Innovations for Public Good

The Center for Public Innovation (CPI) of the Asian School of Governance empowers local governments and their partners to tackle complex societal challenges through innovative practices and collaboration. Inspired by global models, including the Government Performance Lab at the Harvard University and  Center for Public Innovation at the Johns Hopkins University, CPI combines research, civic design, and community co-creation to deliver equitable and lasting impact.

Through our Public Innovation Hubs—a network of university-led centers across Asia—we work with cities, municipalities, and stakeholders to reimagine governance, enhance public trust, and create systems-level change. Our Co-creation Labs provide platforms for going deep into specific technologies, sectors, or localities to help drive work in the Public Innovation Hubs.

Our Mission

To build the capacity of public institutions to deliver resident-centered solutions by fostering innovation, driving collaboration, and cultivating a culture of impact-driven governance.

Our Approach

CPI employs a proven, adaptive methodology to guide local governments through the stages of public innovation:

1. AIM: Set the Mission
   Define ambitious, measurable goals that address systemic challenges and align with community priorities.

2. Design: Reimagine Solutions
   Conduct in-depth research using human-centered design, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement to co-create practical and innovative solutions.

3. Activate: Deliver Initiatives
   Prototype, pilot, and scale initiatives that achieve transformative results while fostering continuous learning.

4. Sustain: Ingrain the Work
   Embed innovation into the fabric of governance through policies, practices, and a culture that adapts to evolving needs.

What We Do

• Public Innovation Hubs: Collaborate with a regional network of universities to serve as innovation incubators and training centers, ensuring local adaptability and contextual relevance.

• Capacity Building Programs: Offer training, workshops, and toolkits for government leaders, practitioners, and civil society.

• Research and Insights: Generate actionable knowledge through data-driven research and resident engagement.

• Innovation Labs: Partner with cities to design and implement solutions to critical challenges such as climate resilience, education, and health equity.

Why Choose CPI?

• Resident-Centered: We place the needs and voices of residents at the heart of every solution.

• Equity-Focused: Our approach ensures inclusive outcomes, particularly for historically underrepresented communities.

• Global Expertise, Local Context: Leveraging international frameworks and tailoring them to the unique challenges of Asia.

• Collaborative Network: Work with a diverse ecosystem of universities, civil society organizations, and governments.

Join Us

Are you a city leader, university, or civil society organization ready to innovate? Partner with the Center for Public Innovation to create bold, scalable solutions and strengthen governance for generations to come.

Strengthening the Innovation Ecosystem through Co-creation Labs

The Co-Creation Labs at the Asian School of Governance are transformative platforms designed to address Asia's most pressing challenges through innovative, inclusive, and interdisciplinary approaches. These labs serve as dynamic hubs for experimentation, bringing together diverse stakeholders—governments, private sector actors, academia, civil society, and communities—to co-create and test solutions to complex societal issues.

Guided by systems thinking and methodologies like Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA), the Co-Creation Labs foster learning and collaboration. These labs empower stakeholders to pilot and scale solutions that address structural challenges, advance equity, and accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals across Asia and beyond.