The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Baidu have jointly established a Big Data Joint Laboratory in Beijing to lead the way for new processes and frameworks to use big data to support development targets.
Designed as an open platform, the Joint Lab brings involves big data and development professionals from UNDP and Baidu.
The lab also includes partners from government, academia, CSOs and the private sector in both traditional and new technology industries across the country to tap into new insights and generate idea prototypes for testing and implementation.
UNDP Regional Bureau of Asia-Pacific director and UN assistant secretary-general, Xu Haoliang, said: "Big data needs big partnerships; we are pleased to launch our Joint Lab as testament to our conviction that great change can only come about through new and innovativethinking.
"The UN recognises that big data technology has tremendous potential to drive social innovation for sustainable development and we welcome partners like Baidu to contribute their technology expertise."
Leveraging Baidu’s Big Data engine, the new joint lab will detect valuable data that can add to formulating and deploying development strategies.
Baidu CFO Jennifer Li said: "This partnership with UNDP is an important milestone in our work of technological innovation and promotion of global public good.
"We believe that Baidu’s platforms and Big Data technology will help the UN to more effectively achieve the Millennium Development Goals and build a better world."
