About the Programme
The Newton Agham Fund is an integral component of the Newton Fund, which forms part of the UK’s official development assistance programme (ODA).
The Newton Agham Fund will provide £3 million from 2016 to develop science and innovation partnerships that promote the economic development and social welfare of the Philippines. The British Council in the Philippines is working in partnership with the Government of the Philippines to deliver programmes under the Newton Agham Fund that benefit Filipino researchers.
The British Council is working alongside other key UK organisations to deliver the Newton Agham Fund. The other UK delivery partners in the Philippines are Innovate UK, Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Research Councils UK (RCUK), and the Met Office.
About the Newton Fund
The Newton Fund builds outstanding research and innovation partnerships with select countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to support economic development and social welfare, tackle global challenges and develop talent and careers. The fund is managed by the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and delivered by UK and international partners.
The Newton Fund was launched in 2014 and originally consisted of £75 million each year for 5 years. In the 2015 UK Spending Review it was agreed to extend and expand the Fund. The Newton Fund was extended from 2019 to 2021 and expanded by doubling the £75 million investment to £150 million by 2021, leading to a £735 million UK investment to 2021, with partner countries providing matched resources within the Fund.
Priority Areas
The British Council is working with local funding partners in the Philippines to deliver programmes which focus on the following local development needs:
- Health and life sciences: Reducing the dual burden of infectious and lifestyle diseases on the fragile health system of the region including addressing the increasing threat of anti-microbial resistance and neglected tropical diseases; research on diagnostics, e-health systems, and biomedical device development.
- Improving environmental resilience: Improving understanding and mitigating the human and economic impacts of natural hazards.
- Improving energy security: Reducing carbon emissions by improving energy efficiency and provision of renewable energy.
- Future cities: Addressing the challenges and maximising the opportunities posed by the rapid urbanisation through support to the development of physical and virtual infrastructure and better understanding human impacts.
- Agritech: Increasing agricultural productivity and addressing food security issues as production is likely to be hindered by the impacts of climate change.
- Digital, innovation and creativity: The use of web technology, data analytics, big data, and creative industries as drivers of disruptive innovations that can deliver benefits to social and economic development. Similarly, facilitating development of policies and approaches to enable creation of effective innovation systems and long term planning will be essential to encourage sustainable development.
