Johannesburg, 23 Sep 2020
Leading global IT solutions and technology provider, Dimension Data, and parent company NTT have partnered with Red Bull Basement to enable the next generation of entrepreneurs to innovate with purpose.
As the Official Technology Partner of Red Bull Basement’s third year, NTT's Cloud Communications Division will facilitate live virtual workshops to empower teams of university students from host countries to innovate for good. NTT and Dimension Data will mentor the students throughout the competition and judge the entries at the final Global Workshop, where a winning team will be announced.
Launched in 2015 in São Paulo, Brazil, Red Bull Basement supports social innovators using technology to tackle social and environmental issues at universities. In a year where connecting through technology has been more important than ever, Red Bull Basement decided to virtualise the programme with a partner that has a proven track record of supporting companies through digital transformations and providing a one-of-a-kind online experience.
The programme encourages the next generation of diverse thinking and innovation and is centred on finding solutions to the world’s problems using technology. Dimension Data continues to support the need for technology in education underpinned by the premise that using technology for good is the perfect alignment of the organisation’s values and the positive outcomes created by those students involved.
As COVID-19 continues to require creativity in event planning and execution, NTT’s virtual platform will allow for scale and reach not yet achieved by the programme, and by virtualising the event and breaking down location-specific and physical space barriers to entry, both partners hope to see even more diversity in thinking.
“Our keen focus on upskilling young minds and supporting platforms that empower the next generation is perfectly aligned with the exceptional work being carried out by Redbull Basement,” says Dimension Data South Africa CEO, Grant Bodley.
“We remain committed to finding ways for technology and education to collide, providing solid solutions that showcase the power of technology when truly used for good.”
Together with Red Bull Basement, NTT and Dimension Data are using the power of technology and people to make a real difference:
Application phase: Dimension Data will host virtual launchpad events using its Intelligent Workplace technology solutions, as teams innovate to address a variety of issues inspired by the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals).
Voting and selection phase: In addition to the shortlisted teams, Dimension Data will serve on the panel of judges and select a team who demonstrates their commitment to innovative thinking to proceed to the Global Workshop.
Development phase: As part of its investment, Dimension Data’s Intelligent Innovation practice and technology experts from across its business will host mentoring sessions and co-creation workshops, further providing the tools and technology they need to succeed.
Global Workshop: In the final phase of the competition, NTT experts will serve as panellists, who listen to the final pitches and select the winning team.
NTT Group invests USD 3.6 billion in innovation each year. This partnership supports NTT’s commitment to achieving the targets of the Global Goals by 2030 and being a Business Avenger for Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
“Having seen the positive results our Saturday School programme has delivered over its 25-year run, we’re not planning on slowing down any time soon with our investment in South African talent and untapped expertise, and this partnership demonstrates how important the next generation is for creating a sustainable business environment,” says Bodley.
In addition to the Redbull Basement partnership, Dimension Data also continues to focus efforts on growing and nurturing young people’s skills and expertise through it’s 25-year running Saturday School programme, a two-year Graduate Accelerate Programme (GAP) and it’s 4IR Technical Accelerate Programme (TAP).
GAP is designed to turn creative, talented and ambitious graduates into the next wave of forward-thinking and innovative leaders of Dimension Data, while TAP is aimed at unemployed South African graduates under the age of 30, who have an interest in, the ability to code and a passion for emerging technologies. These highly successful programmes aim to build technical skills and the resilience that young technical talent needs to adapt to the constant change that is experienced in the industry.
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