Private public collaborations in emergent innovation programs

Our world is exhibiting a growing difference in economic power between the rich and the poor. The World Bank reported in 2005 that the widening gap between rich and poor countries over the past forty years accounts for much of the increase in worldwide income inequality among individuals and households. Eighty five percent of the world\´s population earns only twenty percent of the gross world income, whereas the United states alone, with 4.7 % of the world\´s population, produces 30.7 % of the world\´s national income. These figures paint a somber picture of the significant inequality that is prevalent in income distribution, consumption pattern and access to resources. But then, Prahalad and S. Hart proposed in their book ";The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid"; that it is possible to alleviate poverty by an approach which is different from philanthropy. They suggest that if we stop thinking of the poor as victims or as a burden and start recognizing them as resilient and creative entrepreneurs and value conscious consumers, a whole new world of opportunity will open up. Against this background Jan Roes and Chris Sherwin started a Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) scouting research program to explore new business opportunities in the health care markets of developing economies for Philips Medical systems. In collaboration with Design for Sustainability groups in Holland, the Manipal University and local Philips Research groups in India the program developed a project proposal to develop a diagnosis tool for the early detection of oral cancers using new technologies and exploring new business models. Parallel to the development of this project, we learned about similar activities in India. To create more awareness and insight in BoP innovations we have organized this workshop ";Private Public Collaborations in Emergent innovation Programs"; with contributions of experts in the field, sharing their experience.