The International Development Research Center (IDRC/Pan Américas), the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA) and the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Address Registry (LACNIC) have subscribed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to:

1. Promote the development of regional research capacities within the area of Information and Communication Technologies for Development.
2. Promote the development of technical capacities relating to the Internet and other technological applications.
3. Promote digital inclusion.
4. Strengthen and promote the Information Society within the countries of the region.

his agreement has materialized in the FRIDA program (Regional Fund for Digital Innovation in the Americas), which with the funding of the abovementioned parties in addition to the contribution of the Internet Society (ISOC) and the Gobal Knowledge Partership (GKP), will allow a Competitive Project Fund to be created during the course of the following two years. By awarding small grants, this fund will support projects developed by research teams within the region.

The FRIDA program is administered by LACNIC, and its execution will be supervised by a commission made up by the organizers of the undertaking.

The fund will be operational during 2004 and 2005, and an annual summons is anticipated for organizations of the region to present projects seeking to be financed through the fund.