[JY-Bill Gates Collaboration] Why Did Samsung Venture into Developing a New Concept Bathroom?

Former Chairman Lee Byung-chul Emphasizes 'Infinite Inquiry' Spirit CSR
Contributing to a Better Global Community Life, Empathy with Gates

Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Bill Gates, Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are seen having a conversation. (Photo by Samsung Electronics)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] "Every year, more than 360,000 children under the age of five die from diarrheal diseases."

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong took immediate action on support policies after hearing this information. On the 25th, Samsung Electronics announced this fact after holding a closing ceremony for the 'RT Project,' which it had been collaborating on with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology.

The main point is that Samsung carried out CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities to take necessary measures for children who suffer due to the lack of water and sewage facilities in underdeveloped countries.

Why focus on toilets? The hint lies in the 'RT Project' development project shared during a meeting with Bill Gates, Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who visited Korea on the 16th of last month. Vice Chairman Lee reportedly stated at the meeting, "Samsung will contribute to solving humanity's challenges through technology."

What kind of activities were undertaken? The project is a new-concept sanitary toilet distribution initiative promoted by the Gates Foundation since 2011 for underdeveloped countries, and Vice Chairman Lee joined this effort.

According to Samsung, in underdeveloped countries lacking water and sewage treatment facilities, more than 900 million people still relieve themselves outdoors due to inadequate toilet facilities. This causes water contamination, resulting in over 360,000 children under five dying annually from diarrheal diseases and others.

After being briefed on the Gates Foundation's 'RT Project,' Vice Chairman Lee formed a technology development task force (TF) and devised practical alternatives such as toilets.

After three years of research and development (R&D), they succeeded in optimizing operating energy and securing wastewater purification capabilities. They also succeeded in developing core technologies that meet the Gates Foundation's requirements for RT miniaturization, wastewater, and exhaust gas conditions. As a result, Samsung developed technology that discharges environmentally harmless wastewater using thermal treatment and biotechnology, achieving a 100% recycling rate of treated water. Thanks to this, accidents causing the deaths of more than 360,000 children under five annually from diseases such as typhoid, diarrhea, and cholera were prevented.

Regarding this, Chairman Gates expressed his gratitude to Vice Chairman Lee during their meeting, saying, "I appreciate Samsung's dedicated efforts in the project to distribute sanitary toilets in low-income countries."

Vice Chairman Lee has consistently engaged in CSR activities based on the 'infinite exploration' spirit of his predecessor, Lee Byung-chul. The project activities with the Gates Foundation on this day are also regarded as part of the CSR management he has been conducting.

In response, the business community expects Vice Chairman Lee to begin rebuilding global networks starting with his meeting with Chairman Gates.

Known for playing the role of a so-called 'private diplomat,' Vice Chairman Lee faced restrictions on employment that hindered his broad management activities, but with his reinstatement, the 'management shackles' have been lifted, allowing him to fully utilize global networks, according to the business community.

A business community official said, "Going forward, Vice Chairman Lee is expected to expand the scope of global management, seek new business opportunities with executives of major global information technology (IT) companies, and secure Samsung's future growth engines."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.