UNICEF recently released findings of ground-breaking new research in connection with Arm, revealing that over 2 billion lives can be changed by investing in emerging cities across the world, while also generating up to $2 trillion in revenue by 2022. The Tech Bets for an Urban World research shows that businesses who put money into technology solutions designed for emerging urban cities can not only do solid business but also can deliver social change for people who need it the most, at the same time.
Some Examples:
Smart water metering which could see 2.5-3 billion people gain access to affordable and clean water;
Emergency response, where innovation could link 3-3.5 billion people to a range of life-saving services
Blended learning, where teachers could use online content in lessons to engage and inspire up to 500-600 million children
Multi-Modal Skilling, which has the potential to equip up to 60-120 million young people in developing countries with the skills they need
Smart Recruiting for the Informal Economy, connecting between 0.8 – 1.2 billion people across the informal economy
Commuter Car Share, a carpool system to provide safer, more efficient, and better quality transportation for potentially 350 million people around the world
“Tech companies can do good business by investing in innovations that lift children and their families out of poverty,” said Erica Kochi, Principal Adviser, UNICEF Innovation. “They have the potential to deliver more than corporate social responsibility – they can deliver long-term life-changing solutions.”
Dominic Vergine, Head of Sustainability, Arm, said, “There are very real concerns about how our teeming cities will provide for a significant proportion of the world’s population. The pressures on infrastructure, transportation, basic services and the threat of violence are real barriers that will have a significant impact on the most vulnerable and their ability to thrive and survive…This is where companies like Arm can make a real difference, we can invest in life-changing technology that is being developed on the ground and make a profit that has a real purpose. We hope this piece of research shines a spotlight on the wealth of opportunity for the tech sector to deliver enormous social impact for urban children and their families while expanding markets and financial returns for technology companies and investors.”
Arm has aligned with UNICEF for three years to start up new technology to aid the most vulnerable people across the globe. More than 70 percent of the world’s population use Arm technology, which powers more than 125 billion chips in devices, from sensors to smartphones to supercomputers.
The alignment also targets the wider tech sector and boosts up businesses to work together and find ways of using technology to help people who need it the most. This is part of 2030Vision which looks at how technology can push the UN’s Global Goals with an aim to raise up one billion people out of poverty through sustainable and profitable technology solutions.
Tech Bets for the Urban World was conducted by Dalberg and comprised of immersive research. This includes one to one conversations and focus group discussions in homes, schools and local community institutions with over 200 women and children across all three cities, as well as 100 interviews with local technology innovators. In addition, there was a consultation with an industry advisory committee made up of leading companies with deep topical expertise like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft as well as sector leaders like Merck among many others.
