Projects shortlisted by the FRIDA 2017 program

31/07/2017

Projects from 23 countries of the LAC region were submitted in response to the call for proposals launched this year by the Regional Fund for Digital Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean (FRIDA). A total of 312 initiatives were received, all of them seeking to address various socio-economic challenges through the use of technology and promote Internet development in the region. In all, 149 projects applied for a FRIDA Award, while 163 applied for a FRIDA Grant. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico topped the list of countries with the highest number of submissions.

Once the jurors completed a careful evaluation of each initiative, the list of shortlisted projects that will go on to compete in the final stage of the selection process was announced (http://programafrida.net/en/archivos/2158). The winning projects will be announced on FRIDA’s website and social media on Wednesday 30 August.

FRIDA Awards. Twenty-five initiatives were shortlisted for the FRIDA Awards. These projects address various topics such as the use of ICTs in education, digital rights, technologies for the construction of culture and cultural memory, solidarity economy, accessibility, the Internet of Things for social purposes, and others.

The finalists still in the running for the FRIDA Awards include 12 initiatives specifically competing for the Women in Technology Award, a new category offered by the program. Shortlisted initiatives include projects aimed at empowering women by providing training and job opportunities in the field of technology, the protection of women’s digital rights, as well as several online platforms to support the social mobilization of women, the fight against gender-based violence, and the dissemination of female leadership models.

Grant for US$20,000. Twelve applicants were shortlisted for the grant that the FRIDA program will award this year in the program’s most technical category – Innovation for Internet Development. Finalists include projects involving the Internet of Things for agriculture, the dissemination of IPv6 through software recycling, strengthening participation in Internet governance processes, community networks, early warning networks, among other topics.

Since 2004, FRIDA has distributed more than US$1.67 million among more than 120 innovative initiatives and projects in 18 countries throughout the region, thus contributing to promote Internet development in Latin America and the Caribbean.