This past November, some of the leading minds in technology and sustainability met at the RE:WIRED conference to discuss one of the most important topics of our era: how technology can help solve society’s biggest challenges in creative new ways.
In the wake of COVID-19, technology has become even more integral to our lives, from attending school to grocery shopping to visiting the doctor. Building on that foundation, companies like Lenovo, one of the world’s leading technology solutions organizations, are innovating new ways to harness processing power and creative thinking to solve real-world challenges for a brighter future. “Lenovo works with 17 of the top 25 research universities in the world to create solutions on the leading edge,” says Kirk Skaugen, executive vice president of Lenovo and president of the company’s Infrastructure Solutions Group. “We’re thinking long-term about what the world will be like, the trends we’ll see, and how to roll up our sleeves to create better outcomes.”
By applying technology in new ways, companies like Lenovo can help bring about healthier and more equitable societies across the globe. “When we envision the future, we tend to think about robots and flying cars,” says Amy Webb, the founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute. “But we don’t think about climate issues, global pandemics, and how to create equitable access to technology—and we should.”
Here are a few highlights from their conversation.
Hybrid Work Is Here to Stay
In the past year, many households enhanced and expanded their online access, going from one personal computer to multiple devices for working, studying, and enjoying entertainment remotely. Now, as society returns to the office, this type of around-the-clock connectivity is here to stay. According to a June 2021 report by Accenture, 83 percent of employees prefer a hybrid work model in which they can do their job remotely up to 75 percent of the time.
To support this desire, Lenovo is building devices that can process increasingly larger amounts of data faster and more securely. “Connectivity and resiliency are mission critical,” Skaugen says. “Lenovo is one of the largest data-center companies in the world, and we’ve seen more data created in the past two years than in the entire history of the world prior to that. Going forward, we’re creating the products and infrastructure that can support this growth to help people get the results they need faster.”
Sustainability Is Key to Growth
The proliferation of devices parallels another trend: the increasing need for sustainability across companies’ supply chains. As underscored by the United Nations Climate Conference in November, in which nearly 200 countries agreed to double funding to fight climate change, corporations are actively working to reduce their carbon footprint. A global organization with over 63,000 employees in more than 66 countries, Lenovo is inventing new ways to eliminate emissions and waste from its own global operations—including with servers, packaging, and recyclable materials—and then sharing insights with customers and business partners to enhance their own sustainability efforts.
“From bamboo packaging to recycling 90 percent of used computers, we are one of approximately 80 top companies committed to the Net-Zero Standard of the Science Based Targets initiative, which uses tools, including third-party auditing and CO2-offset programs, to create carbon-neutral footprints going forward,” Skaugen says. “Being committed to a carbon-neutral footprint end-to-end in your supply chain is critical for a technology company. Right now, there’s an unprecedented surge in demand for our massive supercomputers, and we have to do it in an ecologically friendly way. We aim to be carbon-neutral whenever possible.”
Innovating to Solve Our Greatest Challenges
Overall, the world is at a pivotal moment, and we must unite to solve challenges. Luckily, the tools for that are here. “Harnessing technology in new ways can result in the changes we’re looking for,” Webb says. “We just have to think more creatively and then act at scale.”
Skaugen agrees: “Part of Lenovo’s mission is to solve humanity’s greatest challenges, and we don’t take that lightly. From helping customers create innovative solutions to ensuring data security and sustainability, our job is to reduce uncertainty and create a framework to ensure a better future for all.”
To learn more about how Lenovo is helping to build a more sustainable future, click here.
This article was produced by WIRED Brand Lab on behalf of Lenovo.
