Unicef Innovation is currently supporting the development of cutting-edge wearables innovation, but one of their most successful tech programmes was back in the 1970s, when Unicef and other partners introduced the Mark 2 hand pump.
Government funding also built a strong presence in supercomputers.But Mr Simon argues that the state's various high-tech programmes have left China's leaders disappointed.
While the Russian government has ordered deep cuts in its space and hi-tech programmes, Zimin's Dynasty Foundation had just raised its annual budget to $8.6m to be allocated to research stipends, publishing, and outreach.
There are good reasons why the Indian government should choose to invest in ambitious hi-tech programmes while also working towards public health just as there there are good reasons to challenge their balance of priorities.
Each started out in Y-Combinator's tech accelerator programme that gave them the cash-infused nudge and workspace they needed to realise the full potential of their ideas.
For more on serious games, check this Tech Weekly programme, where David Wortley, director of the Serious Games Institute explains why evidence that games teach good doesn't mean evidence that they also teach bad.
As we've said before, there is a veritable explosion of private tech accelerator programmes springing up all over Europe.
The charity provided HullCoin with £100,000 worth of development funding through its Tech for Good programme.
However, despite the setbacks they face, North Korean researchers and businesspeople attended a two-week workshop last month as part of Choson Exchange's Tech Start PY programme in August, which took place with state permission, and focused on helping build an entrepreneurial culture and a supportive environment for startups in North Korea.
Phew - we've just come off air after our weekly World Service radio programme Tech Tent, and I think we may have just achieved a world first.
