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The Regional Fund for Digital Innovation in Latin America and the
Caribbean (FRIDA) announces that its 2012 call for proposals is now
open. Both nominations for the FRIDA awards and applications for the
grants for projects and initiatives that have significantly
contributed to the use and development of the Internet in Latin
America and the Caribbean are being accepted. This call for
proposals is being launched together with the FRIDA Program's new
website (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.programafrida.net">www.programafrida.net</a>), through which the organizations and
entities aspiring to receive an award or a grant may submit their
projects before 15 June.<br>
<br>
Since 2004, more than 1000 research teams and organizations from
around the region have participated in the calls for proposals and
nominations launched by the FRIDA Program, an initiative of the
Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC)
that for the past seven years has received the support of the
International Development Research Center (IDRC).<br>
<b><br>
Research Projects and Awards.</b><br>
<br>
This year there are two calls for proposals. On one hand, grants
will be awarded to research projects in four categories: a) efforts
to enhance, expand and promote Internet standards development; b)
political, economic and social effects of anti-piracy bills; c)
implementing strategies for reliable and effective Internet
infrastructure, human capacity and skills development; and d)
accelerating access and the social benefits of the Internet in
vulnerable and underserved communities. Each selected project will
receive a grant of 15 000 dollars. Details on how to apply can be
found at <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://programafrida.net/grants">http://programafrida.net/grants</a><br>
<br>
On the other hand, the 2012 FRIDA award will recognize the four most
outstanding contributions in the field of ICTs under the following
topics: access (initiatives that have allowed expanding fixed and
mobile Internet access through new technical and organization
formats); freedoms (projects relating to the freedom of expression,
freedom of association, privacy, security, consumer rights, etc.);
development (initiatives that use the Internet to contribute
directly to the resolution of environmental and socio-economic
challenges); and innovation (initiatives that have introduced
technical innovations in any aspect relating to Internet
development, either at physical or conceptual level). Each winning
project will receive a cash prize of US$ 3000
(<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://programafrida.net/awards">http://programafrida.net/awards</a>), plus travel and accommodation for
one representative of each project to attend the Pre-IGF meeting in
Latin America and the Caribbean and, later, the IGF meeting that
will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan.<br>
<i><br>
For more information, please see: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://programafrida.net/">http://programafrida.net/</a> </i><br>
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