MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA USA (October 12th, 2016) — Singularity University has announced the formation of its 50th community chapter as part of a concentrated effort during the last 18 months to expand globally. SingularityU Chapters are created in partnership with local alumni and are located in some of the most innovative and upcoming global technology centers in the world.
The 50 SingularityU Chapters have been organized within 32 countries on five continents, and include: Beirut, Lebanon; Johannesburg, South Africa; Milan, Italy; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sofia, Bulgaria; Taipei, Taiwan and now Tokyo, Japan. All Chapters are listed on SingularityuGlobal.org.
“The mission of Singularity University is to educate, inspire and empower leaders to apply exponential technologies to solve humanity’s Global Grand Challenges (GGC). As our regional leaders build communities, the ability for meaningful global and local impact grows,” said Dharmishta Rood, Director of Community, Chapters. “Our 50th Chapter in Tokyo marks a milestone in the scale and scope of the power of our Singularity University community.”
SingularityU Chapters are central to enabling local regions to jump start innovation through the creation of local Global Impact Challenges (GIC) and other events. Since launching the first program in 2015, the Chapters have hosted a number of unique events focused on employing exponential technologies to create impact. To date SingularityU Chapters have launched more than 100 events, involving more than 6,000 attendees.
The Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area is the most populated in the world and a global economic powerhouse. It is a city where history lives alongside the rapid pace of innovation. “We are launching the SingularityU Tokyo Chapter because Japanese society is exponentially gaining interest in what SU, Exponential Technologies, and Global Grand Challenges mean to produce a world of abundance and because the constant flow of innovation that this Chapter could bring to the SU community,” said Jovan David Rebolledo Méndez, Research Scientist, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, who has been selected to lead the SingularityU Tokyo Chapter.
In addition to Chapters, the SingularityU community hosts in-country summits in partnership with local alumni, organization and businesses, which have been attended by more than 4000 participants globally. Summits have been held in India, The Netherlands (2), Chile, Hungary, Germany, and Spain and New Zealand is organizing a summit for November 2016, involving leaders in government and business, technology and science.
This year, Singularity University (SU) also announced its firstCountry Partnership with The Netherlands, establishing SingularityU The Netherlands – a partnership which includes a physical innovation hub, local faculty of experts, innovation programs and workshops, Summits, GIC’s and volunteer alumni chapter events, working with the local startup community, universities, companies and the government.
Global Impact Challenges (GIC) are SU’s ways to find budding entrepreneurs around the world. Since 2010, SU has hosted 94 Global Impact Challenges in more than 35 countries worldwide, awarding 121 winners with local sponsors. These GICs challenge applicants to present innovation solutions to critical social problems by leveraging exponential technologies. Winners with the most innovative projects in each challenge are invited to attend SU’s summer Global Solutions Program (GSP) on full scholarship.
About SingularityU Global
Singularity University’s mission is to create a global community of doers. Globally, SingularityU activities are designed in the spirit of Singularity University’s mission, yet powered by local alumni around the world, who are at the forefront of driving ideas, impact and change using exponential technologies to address humanity’s grand challenges in their home communities.
About Singularity University
Singularity University’s mission is to educate, inspire, and empower leaders to apply exponential technologies towards solving humanity’s grand challenges. Together with a highly engaged alumni community in 110 countries, SU is committed to creating positive and sustainable global impact via three core areas: Learning, Innovation and Community. Headquartered at NASA’s Research Park in the heart of Silicon Valley, it was founded in 2008 by Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis. For thought leadership and perspectives on exponential technology, visit our media site SingularityHub.com. For more information, visit: SU.org. Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SingularityU.
Contacts:
Media:Diane Murphy (diane@singularityu.org)
SingularityU Chapter Director: Dharmishta Rood (dharmishta.rood@su.org)