Digital innovation to meet social, health and environmental needs
At iQo, we believe that tech companies today must go the extra mile and avoid “purpose washing”. To have a real impact on society, a company must first transform itself from within and then serve as an ambassador for this initiative to the widest possible audience. To support this change, the Tech For Good France community plans to launch the Tech For Good Score in the near future. Already, tech companies can examine their practices: beyond the actual benefits of the final solution, the design phases are just as important for ensuring a genuine focus on the common good (reusing existing hardware to reduce the energy costs of new solutions, ensuring new solutions are compatible with older devices to make services more accessible and bridge the digital divide). One of the essential aspects of Tech for Good is leadership that strives to create a culture and environment focused on the public interest.
Tech for Good refers to the use of technology to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals defined by the United Nations:
As Christophe Itier, High Commissioner for SSE and Social Innovation, explains: " At the crossroads between Tech and the social economy, this new " Tech for good " brings together two complementary approaches: the digital innovation of Tech, coupled with the know-how and knowledge of SSE companies of social, health and environmental needs ".
In November 2020, at the initiative of the Elysée Palace, 73 global tech bosses - including those from Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Huawei - and also major groups from the traditional economy -Engie, BNP Paribas...- and startups -Uber, Doctolib, Simplon...- signed a call for "Tech for good" by the government. This agreement aims to "outline the principles and values" to make the Internet "a free, open and secure space" worldwide.
The French Tech for good ecosystem is particularly dynamic in 4 key sectors: education, climate, health and inclusion.
1. Education: Tech for education
New technologies are making it possible to rethink education by enhancing the value of learners, promoting lifelong learning and professional integration, combating school drop-out and widening access to education through :
- Technological tools
- New ways of learning
- Personalized content
- Learning the code
Simplon, a network of inclusive digital schools, offers training courses leading to qualifications and diplomas in digital technology, enabling a variety of profiles (jobseekers, employees undergoing retraining, displaced persons, women, school dropouts, etc.) to find a job in line with current market needs.
2. Ecological transition: Tech for climate change
Beyond their proven ecological impact, new technologies can tip the balance by creating a positive impact on the environment, thanks in particular to :
- Renewable energy production
- Green building construction
- Sustainable mobility
- The circular economy
- Saving energy
Initiatives in favor of the environment are numerous. Qarnot Computing uses the heat from data centers to transform them into radiators for private homes, at a time when the cost of heating is rising steadily.
In the eco-responsibility sector, Phénix and Too Good to Go are start-ups that offer retailers and manufacturers innovative solutions to reduce food and non-food waste, via the development of a platform that connects retailers and consumers.
3. Health: Tech for health
Combating medical deserts, facilitating access to healthcare and providing better care through the sharing of knowledge and technological advances are strong pillars in the drive towards better collective health, thanks in particular to :
- Robotics
- Telemedicine
- Prevention
- Data sharing
- Tools for collaboration between researchers, patients and doctors.
In the healthcare sector, several players have emerged, such as Sage Bionetworks, which implements medical data sharing practices to advance healthcare, or Voluntis, which develops digital therapy tools to support patients during their treatment (diabetes, cancer, hemophilia, etc.).
4. Inclusion: Tech for inclusiveness
These are all solutions that facilitate access to employment, promote mobility and set up inclusive work tools. It means striving for a society that offers the same opportunities for integration to every individual, whatever their situation, for example through :
- handitech (to support people with disabilities)
- civitech (to recreate the link between governing bodies and citizens)
- inclusivenesstech (to reintegrate people in situations of exclusion)
Many social entrepreneurs are working to improve social inclusion. Joséphine Goube embodies Techfugees, an organization that promotes the use of tech to foster the inclusion and empowerment of displaced people. Jean-Marc Pot-devin founded Entourage, a social network designed to break the isolation of the homeless. Using the best of technology, thousands of changemakers are fighting poverty and exclusion.
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