Buildings are now considered the largest driver for energy demand sector in developing countries of Asia and the Pacific. With the multitude of actors involved in the construction value chain, considering the need to create mandatory building energy codes and introduce skills development programs are crucial.

This presentation provides a 10-point summary of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) perspective. Among the points raised include viewing TVET institution-based initiatives as an immediate solution, and considering the greening of TVET as a holistic approach for skills development for life and work.

Central to Asian Development Bank (ADB's) mission is financial support for infrastructure in various sectors. The outcome of the Knowledge Partnership Week, in terms of new ideas and approaches and new commitments to collaboration, could very well become a new form of "ADB currency"—one that goes beyond dollars and cents.

This video shows one of the training sessions under a water utility partnership between Yangon City Development Committee (Myanmar) and Hunter Water, a leading water and wastewater utility in Australia. The twinning is being facilitated by Asian Development Bank through its Water Operators Partnerships Program, which started in 2007.

This video features a twinning program between an experienced mentor utility—in this case Maynilad (Philippines)—with a recipient utility, Khulna WASA (Bangladesh). The exercise is part of a knowledge sharing initiative called Water Operators Partnerships in Asia and the Pacific, established by Asian Development Bank in 2007.

Cities in Asia increasingly face the triple challenges of rapid urbanization, aging population, and climate change. Smart urban development is an imperative given the challenges. A business-as-usual approach, however, will simply not achieve sustainable urban development and smart cities; a combination of leadership, partnership, and innovation is needed.

This presentation discusses the public bicycle system in the People’s Republic of China. The opportunities and benefits of bikesharing, including key recommendations on further developing the system in the country, are enumerated. How public bikesharing can serve as a potential revenue stream for the country is also explored.

Consider the importance of bringing innovation to markets. Learn how Battelle Memorial Institute, through its creation of a Commercialization Council, has allowed Battelle-managed labs and related affiliates charged with commercialization to share information and coordinate actions, particularly on policy positions.

This presentation discusses the interoperability challenges everyone faces in times of crisis and disaster. It explains how Wave, an innovation of Motorola Solutions, Inc., responds to the challenge by providing effective communication and collaboration through secure, reliable, and real-time voice and data.

This presentation discusses the application of innovative and partnership approaches in strengthening disaster resilience. Asian Development Bank's project on “Applying Space-based Technology and Information and Communication Technology to Strengthen Disaster Resilience” is explained in detail. The discussion also includes examples of technology that can provide cost-effective innovative solutions for disaster risk management.