• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Ihof Logo Header 182px 67px
Search DropdownSearch IconNominate
  • About
    • Advisory Board
    • Previous Events
  • Inductees
  • News
    • Blog
    • Announcements
  • Nominate
Home / Inductees in the News / Crowdfunding for Innovation in Nepal
27 February 2017

Crowdfunding for Innovation in Nepal

A Kickstarter-style campaign may be the key to advancing Nepal’s scientific community.

After waiting more than three years for government assistance, Internet Hall of Fame inductee Mahabir Pun turned to the public to help make his dream of a National Innovation Center a reality.

Nepali Times logo.

Since the campaign’s launch almost six months ago, Nepalis worldwide have donated 50 million rupees towards the project’s goal of 500 million rupees for construction and start-up costs.  

Eservice has agreed to transfer the money without commission and Deerwalk Foundation will match contributions made through gofundme.com.

The center, which is slated to take five years to complete, aims to help Nepali researchers in product development to advance the country’s economic development. According to the World Bank, developed countries spend up to 4 percent of their gross domestic product on scientific innovation and technological advancement, while developing countries, such as Nepal, expend around 2 percent.

In an interview with the Nepali Times, Pun said the project is a necessity as his country continues to try to move forward after a 7.8 earthquake struck the mountainous kingdom almost two years ago.

“Sacrificing life for one’s country isn’t relevant anymore. We need donations for development, not martyrdom,” he said.

“The government has neither provided fund nor motivation for scientific innovation. Scientists are being treated as civil servants with 10-5 office hours. That is also why we need an innovation center.”

Related Posts

13 January 2017

Ida Holz: The Uruguayan of the Internet

Read More about Ida Holz: The Uruguayan of the Internet

27 April 2017

Vint Cerf’s Mission to Get the World Online

Read More about Vint Cerf’s Mission to Get the World Online

29 March 2017

Tim Berners-Lee: Three Things We Need to Do to Save the Web

Read More about Tim Berners-Lee: Three Things We Need to Do to Save the Web

21 June 2017

A Search for the Zombie Websites of 1995

Read More about A Search for the Zombie Websites of 1995

Footer

Facebook F 1
Twitter 1
Youtube 1
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us

The Internet Hall of Fame is presented by:

Internet Society 76x25

USA

11710 Plaza America Drive
Suite 400
Reston, VA 20190
+1-703-439-2120

Switzerland

Rue Vallin 2
CH-1201 Geneva
+41-22-807-1444

Other Offices

© 2023 Internet Society