moving up the learning curve. These are some advantages of shifting from a small-scale production process towards mass production. But what do you need to know to make the jump? Our experts will offer suggestions on topics ranging from engineering re-design, to estimating production costs, to making location and labor decisions and ensuring consistent quality control. Recommended for engineers and those looking to make the leap to mass production.
Disaster-Response: Fellows Network Responding to Global Crises (Round-table discussion) Necessity is the mother of invention, and several of our Fellows have responded to natural disasters through innovations in elevated grain storage, flood resistant water pumps, disaster warning systems, and earthquake rebuilding materials. Come find out more about these interesting innovations and explore ways that individuals and groups might collaborate at times of acute global crises.
Regional Trends: Africa (Roundtable discussion) Keynote Address
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8 The work of African social entrepreneurs proves that there is plenty of reason to be optimistic for the future of the continent. In this session, look forward to hearing about the latest success stories, challenges, and innovations out of Africa in the fields of agriculture, health, renewable energy and more. Discussion will be in English with sequential interpretation from French, if necessary.
12:00-1:00pm Engaging Government as a Stakeholder & Change Agent (Plenary panel) As the social sector grows, the interactions with government officials and policymakers increase. In select areas, government policy has been the main vehicle of wide-scale implementation of an inventorentrepreneur's work. This interactive panel will look at the ways Fellows are increasing their engagement with government and explore the lesser-known challenges that policy makers face.
1:00pm-2:00pm Lunch 2:00pm-3:15pm Small Group Discussions (Round-Table discussions) With so many interesting topics and dynamic people, the panels and workshops have brought forward many topics that warrant deeper exploration. The small group discussion are facilitated discussion in groups of 610 persons, allowing for each participant to raise important points that might have been overlooked in the panel and for the group to go in-depth on core topics.
Small Group Discussion Summaries and Wrap-Up (Plenary panel) One representative from each group will share a specific outcome, strategic recommendation or shared learning from the group in the plenary wrap-up.
4:30pm-5:30pm Global Trends in Social Innovation and Invention (Plenary panel) A panel of global business leaders, social entrepreneurs, and thought leaders give us their best predictions for future of invention, technology, and better serving the poor and our planet. They will look at the powerful intersection of social entrepreneurship and new technologies; as well as global demographic trends and planetary challenges.
5:30pm-6:00pm Plenary Wrap-Up and Thank You Thank you and wrap up address from Ashoka and The Lemelson Foundation Keynote Address
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7:00pm-10:00pm Announcements, Community Key Note, Dinner, Evening Entertainment (Over dinner and refreshments at Mirror Pool Again Any exciting partnerships or collaborations announced followed by fun and brief community keynote (optional) brief speech about A-L Fellows and the Partnership, any special awards. We are looking into either a performance by a local (Highly recommended dance troupe) or a performance by this musician. Dinner and dancing and music will follow into the evening, as many of our Fellows enjoy relaxing in this fashion after these events,
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