The Foundation is the pre-eminent digital development organization in the Asia Pacific and is focused on creating human impact across communities. The Foundation evolved from technical roots and it applies that knowledge to support a global, open, stable and secure Internet that is affordable and accessible for our Asia Pacific people, in line with the vision of the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC, the regional Internet registry).
APNIC
As the Regional Internet Registry for the Asia Pacific region, APNIC’s primary role is to provide Internet number resources (IPv4, IPv6 and ASNs) to its Members in the Asia Pacific region. Many of its 100-plus staff travel regularly to engage with Members, provide training and technical assistance, or share expertise and information.
In 2014, discussions began among the APNIC Executive Council (EC) when it set out to explore a mechanism to support and expand the APNIC Development Program. The EC wanted to do this by raising funds, independent from APNIC membership contributions, to support regional Internet development efforts in the future.
The APNIC Foundation
Those discussions led to the establishment of APNIC Foundation in September 2016. It became operational in early 2017.
The Foundation’s mission is to increase investment in Internet development in the Asia Pacific region, through education and training, human capacity building, community development, research, and related projects and activities.
Many of the projects and activities implemented or funded by the Foundation are designed and managed by APNIC, in collaboration with funding partners interested in Internet development in the Asia Pacific. These activities focus on APNIC’s development priorities and those of the Foundation’s partners, which include a growing community of trainers and technical advisors, and other like-minded organizations.
The Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF Asia)
ISIF Asia was established officially launched in 2008, as a partnership between APNIC, the Internet Society (ISOC) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Over the years, a number of sponsors have supported the fund. ISIF Asia provides grant and award funding to recipients working on Internet development projects supporting Infrastructure, Inclusion and Knowledge in the Asia Pacific.
ISIF Asia was administered by APNIC from 2008 until 2016. As APNIC established the APNIC Foundation in 2016, ISIF Asia was transferred to the Foundation from 2017. Since then, the APNIC Foundation has been responsible for its management and administration.
School on Internet Asia (SOI Asia)
In 2020, discussions began between the Foundation and Keio University to establish a relationship with the goal of supporting the SOI Asia and AI3 programs run by Keio University.
SOI Asia promotes collaboration in the region on Internet research and education, via cooperation with universities and other institutions. AI3 fosters disaster resilience, connectivity initiatives and related research. Given the strong alignment of these initiatives with Foundation goals, the relationship was formalized in 2021 and a Foundation staff member is now based out of Keio University to support these programs.
The Foundation welcomes support from, and collaboration with, other foundations, agencies and organizations working to develop the Internet in the Asia Pacific.
