Google Samaritan

There is a new kind of search going on at Google nowadays. It is a search for solutions to some of the world's most vexing problems by utilising the power of information and technology. And thus, Google.org

“Climate change, poverty and emerging disease are inarguably the areas of utmost concern in the world today.

"In collaboration with experienced partners working in each of these fields, we will invest our resources and tap the strengths of Google employees and global operations to advance five major initiatives,'' said Sheryl Sandberg, vice-president, Global Online Sales and Operations and one of the first employees to be involved with the dot org project.

Last week, Sandberg spoke to the international press via telephone and unveiled Google.org's five-point mission to help make the world a better place.

“Predict and Prevent'' will identify hotspots and enable rapid response to emerging threats such as infectious diseases and climate risks.

“Inform and Empower'' aims to use information to empower citizens and communities, and providers and policymakers to improve the delivery of essential public services such as education, health, water and sanitation.

“SMEs'' (Small and Medium Enterprises) hopes to increase the flow of risk capital to small and medium-sized businesses in the developing world.

The “REC'' (Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal) and “RechargeIT'' initiatives were announced in 2007 as part of Google's climate change-related missions.

REC aims to create, from clean renewable energy sources, utility-scale electricity that is cheaper than the electricity produced from coal.

Google's goal is to generate one gigawatt of renewable energy capacity — an amount that is enough to power a large city the size of San Francisco — within years.

Mission-based philosophy

Although the virtues of renewable energy are many, the fact that it is expensive to produce electricity from renewables in today's world prompted Google to set up a renewable energy R&D group within its organisation.

Taking the fight against global warming forward is the RechargeIT initiative, through which Google.org wants to speed up the mass commercialisation of plug-in vehicles by engaging in “seeding innovation, demonstrating technology, informing the debate and stimulating market demand''.

Speaking to Weekend Review after the press briefing, Sandberg explained that Google.org's approach is a “mission-based philosophy''.

“I don't want to comment on corporate social responsibility, but we take both our business side and philanthropic side very seriously.

"Google is a very responsible company and I believe its users view us the same way,'' she said.

On the broad-based nature of the goals, Sandberg reiterated the ideology behind the initiatives.

“It's bold philanthropy. In tackling issues such as climate change, health or poverty, the scope of work is enormous and requires a great deal of enthusiasm, enterprise and also innovation to find solutions that are sustainable.''

Her brief for solving the world's problems almost sounds like a summary of the Google success story.

“The founders [Larry Page and Sergey Brin] are extremely committed to working towards alleviating the world's problems and the Google story would definitely serve as a source of inspiration to many.

"The mission of using a corporation to make the world a better place is truly inspiring,'' she said.

A perusal through the dot org resources already takes one to a YouTube section with uploaded videos on Google's plans.

You meet men from Africa who share their ideas and their frustrations at not being able to secure loans for start-ups.

Enter the SME initiative from Google, which wants to help create finance and well-developed capital markets, viewing the support of entrepreneurship as a way out of poverty.

Different approach

The inevitable comparison with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation follows. Does business rivalry extend onto the philanthropic sectors as well?

“The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a private foundation run by a family. It is much larger and much further along than Google.org at this point.

"In fact, we are grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the time they've spent with us in our early days. Having said that, our approach is very different,'' Sandberg said.

“Google.org is a hybrid philanthropy that uses a range of approaches to help advance solutions within our initiatives,'' she said.

When Page and Brin wrote to prospective shareholders in 2004, Sandberg said they clearly detailed a commitment to address the world's most pressing problems.

The support included one per cent of Google's equity and profits in some form and also their employees' time.

Google.org not only supports its partners with grants, but also invests in “for-profit'' efforts in companies developing renewable energy technologies.

The establishment of the Google Foundation, which is managed by the dot org, also acts as a source for funding.

According to Google.org, the foundation has committed more than $75 million in grants and investments in this month alone.

So where does the Google user fit into the picture?
Sandberg laughs.

“We don't know yet. We're urging people to write in if they have any ideas. There are so many at this point we're still working on a way to involve the Google user.

"But at this point we are very excited to engage and react,'' she said.

Vinita Bharadwaj is an independent writer based in Dubai.