We are witnessing an unprecedented technological inflection point-one that I believe represents the greatest value creation opportunity in a generation. The staggering magnitude of global AI investments-Apple's$500B,France's$100B,Stargate's$500B-signals a fundamental shift in how technology will reshape our world. With this transformation comes mounting demands for performance,sustainability,and security that require innovative solutions at a scale we've never seen before. 

At Cisco Innovation Labs (CIL),we're uniquely positioned to meet these challenges head-on,working globally but acting locally to create solutions that demonstrate the art of the possible for our customers and partners. 

The Power of Cisco's Global Innovation Engine

Our Innovation Labs operate across five key global markets-Brazil,Canada, France, Spain, andthe UK/Ireland. While physically present in these locations, we work without borders, going wherever our customers are. This global footprint enables us to transform Cisco's global strategies into local, customer-centric solutions. 

What truly sets Cisco apart is our unmatched visibility into the digital landscape: over 100 million devices, 5 billion daily threat analyses, anda presence in 95% of Fortune 100 companies. This wealth of data fuels our innovation with unique insights that few other companies can match. 

We start by designing with empathy for our customers and the challenges they face. This customer-centric approach ensures that our innovations address real-world needs and deliver tangible value. 

Engineering-Led Co-Creation: A New Model for Innovation

We've moved beyond traditional vendor partnerships to a model of ecosystem-enabled solution development. This shift has dramatically accelerated our time-to-market and increased the impact of our innovations. 

Let me share three breakthrough innovations happening right now that exemplify this approach: 

Quantum Security for Governments, Defense Agencies and Financial Services

Co-developed withTelefonica, Polytechnic University ofMadrid, ID Quantique, LuxQuanta, it NOW, and ICFO  

As quantum computing advances, it poses an existential threat to current encryption standards. Governments, defense agencies, and financial institutions face a "harvest now, decrypt later" scenario where adversaries collect encrypted data today with plans to decrypt it once quantum computers become capable. 

Our Spain team, led by Xavier Azemar, has been pioneering quantum-safe links between data centers. We're implementing both post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards like ML-KEM and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to create encryption that remains secure in the quantum era. 

This work isn't theoretical-we've already implemented RFC 8784 in our products, supporting manual pre-shared keys and dynamic key distribution. In partnership with companies like IDQuantique and Luxquanta, we're creating solutions that meet the most stringent security requirements from finance and government sectors. 

Recent developments underscore the urgency of this work. In April 2024, the European Commission published recommendations for a coordinated implementation roadmap for post-quantum cryptography, while in August 2024, the White House released a report estimating that transitioning U.S. federal agencies to post-quantum cryptography will cost$7.1 billion between 2025 and 2035. Executive Order 14144, signed in January 2025, directs the Federal Government to prepare for this transition urgently. 

 Watch ourQuantum Security innovation in action. 

Morgan Solar Blinds: A Sustainability Breakthrough 

Co-developed withMorgan Solar  

Our Canada team, under Justin Cohen's leadership, has developed an innovative approach to smart building technology that's transforming energy efficiency. 

Working with Morgan Solar, we've developed AI-driven solar blinds that optimize energy efficiency in commercial buildings. These aren't just passive window coverings-they're intelligent power generators that integrate with Cisco's digital building infrastructure. 

The technology combines IoT connectivity, AI-based automation, and real-time analytics to create a complete energy management system. Each blind generates power with embedded photovoltaic cells while a Cisco-powered DC microgrid distributes and manages the energy. 

Our pilot installation at Cisco Canada's Waterpark Place-already a LEED Platinum-certified smart building-demonstrates remarkable results. The system monitors room occupancy through Webex sensors, optimizes energy production, and significantly reduces consumption with real-time adjustments based on conditions. 

The data is impressive: our analytics show energy production peaks of over 50kW per month per installation, with reductions in thermal energy that translate to substantial cost savings and reduced carbon footprint. A single installation can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, representing annual savings  

See theMorgan Solar Blinds in action. 

Fully Immersed AI-Ready Data Center

Co-developed withTotal Linux, Itrium, Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD 

As AI workloads skyrocket, cooling traditional data centers has become one of tech's most significant challenges. Our France team is pioneering the world's first fully immersed data center, reducing physical footprint by 10x and energy use by 1/3. 

This breakthrough combines immersion cooling, Cisco Silicon One, and advanced partners' AI technologies to deliver the 20x performance improvement needed for AI workloads while meeting sustainability goals. 

See thei-Cooling project introduction. 

The Partner Advantage in Innovation

For our partners, Cisco Innovation Labs offers unique advantages: 

• Early access to emerging technologies -Work with solutions before they hit the market 
• Co-creation opportunities -Develop solutions alongside our engineers 
• Direct customer engagement -Solve real customer problems in real-time 
• Competitive differentiation -Offer solutions that weren't possible before 

This partnership model creates a flywheel effect-the more we collaborate, the faster we innovate, and the more value we create for customers. 

The Path Forward: Engineering Together

We stand at a unique moment where infrastructure, security, and observability are converging in unprecedented ways. The AI transformation represents both a challenge and an opportunity for all of us. 

At Cisco, we believe engineering-led innovation is the key to addressing today's most complex challenges. Our Innovation Labs are open for business, ready to collaborate with partners who share our vision of transforming possibilities into realities. 

Ready to pioneer the next breakthrough with us? Join Cisco Innovation Labs' partner ecosystem and transform your expertise into market-defining solutions. Contact Simon Dyke to schedule a conversation and explore how we can engineer the future together. The most powerful innovations aren't built in isolation-they're co-created with partners like you.