Convergence Areas

The Convergence Innovation Competition (CIC) will focus on convergence areas for the fall 2020 competition. Convergence areas will reflect the values of the competition and focus on resources from the Georgia Tech’s strategic plan, the Institute for People and Technology’s research pillars and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals. The competition organizers are particularly interested in the intersections of the convergence areas (i.e. a project that combines the focus on health and well-being with issues of environmental justice and poverty). This is a shift from our previous model of focusing the competition on categories, but it is in alignment with our organization’s values and is responsive to current national and global conversations.

As teams consider their projects' goals, we encourage review of each of the convergence areas to spark ideas. Think creatively about the ways in which the team can tie together multiple areas into a seamless innovative project.

 

Georgia Tech Strategic Plan
In alignment with Georgia Tech's strategic plan draft and the Institute's mission statement, projects focusing on "advanc[ing] technology and improv[ing] the human condition" is the working framework of the CIC.

 

IPaT Research Pillars

CIC is produced by the Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) and GT-RNOC. IPaT's research pillars are Lifelong Health and Well-Being; Shaping the Human-Technology Frontier; Platforms and Services for Socio-Technical Systems; and Smart Cities and Inclusive Innovation. Possible solutions within each area are listed below.

  • Lifelong Health and Well-Being
    • Connecting clients with mental health specialists
    • Improving outcomes through medication adherence and reconciliation
    • Tools for improving access to care and reduction of consumer costs
    • Integrating personal wellness with healthcare goals and delivery
    • Health and wellness education and personalized assistance
    • Tools for independent providers and communities to address healthcare disparities and viability
  • Shaping the Human-Technology Frontier
    • Cultivating social connections through interests
    • Content production for artists
    • Preventing performer injury
    • Tools that enhance the fan experience
    • Managing team schedules
    • Esports and gaming production
  • Platforms and Services for Socio-Technical Systems
  • Smart Cities and Inclusive Innovation
    • Understanding the contributions to your carbon footprint
    • Transitioning and drawing down carbon footprint for individuals, communities, or businesses
    • Monitoring the impact of climate change (i.e. extreme weather, sea level rise)
    • Improving resiliency in agriculture

    • Reducing the effects of urban heat islands

United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals

The seventeen goals for sustainable development propelled by the United Nations represent broad areas to improve life for individuals across the world. As global citizens, keenly interested in elevating the world around us, projects that focus on one or more of the UN's sustainable development goals are ideal.

 
  1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
  2. Zero Hunger
  3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
  4. Quality education
  5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  6. Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
  7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy
  8. Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
  9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainabile industrialization and foster innovation
  10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
  11. Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
  15. Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
  16. Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
  17. Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development