Digital Empowers Technology as a Catalyst for Empowering Communities TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION Table of Contents Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Education .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Employment and the Future of Work ...........................................................................................................................................................................8 Healthcare ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11 Sustainability and Disaster Response .........................................................................................................................................................................14 Food Security .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................17 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ........................................................................................................................................................................................20 COVID-19 Pandemic ............................................................................................................................................................................................................23 The Digital Divide ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................27 Mental Health .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................30 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................33 2 TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION Executive Summary With the world becoming increasingly Explore the key takeaways from three interconnected through the rise in digital years of engagements with a myriad of technologies and global communications, experts that have led to novel ideas in Digital Empowers has given so has the ability for this technology to have many impact areas. us a platform to reach new a positive impact on society. The opportunity “ partners that we may not be for these technologies to be applied to solve Technology has served as a catalyst working with otherwise, and for the world’s most pressing problems for reducing inequalities for people demystifying what digital can do. has become more important than ever, accessing basic human rights, with for stakeholders on both the social and the COVID-19 pandemic further Brian Savoy tech side. However, challenges exist for all accelerating the adoption of digital SVP, Chief Transformation stakeholder groups in breaking down silos in technologies. Whether it be accessing & Administrative Officer, the access to and transfer of information to education, healthcare, or housing, Duke Energy Corporation effectively leverage technology to meet the technology has played a unique role in needs of communities. driving equitable access to resources as well as in increasing efficiencies. Nonprofits and social impact organizations often face a host of challenges in accessing While larger-scale—macro—social People, like technologies, hold the digital technologies that could create impact challenges are what gain power to transform communities efficiencies in their program delivery and attention globally, it is important to across the world. By leveraging create transformational impact. Barriers can also look at the micro issues that afflict human-enablers with their uniquely range from a lack of financial resources, to local communities. In order to gain a human traits of empathy, curiosity, and the capacity and know-how to effectively deeper understanding of the issue, problem-solving—and combining this utilize them within their organizations, to it is important to look holistically with innovative new technologies— the lack of knowledge of the power of these at the challenge using a cross- will be key to successfully adopting technologies in actioning change. On the sector approach and include local efficient and impactful human-machine other hand, corporations and technology government, academia, nonprofit, and environments. This human-centered leaders that have extensive expertise and corporate voices to ideate on solutions. approach to technology development resources are often searching for avenues and adoption will be essential in to apply their knowledge and expertise in Technology continues to be creating effective, sustainable solutions an impactful way. To bridge this divide and transformational, applying itself to social impact challenges. break down the silos at the intersection of uniquely to community needs. emerging technology, expertise, and social Leveraging technology to accelerate impact experience is what led to the genesis social impact for communities is of Digital Empowers. the way forward. There is strong value in creating coalitions of multi- Since its inception, Digital Empowers has stakeholder partnerships. Public-private engaged with thousands of experts to create collaborations as well as partnerships and expand the knowledge base, explore with the nonprofit and for-profit sector technology solutions that have exponential can ensure best-in-class products, impact on the most pressing problems—all technology, and processes are easily of which have cross-sections and applications made available to marginalized and around the world—and to create an underserved communities. ecosystem of vital multi-sector partnerships leading to collaborative social impact solutions. The program has also opened doors for social entrepreneurs and changemakers to ideate and collaborate with business and technology leaders to bring novel social impact innovations to the community. The overall goal of Digital Empowers is to facilitate the generation of new ideas, and foster the spread of these ideas while facilitating action Explore the key insights and interact with the report on https://on.tcs.com/Catalyst through a collaborative process. 3 TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION Introduction Digital Empowers is a program developed in partnership between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), celebrating the crucial role technology plays in improving our world. Topics covered since 2018 during in-person and virtual convenings were timely and topical. All of the content contained in this report is correct at the time of publishing, however some individuals’ titles, positions, and organizations may have changed since their engagement in a Digital Empowers forum. Emerging technologies have transformed With Digital Empowers, it is understood possible and, in that process, foster the way we work—from the way companies that these goals cannot be accomplished cross-sector partnerships. Digital do business and engage their value chains when business, technology, nonprofit, and Empowers has provided a collaborative to the way governments and nonprofits policy makers work in silos. By leveraging the platform for business and community serve their communities. While leveraging ingenuity and resources of the private sector, leaders to co-create and co-innovate on this for business transformations has been the innovative capacity of technologists, solutions that will shape the future of the norm, the greatest opportunity lies and the collective assets of governments, innovation for social impact. in the capabilities of these technologies NGOs, and civil society, sustainable, scalable to transform society to solve real world solutions to solve our most pressing societal This report is a culmination of learnings problems. New technologies including challenges can be created. from multiple collaborations over the last blockchain, cloud, augmented reality/ three years. Each chapter speaks to a virtual reality (AR/VR), and many others, Since 2018, Digital Empowers has been specific social impact issue area and the have a unique potential to fulfill human bringing together business leaders, technical technology powering the solution to address needs, address pressing community experts, community impact organizations, it. Through this program and this report, issues, and present new opportunities for academia, and public policy leaders