2017-March-28

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Changing the World. Is in Our DNA

From the beginning, Cisco has led with the belief that technology can help the world solve its greatest challenges and improve the way we live. Across the world, our teams are working to create new economic opportunities that will benefit everyone. We’re bringing Wi-Fi to areas that have never had it before. We’re training 1 million people per year for jobs of the future and connecting rural or underserved communities to healthcare that never had it before. 

And this is just the beginning. Today, billions of people and things are being connected globally, transforming how we work, live, play and learn. It will also create huge opportunities—estimated at $19 trillion in economic value over the next decade.

Through Cisco’s Country Digitization Acceleration (CDA) program, Cisco’s long-term partnership with national leadership, industry and academia, we’ve had the honor of working with countries around the world in harnessing digitization’s tremendous potential and address their greatest challenges.

We’re incredibly proud of the success of the CDA program so far. In less than two years, 16 countries have started CDA programs with Cisco, representing one third of the world’s population—and we are only just getting started. Some key recent milestones include:

A Well-Deserved Honor in France

To witness the far-reaching impact of country digitization, look no further than France, the first country to partner with Cisco on a CDA program. To honor our partnership with the French government, which prioritizes cybersecurity and defense, French Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian recognized Cisco Executive Chairman John Chambers with the National Defence Gold Medal. This is the first time a foreign business leader has been awarded the gold medal in its 35-year history. Calling it “one of the most important recognitions of his life,” Chambers remarked that it serves as a testament to the team’s ongoing commitment to advance France’s digital transformation.

France has been digitizing at a rapid pace. Their budding innovation ecosystem is even beginning to rival Silicon Valley. Through CDA, Cisco is working closely with the French government to accelerate the country’s digital agenda, which includes the development of a national network infrastructure, new smart city and regional initiatives, new Networking Academies and investments in French startups, among other key initiatives.

With France battling high unemployment (roughly one quarter of people under the age of 25), digitization will play a key role in creating new economic opportunities for citizens. It’s estimated that digitization could create 1.1 million jobs over the next 3-5 years and contribute $101 billion to GDP over the next decade.

CDA Celebrates Anniversary in Italy

In January of 2016, we launched CDA in Italy, partnering with the Italian government to increase digital skills and awareness and foster the country’s technology startup community.

Fast-forward one year, and CDA has created 38 new Networking Academies and is actively working with 20 Italian startups on real customer digitization challenges, among many other accomplishments. Chuck Robbins visited Rome earlier this month and discussed progress with Prime Minister Paulo Geniloni. The meeting followed the recent launch of the first European pilot project SkillZone (focused on IoT data analysts training) with ELIS (Training Center, First Networking Academy in Italy) in Rome. With the first year under our belt, we’re looking forward to maintaining this progress in year two!

Leap-Frogging India into the Digital Era

The opportunity for digitization in India has never been greater, and Cisco is excited to work with the government to help make Digital India a reality. Less than a year since launching CDA in India, Cisco has established 50 CDA programs there, helping accelerate economic competitiveness, boost local innovation, and make India a knowledge and technology hub. This includes the announcement of a series of strategic initiatives aimed at helping accelerate the digital transformation of Gujarat, a state in Western India, as well as the recent launch of a Global Center of Excellence in Jaipur as part of Cisco’s Lighthouse City initiative.

Since starting our CDA work in India, we’ve seen India begin to emerge as a global tech powerhouse: India’s ranking on WEF’s global competitiveness index jumped from No. 55 in 2015 to No. 39 in 2016—the largest jump among the 138 countries on the list. We expect big things in the future, and are honored to help play a role in the country’s digital transformation.

We’re thrilled about what CDA has been able to achieve in a relatively short span of time and look forward to building on this incredible momentum in the future. Cisco led in the information age by connecting the world, and now we’re excited to take the lead through country digitization.

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