APNIC and APNIC Foundation sign MoU to maximize sponsorship support for the Asia Pacific Internet community

APNIC's Director General Jia Rong Low and APNIC Foundation Chief Executive Officer Raj Singh agree on the sponsorship MoU.

APNIC and the APNIC Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring greater coordination and clarity to supporting Internet development across the Asia Pacific.

The MoU sets out how the two organizations will coordinate sponsorships, including governance, decision-making and communication.

The MoU also aims to make it easier for the Internet community to engage with both organizations when seeking sponsorships. Sponsorship processes will be made clearer and more consistent for the community.

Two organizations advancing APNIC's development footprint

To understand how the partnership works in practice, it is important to distinguish the roles of the two organizations.

APNIC and the APNIC Foundation operate as separate legal entities. The APNIC Foundation was established by APNIC as a charitable organization, with the responsibility to expand capacity-building initiatives with broad social impact.

APNIC is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for the Asia Pacific region, managing the distribution of Internet number resources (IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers or ASNs) to network operators - including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), enterprises, and government agencies - who are APNIC's Members. In performing this function, APNIC supports Internet development in the region.

The APNIC Foundation operates with independent governance and funding, delivering programs that support Internet access, inclusion, research, and innovation. The Foundation's mission aims to reach a wider set of stakeholders, including civil society, research institutions, community networks, and grassroots organizations.

"The APNIC Foundation's mission focuses on three key areas - building technical and human capabilities, driving digital innovation, and supporting digital transformation," says APNIC Foundation Chief Executive Officer Raj Singh. "We contribute to the region's Internet development by bridging digital divides in the Asia Pacific region, empowering communities and driving socioeconomic equity."

Since 2017, the APNIC Foundation has taken over the administering of the Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF Asia), which was first operated by APNIC since 2008. The grants fund has supported over 230 grants and awards, allocating some USD 12 million across 34 economies in the region.

The Foundation also supports several other initiatives - the skills-focused Building Capabilities in the Asia Pacific (BCAP) project, the M-root server project in partnership with JPRS, and the SOI Asia project in partnership with Keio University.

What the MoU means for the Internet community

"APNIC and the APNIC Foundation may be separate organizations but are one family," said Jia Rong Low, APNIC's Director General. "Through improved coordination, we hope that we can maximize the impact of our support for the Internet community in the region."

The most visible outcome of the MoU will be better-coordinated support for community groups that play a vital role in the Asia Pacific Internet ecosystem - including Network Operator Groups, Cybersecurity Forums, National Research and Education Networks, and Internet Governance Forums. The Internet community can expect continued support from APNIC and the APNIC Foundation, reflecting their complementary roles.

As a general guide, for support related to technical expertise, infrastructure, or community events, APNIC is your first point of contact. For capacity building, digital development, or broader social and economic impact initiatives, reach out to the APNIC Foundation.

Whichever organization you contact first, sponsorship requests to either organization will be considered jointly to ensure a coordinated approach.

The views expressed by the authors of this blog are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of APNIC. Please note a Code of Conduct applies to this blog.