SBIA PARTNER PROFILE MICROSOFT
Microsoft Empowers an Inclusive and Sustainable Future The company is committed to working with customers and partners to use technology to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges
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icrosoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. As it pursues its mission, the team at Microsoft Ireland believes that digital technologies can play a key role in creating a more inclusive Ireland and fostering a more sustainable future for our planet. While each of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals presents challenges bigger than any one organisation— or even one sector of society—can accomplish alone, Microsoft believes in its shared responsibility as a business to achieve a better future for all. By leveraging innovative technologies, Microsoft wants to help reimagine a more inclusive society and drive progressive change. CEO Satya Nadella says, “We must always use technology to help address the world’s challenges, not create new ones. But the challenges facing people and the planet are complex, and no one company, sector, or country can solve them alone. That’s why we’re committed to working across the public and private sectors to foster partnerships and solutions that will have a lasting impact and re-define what ‘achieve more’ means for the world.” The team at Microsoft Ireland has developed a long track record in this regard, working in partnership with communities and organisations across Ireland to empower an inclusive and sustainable future.
PROJECT PARTNERS In addition to volunteering and financial supports, Microsoft empowers nonprofits and communities to realise the promise and potential of technology. This year, Microsoft Ireland’s Covid-19 response project with Enable Ireland, which resulted in the creation of the charity’s Virtual Service Centres for Adults, is nominated in the ‘Community – Partnership with Charity’ category. When the pandemic hit, Enable Ireland’s Day Centres were forced to close. This meant that the Service Owners who availed of these services each day were isolated at home with limited contact and engagement with the outside world. Microsoft worked with Enable Ireland to develop a Virtual Service Centre, which was initially piloted with two Dublin Services and then successfully rolled out to Adult Services in 13 locations. Microsoft supported Enable Ireland at all stages – from ideation to design, training and delivery. The team at Microsoft remain available to Enable Ireland as they constantly look to refine the model to ensure the virtual services remain available in a post-pandemic environment, allowing them to reach more people in need of these services. Microsoft is also nominated in the Environment category for its Renewable Energy Project in collaboration with SSE Airtricity. A shared commitment to help build sustainable energy solutions in Ireland brought Microsoft and SSE Airtricity together to deliver an innovative renewable energy generation
project. Through this project, 27 schools have had state of the art, internet-connected solar PV installed on their rooftops. With an investment of close to €1million, these schools can now power classrooms using energy generated from their own roof, reducing their carbon footprint, and their costs. Microsoft Azure IoT aggregates the generation data from the schools and over 15 years, it is expected that the solar panels will produce enough clean energy to offset more than 2.1 million kilograms of harmful C02 emissions.
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