Our goal: Positively impact 1 billion people by 2025

1 billion?! That is a pretty big number to strive for, but it is something Cisco committed to back in 2016. And, as of the end of fiscal year 2018, we’ve already had an impact on a cumulative 445 million people worldwide.

“At our core, we have always been about solving problems, connecting people, and striving for positive outcomes,” Tae Yoo, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and CSR, Cisco. Helping people and using technology to improve people’s lives is a part of our DNA. It’s just who we are.

Global Problem Solver Challenge

As part of our work, we seek to inspire and empower a generation of global problem solvers who will not only survive – but drive and thrive – in our increasingly digital economy. With the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital technologies connecting more devices and data than ever before, good ideas now have the ability to make a difference more quickly than ever before. And we’re here to help.

Our third annual Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge aims to recognize new business ideas that leverage technology for social impact from student entrepreneurs around the world. The Challenge is open to students and recent alumni from any college or university.

In order to be eligible, solutions need to incorporate IoT or other digital technologies. They also need to have a social, environmental or economic impact (e.g. health, education, accessibility, critical human needs (food, water, disaster response/recovery, safety, etc.).

After all the submissions were reviewed, $300,000 USD in prize money was dispersed to help accelerate the adoption of breakthrough technology, products, and services that drive social, environmental or economic impact.

2019 healthcare winners

Of the 10 winning organizations, three directly focus on improving health outcomes. Check out the 2019 healthcare winners:

Calla Imaging (2^nd runner up, $25,000)

Cervical cancer affects the lives over 500,000 women annually, with over 80% in low-and middle-income countries, and 50% of these women die. This is due to a lack of affordable, accessible, and accurate screening. Our vision is to democratize screening through 1) imaging technology that community health providers or women themselves can use for screening; 2) automated algorithms for accurate diagnosis without an expert; and 3) mHealth app for patient data storage and communication for follow up.

Learn more >

Neurobots: Exobots (3^rd runner up, $10,000)

Stroke is the disease that causes most motor disabilities in the world, 16 million cases each year, 1 each 2 sec., and 87% of survivors are unable to perform daily activities. Common methods has low efficience to treat stroke patients, mainly when they have more than 6 month since stroke (chronic stage), when recovery its almost imperceptible. With Neurobots Method its possible reabilit even the chronic patients with a average hand recovery of more than 30% in just two weeks.

Learn more >

REALDRIP by TREPLABS (3^rd runner up, $10,000)

Manual infusion treatment leads to the death of 500,000 babies and 76,000 pregnant women annually. 1 in 4 people dying from conditions caused by blood clot. Also, 1 in 5 people on blood transfusion and drip have suffered complications because they were given too much or too little fluid, with hundreds potentially dying.

REALDRIP device monitors blood transfusion and drip to prevent blood clot and complications during drip treatment by continuously monitoring flow rate and automating the process.

Learn more >

Check out how Cisco is improving lives around the world

Explore our Public Sector Digital Transformation Map, highlighting our efforts in just a few of the 120 cities, 180 countries, 30,000 education institutions, and 17,000 healthcare organizations around the world.