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IFIA Magazine - Mar ch 2021 |

minimizing the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, especially on poor communities, and
building the resilience of their Member Countries in responding to outbreaks and pandemics.
The IsDB announced the Transform Fund Call for Innovation 2020 would focus entirely on
supporting their Member Countries long-term preparedness and response to the COVID19-
pandemic. This Call will operate in addition to the IsDB Group’s other wide-ranging initiatives
coordinated by The IsDB Strategic Preparedness and Response Facility.

Open from 1 April 2020, the Call for Innovation will identify, encourage, and reward innovative
proposals that will benefit local communities focused on the following:

1. The application of advanced technology
the powerful search engine of medical supplies, new Biosafety Laboratory Level3- Design
technology, and biocontainment.
2. Innovative health supply chain management systems
the powerful search engine of medical supplies, new Biosafety Laboratory Level3- Design
technology, and biocontainment.
3. Development of Low-cost rapid tests and screening methods
such as Point-of-Care rapid tests, molecular tests, and diagnostic test quality, for early detection,
diagnostic, treatment, and prevention solutions including vaccine production for COVID19- and
future emerging highly infectious diseases.

Capacity building interventions
targeted at improving operational capacities of health care providers in the field epidemiology
and infection control management of highly pathogenic cases, such as training, deployment of
software applications, awareness campaigns, service delivery, or research centers.

The Fund will look for applications specifically linked to tackling COVID19- in relation to the
following six UN Sustainable Development Goals:
The categories of application are:
New Ideas with Proof of Concept, Funding Opportunity: Grants ranging from US$ -50,000
100,000
Capacity Building in Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Opportunity: Grants ranging
from US$ 150,000-100,000
Scaling up of Innovative Projects, Funding Opportunity: Equity Participation up to US$ 300,000
Commercialization of Technology Funding Opportunity: Equity Participation up to US$ 1,000,000
Through Transform, innovative ideas will be translated into real development solutions that
will address development challenges and empower the communities and youth in particular
to realize their full potential.

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