Frontier Tech Hub
Building Innovative Pilots to Test and Scale Technology Solutions to Global Challenges
Challenge
FCDO teams and their partners need practical ways to understand where emerging technologies can address development challenges, while managing uncertainty, delivery risk and responsible use. Conventional programme models can struggle to test early-stage ideas quickly enough, particularly where the technology, operating context or route to adoption is unproven. There is also a need to turn individual pilot experience into practical evidence that can inform future policy, programming and investment decisions. Through the Hub, DT Global can help FCDO staff to test, refine and scale technology ideas to tackle development challenges.
Approach
The Frontier Tech Hub enables FCDO and its partners to use frontier technologies responsibly to address development challenges, while building a stronger evidence base for future decisions. DT Global delivers the Frontier Tech Hub with consortium partners, working with FCDO Pioneers and technology partners to identify, develop and test frontier-technology ideas. The Hub uses short, structured sprints to test the riskiest assumptions first, combining grant support with coaching, technical assistance and monitoring, evaluation and learning. This enables teams to generate usable evidence before committing to further investment.
The Hub supports each innovation from early ideation through to proof of concept, adapting support to its technical maturity, user needs and potential route to scale. An investment committee helps target resources towards the most viable opportunities, while follow-on support, partnership brokering and business-model development help selected pilots progress beyond initial testing. Alongside delivery, the Hub synthesises learning across its portfolio into accessible research, practical products and events for FCDO, partners and the wider development sector.
Goals and Results
Since 2016, DT Global has supported 100+ innovations across 44 countries. The current portfolio is projected to benefit 6.1 million people by 2030. The programme has also produced 150+ accessible learning outputs, sharing evidence on the opportunities, limits and conditions for responsible technology adoption. Through its pilot portfolio, the Hub has helped FCDO teams and delivery partners test solutions in areas including climate resilience, health, agriculture, justice, public services and economic development, while creating evidence and partnerships that can support uptake beyond initial programme funding.