The APNIC Foundation shares a common vision with the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) of “a global, open, stable, and secure Internet that serves the entire Asia Pacific community”.
APNIC’s success in partnering and seeking financial support for its activities is founded on five important assets:
- A strong technical focus and regional recognition as a source of best practice and expertise.
- Neutrality and independence from any particular vendors, services, or technologies.
- A non-profit organization with financial strength and transparency.
- Robust regional networks and relationships.
- Long track record of successful management and implementation.
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.
The Foundation welcomes support from, and collaboration with, other foundations, agencies and organizations working to develop the Internet in the Asia Pacific.
