The Research & Innovation Office

Pacific Regional Innovation Network (PRIN)

In 2019, the USP and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have worked in partnership to establish a facilitated innovative hub at the University’s Laucala Campus in Suva, Fiji. This is a shared working environment where people are engaged in to meet, work, network, share ideas, and collaborate to support and accelerate innovative thinking and actions.

Throughout the year, the hub has engaged in stakeholders from different organisations including government, private sector, entrepreneurs, non-government, media, community, youth, women, tertiary education, development partners, international institutions, and diplomats. The hub has hosted the following events in 2019:

  • Launch of the UNDP-USP Innovation Hub
  • The One Ocean Hub launch
  • Innovation & Youth Co-Lab conference
  • Pacific Innovation & Entrepreneurship workshop
  • Fiji Government & USP launch Wildlife book by USP researchers
  • Tackling Innovation & SDG’s through Sport
  • Enterpreneurship, Innovation, and Business Skills Development Workshop in partnership with US Peace Corpsnovation & Youth Co-lab workshop.

The UNDP-USP Innovation Hub initial project in 2019 was then extended in 2020 to the region under the UNDP Pacific Regional Inclusive Programme; in an MOU and LOA that were signed during the Launch of the Pacific Regional Innovation Network & UN75 Building the Pacific Future We Want. PRIN is probably the first of its kind in the Pacific, seeking to grow innovative networks across the region via the University’s regional campuses. PRIN also values the key role of the government, as it has certain distinct roles for supporting and protecting creativity and innovative talents of its citizens. PRIN implementation is currently underway in 3 of the Univerity’s regional campuses that have national and impactful works in the Pacific:  The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Tonga, and Vanuatu.

Phase 1 of PRIN involves a dialogue with national stakeholders, in each of the 3 countries, on what innovation means to local people and how to best support this at the country level. The findings from these national dialogues will form the basis for RMI, Tonga, and Vanuatu draft innovation work-plans; which are expected to be implemented during the establishment of the 3 Innovation Hubs in Phase 2.

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