Apply Now: HP Announces 2024 Digital Equity Accelerator to Drive Global Digital Inclusion

HP has strategically selected countries to address specific digital equity gaps. These countries represent diverse challenges in digital equity, aligning with HP's commitment to fostering inclusive access globally.

• Canada*, despite high internet usage, has persistent inequalities among Indigenous and rural communities and other marginalized groups, with targeted efforts to bridge connectivity gaps.¹
• Brazil, despite increased home internet access, has a pronounced digital gap affecting vulnerable groups, including Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian populations and aging demographics.²
• Poland faces lingering divides, especially in rural areas and among refugee populations.³

The growing digital divide is reshaping the educational landscape, impacting learning experiences of young individuals and influencing the future workforce, as highlighted by Global Business Coalition for Education (2022):

• Digital Inequity: In 2020, only (34%) of primary, (41%) of secondary, and (68%) of tertiary education students had access to an internet-connected computer at home.
• Educational Shortfalls: Over half of young individuals are falling behind in acquiring essential skills for employment by 2030.
• Looming Talent Deficit: Projections indicate a significant 'human talent shortage' exceeding 85 million people by the year 2030.

Communities that bridge the digital divide have greater access to healthcare and economic opportunities:

• Enhanced Healthcare Reach: In 2021, (37%) of adults accessed telemedicine services, with usage correlated to education levels, family income, and urbanization, as reported by the CDC (2022).
• Bridging Urban-Rural Gaps: Globally, (82%) of urban residents utilized the Internet in 2022, marking a 1.8-fold increase compared to rural areas. This ratio has steadily reduced from 2.3 to 1.8 over the past three years, showcasing a narrowing divide, according to ITU (2022).

As nearly half of the world's population remains offline, closing the digital divide through equitable access to technology, skills and content will transform lives and communities and create a more equitable world. Since the beginning of 2021, HP has been on a journey to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people by 2030. HP's vision is to become the world's most sustainable and just technology company, which is reflected in its focus areas of climate action, human rights and digital equity.

For more information on the Digital Equity Accelerator, please visit the website.

* Excluding the Province of Quebec

HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.hp.com.

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SOURCE HP Canada