Cisco Chairman Shares Perspectives on Unlocking Productivity and Innovation Gains in New England

As part of its commitment to giving back to the region, Cisco (News - Alert) and the Cisco Foundation have now made $20 million in philanthropic donations to nonprofit organizations in New England over the last decade along with Cisco's MITG recently launched the Cisco ASR 5000 as part of a comprehensive end-to-end network that will enable mobile operators to increase service performance and reliability.

 

At the Boston College Chief Executives Club of Boston, Cisco chairman and CEO John Chambers (News - Alert) will share his perspectives on how collaboration can unlock productivity and innovation gains in New England and across the globe.

 

John T. Chambers said, 'The world-class innovation we see coming out of New England from academic, governmental and private sectors are enabling Cisco to better prepare for the next wave of market transitions. Specifically, the work of Cisco's Massachusetts-based teams in developing a deeper architectural approach in the area of mobility for the Next Internet, and the public private partnerships we are developing for urban renewal with the City of Holyoke have the potential to serve as models across multiple economies. We look forward to further harnessing these collaborative approaches to support creating sustained economic opportunity across the region and the globe.'

 

Chambers will discuss the importance of New England for Cisco and the global economy, introduce the Massachusetts headquarters of its Mobile Internet Technology Group (MITG), outline how the company's Smart+Connected Communities initiative can help stimulate economic revitalization, and celebrate 10 years of giving back to the community in New England.

 

Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts said, 'Cisco's decision to locate its Mobile Internet Technology Group headquarters in Massachusetts is a victory for our economy and further proof that the Commonwealth is on the mend and on the move. Our successful collaboration with Cisco significantly strengthens our innovation industry. I look forward to the many opportunities our continued partnership will lead to.'

 

Paul D. Bosco, vice president and site executive of Cisco said, 'Cisco is proud to be part of the New England innovation economy. The combination of world class research universities, a vibrant entrepreneurial community, innovative technical talent, and strong local partners make New England an important technology hub for Cisco.'

 

With the recent acquisition of Starent Networks (News - Alert), Cisco established Massachusetts as the headquarters of its new Mobile Internet Technology Group (MITG). With global mobile data traffic expected to grow 39-fold over the next five years, mobile operators are looking to Cisco to help manage the deluge of mobile data while delivering new mobile services.

 

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding earlier this year, the city of Holyoke is slated to become one of the first U.S. cities to pilot a model 21st-century city neighborhood based on Cisco's Smart+Connected Communities initiative -- harnessing the power of the network to drive social, economic and environmental sustainability.

 

After a period of collaboration between Cisco and Holyoke, the city is exploring ways it might collaborate on urban renewal projects with Cisco in areas such as healthcare, safety and security, education and access to government services.

 

Cisco's commitment to the region began in 1994, and the company opened its main site in Massachusetts, the New England Development Center (NEDC) in Boxborough, on June 27, 2003. With the establishment of its MITG, Massachusetts is now home to over 2,000 Cisco employees.

 

Cisco has made $15 billion in acquisitions and investments in the New England region, with 17 companies acquired (14 of which in Massachusetts)..

 

Cisco has a long track record of supporting educational initiatives across New England. Regional participation in Cisco's Networking Academy has grown 19 percent in the past year to include over 6,000 current students in New England, seeking the transformative skills needed for careers in the field of information and communications technology.

 

The NEDC is home to major engineering, sales, marketing, services and operations activities for Cisco. The technology research and development mission of NEDC includes innovative work on communications and collaboration; service provider and broadband networks; and data center networking and advanced routing.

 

Cisco's Global Partner Ecosystem -- an integral component to its overall business model -- now includes more than 400 businesses and Cisco partners in Massachusetts, employing thousands of people.