ITU/WMO/UNESCO-IOC Joint Task Force on Green Cables Funding Study

1. ITU/WMO/UNESCO-IOCJoint Task Force onGreen Cables Funding Study October 2014 Prepared by: OCI Group, Inc. 9 Whippany Road Whippany, NJ 07980

2. Study Requirements* - Introduction • The availability of funding for such a wide-ranging objective is difficult to navigate without some form of guidance and charting of the sources, parties and processes. • The JTF contracted a study to understand the sources of funding and the routes to such funding for the development and deployment of an initial ‘green cable’ system. • Discussions at the Madrid Workshop it suggested that between $1M & $6M will be required to develop the sensors themselves and for the relevant system vendors to tailor their solutions to incorporate the sensors and desired data transmission methodologies. • Further, an additional fund of between $10M and $20M would be expected to be required to include such sensors on a commercially viable cable as an initial project. *Tasking: Geneva, 31 March 2014 - Development of a Business Model Study for the ITU/WMO/UNESCO IOC Joint Task Force on Green Cables Systems (JTF)

3. Potential Sources of Funding • The OCI Group effort structured its investigation into potential sources of funding in the following four distinct groups: • International Development Agencies • e.g. World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank • Foundations • e.g. Gates Foundation, Schmidt Ocean Institute • Government Agencies • e.g. US-Dept. of Commerce EDA , Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology • Private Companies • e.g. those that might benefit from the data or participate in the deployment (e.g. Google, NSW)

4. International Development Agencies • All the major international development agencies were researched for this study • Most of these agencies focus on their specific geographic region with the aim of reducing poverty, and • For example, from the InterAmerican Development Bank website • Wesupportefforts by Latin America and the Caribbean countries to reduce poverty and inequality. We aim to bring about development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. • Typically provide financing to their member countries

5. International Development Agencies • The most promising of these organizations is the World Bank, which is also a specialized agency of the UN (as are ITU, WMO and UNESCO). • Charter is broader than regional agencies, have funded telecom projects • Repeated attempts to reach key individuals within the World Bank were unsuccessful, but recommend continued efforts since most promising (grants possible). • Similar to World Bank, European Investment Bank is also a possible funding organization having a broader charter • Specific contacts for follow-up in both agencies have been provided in the report.

6. Foundations • All of the world’s largest foundations and special cases were researched as part of this effort. The magnitude of the funding required would: • only be possible from very large foundations, • Will probably require support from several foundations since grant amounts per grant, and grants in excess of $10M occur infrequently (only 16 since 2007 related to climate change and several of these went to ClimateWorks Foundation – who in turn tend to give out even smaller grants) • Green Cable Initiative must align with each foundations funding priorities, • Nearly all foundations who fund climate change focus on policy advocacy • Need to target foundations interested in technology development and infrastructure implementation

7. Foundations (cont’d) • Six major foundations were contacted, two respondents indicated effort not consistent with their priorities. • A list of the most promising foundations was developed for follow-up contact. • UN Foundation should be engaged to assist with funding efforts for UN Foundation Mission as stated: • …links the UN’s work with others around the world, mobilizing the energy and expertise of business and non-governmental organizations to help the UN tackle issues including climate change, children’s health, peace and security, and poverty eradication.

8. Government Agencies • The study identified 160 relevant government agencies in coastal countries, and focused on those with substantial funding potential • Examples: • Department of the Environment/ Environmental Protection Agencies • Research Institutes (Ocean Science, Tsunami, Seismology) • Department of Science and Technology • Department for Economic Development • Regional Organizations

9. Private Companies • The Study considered funding from private companies. • OCI identified companies of potential interest by reviewing companies in attendance at OCEANS 2013 and OCEANOLOGY 2014 and other sources • Out of approximately 300 companies, 29 were targeted for follow-up (sensor developers, Google, AUV manufacture, etc.) • Letters soliciting interest in the Green Cables Initiative were sent, but • Based on this response, it is unlikely that direct funding will become available from private companies • It is anticipated however that other forms of support would be possible from the private entities such as: • Review of standards • Engineering support • Use of equipment

10. Summary • The most likely candidates for funding are focused Development Agencies, Foundations with environmental and science interests, and Government Agencies addressing climate change and disaster mitigation • The most promising funders in each category have been identified • Initiated contacts (direct calls and email) with agencies and companies has lead to understanding of next steps on how to follow up

11. Recommendations • Successful solicitation will require contacting key decision-makers/influencers. Collateral marketing materials are needed to provide • Detailed proposal with cost and benefit analysis • Clear understanding as to recipient organization, structure and governance • The funding effort will require a concerted effort over a sustained period of time • Clear focus on most likely sources and utilizing contacts

12. Provocative Notion • Today’s technology in subsea systems and offshore environmental sensor system projects is quite matured • What if: • There was a project to be funded by World Bank or Asian Development Bank • Such a project might easily be an inter-island project, South East Asia • What if, as part of the RFP, an option was introduced to include temperature or tsunami sensor? • While this does not establish “standards” for interfacing it would provide proof of concept