Contents 2 Letter from Board Co-Chairs and President 4 Developing Leaders To Strengthen Economies 6 Transforming Data into Insight 8 Supporting Creative and Novel Research: One Partnership at a Time 10 Harnessing the Human Element 12 Opening New Doors at CRDF Global 13 Honoring the Legacy of George Brown 14 Financial Statement 16 Executive Staff and Office Locations 17 Board of Directors 18 Advisory Council 19 Funders, Clients, Donors and Sponsors 20 Individual Donors and Embassy Partners “When the winds of change blow, some build walls, others build windmills.” – Ancient Proverb Letter from Board Co-Chairs and President “WHEN THE WINDS OF CHANGE BLOW, SOME BUILD WALLS, OTHERS BUILD WINDMILLS.” —Ancient Proverb Ms. Dona Crawford Dr. William Wulf Ms. Cathleen A. Campbell Co-Chair, Board of Directors Co-Chair, Board of Directors President and Chief Executive Officer We also understand that Progress does not always mean We thank you for your support as CRDF Global contin- launching new efforts. Often, it calls for stepping back when ues to evolve to provide innovative solutions to our world’s Dear Friends and Supporters, program goals have been achieved. In September, CRDF most urgent and emerging challenges. We look forward to Progress has been a fundamental principle of CRDF Global April, we convened a five-day meeting with the State Acad- Global held the final Pan-REC conference under the Basic working with you to achieve Progress in the years to come. since our founding. We are committed to always moving emy of Sciences of North Korea, as part of our leadership Research and Higher Education (BRHE) Program. Since forward in our mission to build peace and prosperity of the U.S.-DPRK Scientific Engagement Consortium. Our BRHE’s launch 14 years ago, CRDF Global and its Russian Sincerely, through international science cooperation. open discussions and exchange of ideas resulted in a joint partners established 20 Research and Education Centers in In these pages, we present stories that demonstrate our commitment to implement English language training pro- universities throughout Russia. Today, they serve as models understanding of the global issues shaping our work and grams and to develop a virtual science library to serve as a for over 300 similar centers which are driving the develop- our delivery of science and technology cooperation in 2012. much-needed resource for scientists in the DPRK. ment of research universities throughout Russia. Ms. Dona Crawford Progress speaks to CRDF Global’s ability to adapt, learn Given the economic challenges in today’s world, CRDF We ended the year by demonstrating our commitment Co-Chair, Board of Directors and evolve within our mission to deliver high-impact pro- Global has expanded efforts to advance Progress in entre- to Progress at home by moving to the first U.S. Green Build- grams in an ever-changing world and often in challenging preneurship and economic development. Through our ing Council LEED Platinum building in Arlington, Virginia. environments. Technology Entrepreneurship Development Program, The open floor plan encourages collaboration among staff, Dr. William Wulf We believe that international collaboration achieves CRDF Global launched Commercialization Pathfinder, and our state-of-the-art conference and meeting facilities Co-Chair, Board of Directors Progress, not only in terms of scientific discovery but also an initiative that provides online training for indigenous allow us to continue leading our community to advance in cross-cultural understanding and trust. Indeed, we work mentors, who in turn lead online trainings for aspiring international science and technology cooperation. with more than 40 countries with varying needs and priori- entrepreneurs in Russia and Ukraine. Likewise, our Global ties. In February 2012, our programs helped to engage Innovation through Science & Technology (GIST) initiative Ms. Cathleen A. Campbell entrepreneurs across the Middle East, and launched a tool hosted “Startup Boot Camps” for emerging entrepreneurs President and Chief Executive Officer to support research and peer review in North Africa. In in Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Senegal and Algeria. 2 CRDF Global Annual Report 2012 3 Entrepreneurship and Innovation November saw the start of the GIST Transformers Jour- and Entrepreneurship and the Senate Foreign Relations ney, an initiative that invited 17 emerging entrepreneurs to Committees. The event highlighted CRDF Global’s innova- travel to Silicon Valley, New York, Boston and Washington, tion programs, focusing on the GIST initiative. DEVELOPING LEADERS TO D.C. Known as “GIST Transformers,” these entrepreneurs As the GIST Transformers travelled through the U.S., STRENGTHEN ECONOMIES were selected from winners of previous GIST competi- they used innovative outreach strategies including blogging, tions. They attended training, presentations, networking video and images to share their experiences. One GIST events and took advantage of mentorship opportunities Transformer, Hind Hobeika, has since gained international at leading companies and institutions, including Orrick, attention with her invention, Instabeat, a waterproof heart In today’s world, technological innovations and entrepre- Google, Stanford University, MIT and the White House. rate monitor that attaches to swim goggles and provides neurship are driving major decisions in education, climate Several GIST transformers took part in a Congressional real-time feedback to swimmers. change, public health and diplomacy. In line with CRDF briefing on Capitol Hill involving the Senate Small Business Global’s mission to advance peace and economic growth, our programs focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation GIST Transformers attend trainings, presentations and networking events at organizations like Google. have been a means of creating significant global impacts. Economic Sustainability Since 2009, the Global Innovation through Science and MIT Enterprise Forum Turkey signed a memorandum of through Responsible Research Technology (GIST) initiative has promoted technology understanding to establish a framework for future collabo- CRDF Global works to build opportunities for innova- continue research and commercialization of the new honey commercialization and entrepreneurship in developing rations to promote and strengthen technology entrepre- tions that affect public health. Tuberculosis, an airborne, lozenge form of Immunoxel. The treatment is particularly and transitional economies. GIST programs have created neurship in Turkey. This new partnership was developed in infectious disease predominant in Asia and Africa, is a relevant for HIV-positive TB patients, for whom treatment opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses from coordination with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of major global health concern. According to the World options are limited. more than 50 countries to network, build skills and identify Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Health Organization, the disease is responsible for more Under the Central Asia Science and Techology Entrepre- mentorship and strategic funding sources. Affairs and the Embassy of Turkey. than one million deaths each year. Under a Science & neurship (CATE) program, Kazakhstani grantee Dr. Gulshat Addressing barriers to entrepreneurship and business In March, CRDF Global launched a GIST Startup Boot Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP) grant in Aisheva received the highest ratings from CRDF Global’s development allows for economic growth at both the Camp in Istanbul. Acting U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary 2008, a team of scientists led by Dr. Galyna Kutsyna in panel of experts with her project, “Breeding Sturgeon in a individual and national levels. GIST engages one-on-one for Science, Space and Health, Jonathan Margolis, wel- Ukraine developed Immunoxel, an adjunct therapy that Closed Water Supply,” which attempts to put the region’s with entrepreneurs by organizing competitions, training, comed 30 Turkish startup teams to the three-day event, could shorten treatment for multidrug-resistant tubercu- economically important caviar industry on a sustainable mentoring and connecting entrepreneurs to investors and which focused on training, mentorship from experts and losis to less than four months, making TB drugs 10 times basis. Since receiving her CRDF Global grant, she has potential partners. These initiatives utilize local partners a business pitch competition. The winner, Ahmet Taskin, more effective while reducing liver damage caused by received additional funding for her applied research from and hone entrepreneurial talent, allowing entrepreneurs a co-founder of Sutech, a company that uses an electro- chemotherapy. In 2012, the team won another grant in the the government of Kazakhstan. to develop into leaders that address societal problems and magnetic impulsion system to purify polluted water, was STEP “From Idea to Market” competition, having reduced contribute to stronger economies in their home countries. awarded the opportunity to join winners from other GIST treatment time to one month, which allowed them to In 2012, GIST expanded its initiatives to include more Boot Camps and competitions and travel to Silicon Valley, countries and regions. In February, CRDF Global and the Boston and Washington, D.C. during the fall. 4 CRDF Global Annual Report 2012 5 Capacity Building ment; writing and publishing research in international peer- also found the funding rate of proposals on par with