ADB Challenges

Curious what TIC looks like in action?

ENERGY

The call: Efficient and affordable heating and cooling solutions that reduce energy consumption and cut emissions in industrial and commercial settings across Asia and the Pacific.

The solution:Asano Taiseikiso Engineering Co., Ltd. installed its G-Hex heat exchanger technology at a chicken slaughterhouse in Hanoi, Vietnam. Made of polyethylene resin pipes, the system recovers thermal energy from industrial wastewater and uses it to pre-cool water before it enters the facility's chillers, reducing the energy needed to run them. The result is a cleaner, more efficient cooling process that turns wasted energy into a resource.

The outcome: Independent verification by Hanoi University of Science and Technology confirmed electricity savings of up to 19% and an annual reduction of 96 tonnes of CO₂. The pilot demonstrated that heat exchanger technology can deliver meaningful cost savings and emissions reductions in industrial food processing settings, with strong potential for replication across Vietnam's fast-growing industrial sector.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

The call: Data-driven tools to make cities more inclusive, give voice to vulnerable communities, and support evidence-based decision-making for urban planners and local governments.

The solution:PIVE (Poverty Impact and Vulnerability Estimator) by LocationMind Inc integrates GPS data, satellite imagery, mobile networks, census information, and social media into a single user-friendly platform. By disaggregating data across socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic dimensions, PIVE surfaces overlooked disparities and vulnerabilities in urban communities. Visual dashboards and maps translate complex datasets into actionable insights for policymakers, supporting poverty monitoring, disaster risk assessment, and inclusive urban planning.

The outcome: Piloted in three locations in the Philippines, the PIVE tool supported local governments in optimizing transport routes and designing targeted interventions for vulnerable communities. The platform demonstrated that complex urban data can be transformed into concrete policy decisions that drive more equitable and resilient city planning.

TRANSPORT

The call: Technology-based solutions to make public transport safer and more secure for all users, with a focus on protecting vulnerable communities and women throughout their entire door-to-door journey.

The solution:The TUTEM (Technologies for Urban Transits to Enhance Mobility and Safe Accessibility) app gives public transit users in Hyderabad, India, the tools to navigate their journey more safely. The app provides security ratings for routes to transit points, pairs users with vetted paratransit operators, and includes a speed dial function for passengers in distress.

The outcome: The pilot demonstrated strong enough results that key features of the TUTEM app will be integrated into the Maha Metro mobile app under the ADB Nagpur Metro Rail project, bringing last-mile safety tools to a much wider user base. A locally developed app proved it could move from proof-of-concept to real metro infrastructure in one of India's fastest-growing cities.

HEALTHY OCEANS

The call: Technologies to prevent plastic waste at the source by replacing single-use packaging with reuse and refill models, accelerating the transition to a circular economy across Asia and the Pacific.

The solution:A local startup Alner introduced a return-and-reuse packaging system in Jakarta, replacing single-use sachets with reusable containers collected through reverse vending machines and tracked via a digital platform. Partnering with local waste banks, the system collects, cleans, and refills packaging for resale, cutting plastic waste at the source through a fully circular supply chain.

The outcome: The pilot eliminated over 66,000 sachets, created jobs, and expanded to 176 points of sale. The results spoke for themselves: after the TIC grant, Alner secured $500,000 in follow-on funding to scale up the model. The digital tracking component was later selected by an ADB technical assistance program reviewing plastic waste solutions across the region.