Climate change, health, food security, literacy, energy, water and many other fields of technology hold enormous potential to impact poverty in developing countries.  The opportunities have never been greater.  We have so far, however, had only limited success in getting better technology to the poor.  One in eight people on the planet still lack access to safe water supplies.  The yield-per-acre of cereals grown in the US is five times greater than that in sub-Saharan Africa.  And diarrhea claims 1.5 million children every year.

We need a shift toward demand-driven innovation - ensuring that the people who benefit from technologies are engaged in the process.  And we need to approach these technologies strategically, using the tools of commercial product development.

PHOTO CREDIT: FLICKR AMIOASCENSION