Indonesia and Australia Boost Innovation in Asia Pacific with Pulse Lab Expansion
04 May 2023
Indonesia and Australia are joining forces to transform Pulse Lab Jakarta (PLJ) into a regional innovation powerhouse. This pledge, announced during the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum 2023), marks a new era of collaboration and innovation in the Asia Pacific region.
With a decade of success, over 100 unique projects, and 50 new partnerships, PLJ is now set to become a key facility serving the Asia Pacific region. The expansion of PLJ into the United Nations Global Pulse Asia Pacific Hub is a concrete follow-up to the G20 Bali Leaders' Declaration. This positions Indonesia at the forefront of regional innovation initiatives and as a champion for the Secretary-General’s vision of a UN 2.0 - fit for the 21st century.
Commenting on the expansion, the Executive Secretary of the Ministry of National Development Planning of the Republic of Indonesia said, “Government of Indonesia is pleased to support the establishment and running of the first three years (2023-2026) of the United Nations Global Pulse Asia-Pacific hub”.
In addition, the Australian Government, a key supporter since 2015, pledged AUD $1,000,000 for the first year of operations. Australia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, H.E. Mitch Fifield said ‘We are delighted to support Indonesia’s leadership in the transition from Pulse Lab Jakarta to a new regional hub. Based on its own digital transformation journey Indonesia has much it can usefully share with the region’. This joint effort solidifies both countries' dedication to driving innovation and sustainable development in the Asia Pacific.
“This transformation marks a significant milestone in our quest for innovation and sustainable development. Indonesia and Australia’s steadfast commitment will empower the region to reach new heights and make significant contributions to a better tomorrow,” said Ms. Ayaka Suzuki, the Director of the Strategic Monitoring Unit in the Secretary-General’s Office.
The panel discussion at the STI Forum 2023 focused on how to scale innovation for impact, building on new research from Global Pulse and the UN Innovation Network in partnership with Member States. The research report will inform Global Pulse’s transformation strategy, ensuring future innovations leave a lasting legacy.
Launched in 2012 as a joint innovation facility between the United Nations and Indonesia, PLJ has evolved over the years, encompassing a wide range of support and expertise in data innovation, behavioral insights, and strategic foresight. This expansion builds upon PLJ's impressive track record, further advancing the development ecosystem in the region.
To celebrate PLJ’s achievements over the last decade and to mark the launch of the Asia Pacific hub, a launching event will be hosted in Jakarta, Indonesia, in June 2023.
About the Scaling Innovations for Impact Side Event at the STI Forum 2023
The side event presents key findings of the ‘Scaling the Summit’ research and proposes recommendations for how the UN and its multi-stakeholder network can support innovations to reach scale for impact. The programme also showcase examples to illustrate successful innovation scaling practices, and bring together diverse voices from across the UN and other sectors on an inclusive, interactive forum to discuss shared experiences in scaling innovations.
This event is hosted by the Government of Finland, in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, the Government of Australia, the UN Innovation Network and UN Global Pulse.
About UN Global Pulse
UN Global Pulse is the Secretary-General’s Innovation Lab. The team works at the intersection of innovation and the human sciences to inform, inspire and strengthen the ability of the United Nations family and those it serves to anticipate, respond and adapt to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Contact: info@unglobalpulse.org
About Pulse Lab Jakarta
Pulse Lab Jakarta is a joint data innovation facility of the United Nations (Global Pulse) and the Government of Indonesia (via the Ministry of National Development Planning). Functioning as an analytic partnerships accelerator, the Lab operates in the problem, solution and identity spaces. As part of its mandate, PLJ is focused on catalyzing connections across the United Nations, governments, the private and development sectors, as well as civil society to support policies and action for effective development and humanitarian practice.
Contact: plj@un.or.id
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