{"id":11870,"date":"2021-06-10T06:30:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T06:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web3unplugged.io\/blog\/?p=11870"},"modified":"2021-06-10T06:31:02","modified_gmt":"2021-06-10T06:31:02","slug":"hp-inc-commits-to-accelerate-digital-equity-for-150-million-people-by-2030","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web3unplugged.io\/blog\/hp-inc-commits-to-accelerate-digital-equity-for-150-million-people-by-2030\/","title":{"rendered":"HP Inc. Commits To Accelerate Digital Equity For 150 Million People By 2030"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As part of its Sustainable Impact strategy,HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ)today announced an ambitious goal to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people by 2030. To help achieve its objective, the company announced the launch of HP PATH (Partnership and Technology for Humanity), an innovative accelerator program that will invest in local initiatives and partnerships to address challenges in underserved communities around the world focused on education, healthcare and the creation of economic opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s announcement coincides with the milestone publication of HP\u2019s 20th<\/sup> annual Sustainable Impact Report, that highlights the progress the company is making across its core pillars of Climate Action, Human Rights and Digital Equity. It follows recent actions the company has taken to accelerate progress, including some of the industry\u2019s most comprehensive climate action goals<\/a>, as well as aggressive steps to drive diversity, equity andinclusion and respect human rights<\/a>across its ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur Sustainable Impact strategy is helping to strengthen our communities while spurring innovation and growth across our business. Creating technology that inspires progress has always been one of HP\u2019s greatest strengths, and we continue to hold ourselves accountable for achieving the goals we have set,\u201dsaid Enrique Lores, President and CEO, HP Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs digital technology transforms seemingly every aspect of ourlives, there\u2019s a real danger of more and more people gettingleft behind. We cannot allow that to happen, and HP will workto break down the digital divide that prevents too many fromaccessing the education, jobs, and healthcare they need to thrive.\u201d Lores continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accelerating Digital Equity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t create the digital divide, but it has certainly exacerbated it. Digital inequity is at an all-time high and will only continue to grow if we do not work together to find solutions. During COVID-19, one-third of the world\u2019s school-age children, or 463 million students<\/a>, could not access remote learning, according to UNICEF. Beyond education, digital divide can stand in the way of accessing modern healthcare and competitive job opportunities as digital transformation continues to accelerate. There\u2019s also a cost to digital equity: the U.S. alone loses more than $130 million a day<\/a> in economic activity when people aren\u2019t online, according to Deloitte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HP believes digital equity is a human right and has invested in HP LIFE<\/a>, a free IT and business skills training program offered by the HP Foundation, and supports and teams up with organizations including Girl Rising<\/a>, MIT Solve<\/a> and NABU<\/a> to tackle this challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on these efforts, HP commits to develop, launch, and manage a digital equity accelerator, thatseeks to support the digital equity of disenfranchised communities by activating innovative solutions and services for 150 million people by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HP believes true digital equity requires four key elements: hardware (e.g., laptop or printer); connectivity (e.g., access to the Internet); quality, relevant content (e.g., learning materials); and digital literacy, (e.g., skills to use the technology). HP\u2019s work will focus on four specific communities that are most likely to experience digital divide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n