Leveraging Geneva鈥檚 Influence to Advance Research and Expand Internet Access for Youth
The Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM) of the 玉美人传媒 (UNIGE), in collaboration with听Giga, a joint initiative of UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has launched the Giga Research Lab to accelerate global efforts to connect schools and young people to the internet. The lab aims to produce comprehensive, evidence-based insights into connectivity challenges, shaping innovative solutions to advance internet access for youth globally.听
Giga has mapped over 2.13 million schools across 142 countries and facilitated connectivity to more than 24,000 schools, impacting approximately 11 million students globally. The partnership with UNIGE will strengthen these efforts by harnessing the university鈥檚 interdisciplinary expertise and proven track record in educational innovation and technology.听
The Giga Research Lab will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research projects centred around connectivity, digital innovation, children's digital rights, and economic strategies essential for improving internet affordability. It will also foster Geneva's role as a global hub for developing future talent, equipping UNIGE students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs with essential skills for the digital economy.听听
"Partnering with Giga enables UNIGE to apply its interdisciplinary research strengths directly to critical issues around connectivity," said Professor Tina Ambos, Director of the Center for Innovation & Partnerships. "This collaboration will foster innovation, enrich Geneva鈥檚 tech ecosystem, and help build a strong pipeline of local talent equipped with the skills needed for an increasingly digital future".
Christopher Fabian, Co-Lead at Giga, added: "The Giga Research Lab allows us to connect interested students and faculty with challenging questions about how the digital world will be built. We are looking at how to build an inclusive internet that promotes job growth and is fair and safe, and having UNIGE as our partner to anchor this firmly in the tradition of Swiss academia will accelerate our work significantly".
The partnership will host a side meeting with experts and stakeholders in conjunction with the upcoming Giga Connectivity Forum (GCF), scheduled for 8鈥�11 July 2025. Last year's GCF gathered听over 240 participants, including representatives from governments, financial institutions, international organizations, and the private sector,听to explore new global partnerships and strategies to improve digital inclusion.听听
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> Access the GigaMaps to view the latest data
>听Click here to read the article in Le Journal de l'UNIGE听(in French)
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April 10, 20252025
