Don’t be evil: Do be good Alix Peterson Zwane June 29, 2007 Agenda What is google org?

Don’t be evil: Do be good Alix Peterson Zwane June 29, 2007

Agenda

• What is google.org?

• What activities are we currently undertaking

• Future work

The vision of google.org

• Google.org aspires to use the power of information to help people better their lives and to address three major growing global problems:  climate change, economic development and poverty, and global public health. 
• “We hope that someday this institution will eclipse Google itself in overall world impact by ambitiously applying innovation and significant resources to the largest of the world's problems.”   - Sergey Brin & Larry Page
• One percent of profits and equity toward that vision.

Google.org is an experiment in active philanthropy

• In addition to financial resources, we are fortunate to be able to engage Google’s entire family of people and partners, information technologies and other resources
• The DotOrg umbrella covers the work of the Google Foundation, some of Google's own projects, as well as partnerships and contributions to for-profit and non-profit entities.

Climate change

• We focus our investment, policy and public engagement activities on efforts to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the efficiency of energy use and deploying cleaner and renewable energy sources. 

• Some of our initial efforts include:

• RechargeIT

•    RechargeIT is a google.org initiative that aims to accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology.  As part of this initiative, google.org joined with a California utility to demonstrate an innovative vehicle-to-grid hybrid car.

Global public health

• Google.org is exploring ways to enable more effective prediction, prevention, control and where possible, eradication of communicable diseases through better access to and use of information technologies.

• Some of our initial efforts include:

• Project INSTEDD

• With initial support from google.org, an independent, non-profit federation initially called "Project INSTEDD" has been established. This federation will serve individuals and organizations by harnessing technology for more effective early warning, prevention and response to natural disasters and public health emergencies. 

Global development

• Google.org supports efforts to empower people to improve their quality of life and economic well-being. 

• Three exploratory initiatives:

• Supporting Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development and growth in Africa.  
• Working to identify and implement critical information platforms which can stimulate better access to capital and to markets for entrepreneurs and SMEs in the developing world. 
• Using information as a lever to improve provision of essential services to the poor. 

Next steps

• Watch for our Request for Proposals (RFP)

• We plan to invest approximately $10 million in technologies and companies featuring plug-in hybrids, fully electric vehicles, vehicle-to-grid capabilities, batteries and other storage technologies, and the application of renewable electricity and fuels to green vehicles. 

• We’re hiring!