FW: BMGF's Partnership with Global Good
Dear Colleagues,
As the foundation's relationship manager for Global Good (GG) at Intellectual Ventures (IV), LLC., I would like to provide you with some information which I hope will clarify questions that you may have encountered. IV as some of you already know is a local company that works in intellectual property and invention. Global Good focuses on inventing technology to improve the lives of the poor in developing countries and their primary objective is to further charitable purpose. Our collaboration with Global Good is a Co-chair priority.
Global Good is:
- Managed by IV, leveraging IV’s staff and resources
- Funded by an investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Asset Trust
- Focused on inventing technology to improve lives of the poor in developing countries
- A for-profit entity, whose primary objective is to advance the mission of the foundation
- Reinvesting their profits into GG to further the goals of its charitable purpose
- Holding quarterly brainstorming/collaboration sessions with the BMGF on selected topics
Last year GG added a new Vice President and head, Maurizio Vecchione, and a new Director of Research and Strategy, Ali Arjomand. Maurizio and Ali initiated a transformation of GG strategies and its business model with six main thematic areas of focus.
- Disease Modeling
- Vaccine logistics
- Vector Management
- Malaria and TB Diagnostics
- Maternal and Child Health
- Agricultural Productivity
These areas were chosen in part because they align with BMGF strategies, maximize GG's technical comparative advantage and have the highest potential impact. Recently, in order to increase efficiency and alignment within the Global Good Fund different programs at IV have all been brought under the direct management of Maurizio Vecchione (Global Good, New Horizons, Institute of Disease Modeling (formerly called EMOD) and the IV labs).
Given that we closely collaborate with GG on selected topics and projects of mutual interest, we want to encourage collaboration and information exchange with GG. To help streamline and facilitate the collaboration, we have an MOU in place with GG that allows us to share with them selected grant proposals and annual reports. This allows them to work with us in landscaping particular topics of mutual interest. However, we do need to ensure it is done appropriately and maintain confidentiality of any third-party materials that have been provided to the foundation subject to NDA agreements. To this end, we have developed a process to share such materials. If you still have questions regarding what can and cannot be shared from a legal perspective, please contact Alina Flower in legal.
Global Good is holding monthly office hours at the foundation (besides their individually scheduled ad hoc meetings). Please check our BMGF Internal SharePoint Site for GG Information and Activities for details in case you want to casually stop by.
These resources are available should you want to learn more:
- GG Website
- BMGF Internal SharePoint Site for GG Information and Activities
- GG Executive Summary (attached file)
- GG FAQ document (attached file)
- GG Office Hours
- BMGF Extranet Site
We are excited about strengthening our partnership with GG and the contributions their unique skill sets bring to tackling some of our biggest challenges. It's critical that we foster a strong collaborative relationship with GG. Our engagement will contribute to their success in leveraging their comparative advantage to impact global health and development. We look forward to the roles that all of you will play in continuing to strengthen the relationship.
Regards,
Fil
Fil Randazzo, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Global Health Discovery & Translational Science
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
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