NL EVD Visit to HONFablab Yogyakarta

Marc van der Linden from The Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD) paid a visit to HONFablab Yogyakarta last Wednesday, Sept 19, 2011. NL EVD International is a division of the NL Agency, a Dutch Ministry agency that implements government policy for sustainability, innovation, and international business and cooperation.

As project officer of the NL EVD's Indonesia Facility (INDF) program, Marc has been conducting a series of monitoring visits to projects that receive NL EVD funding support, including the HONFablab. Tommy Suryo (Lab Manager) welcomed Marc and gave a brief presentation of the lab's workplan for the second phase / creative research phase.

An informal discussion ensued on HONFablab's sustainability issues, strategies to obtain income outside funding support, challenges faced in the 50$ Prosthetics Project, and our role in poverty issues. Tommy explained that HONFablab's business strategies include catering to the needs of the creative industry community. HONFablab are also conducting a research in amputee groups to gain input for the prosthetics project and cooperate with Yogyakarta Industry and Trade Department, albeit indirectly, in the efforts to improve the standards of living and income of disadvantaged communities.