Thematic review: Report of the STI Forum

The 2030 Agenda launched a UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), which comprises a United Nations Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (IATT), a collaborative Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum), and an online platform as a gateway for information on existing STI initiatives, mechanisms and programs. The TFM now facilitates multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnerships through the sharing of information, experiences, best practices and policy advice among Member States, civil society, the private sector, the scientific community, UN entities and other stakeholders.

On 14 and 15 May 2019, the President of the Economic and Social Council convened the fourth annual STI Forum. As a component of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), the Forum is a venue to discuss cooperation in science, technology and innovation (STI) around thematic areas pertaining to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bringing together all relevant stakeholders to actively contribute in their areas of expertise. The forum provides a venue for facilitating interaction, matchmaking and the establishment of networks between relevant stakeholders and multi-stakeholder partnerships in order to identify and examine technology needs and gaps, including with respect to scientific cooperation, innovation and capacity-building. It also aims to help to facilitate the development, transfer and dissemination of relevant technologies for the Goals and targets.

An objective of the session is to review the key findings and outcomes of the 2019 Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals. In view of the SDG Summit in September 2019 and the expected review of the SDGs this year, the session will take-stock of where we are after more than three years of the TFM and discuss ideas for the way forward and for an effective, science-based, solutions-oriented, multi-stakeholder and collaborative TFM.

The President of the Economic and Social Council has transmitted to HLPF, the Co-Chairs’ summary of the STI Forum. The Co-Chairs of the Forum will begin the session by presenting this Summary.

This session will have an interactive discussion format.

Background note is available here

Proposed guiding questions:

What are the key findings and recommendations from the 2019 STI Forum?
What international collaborations or mechanisms are needed for exchange of experiences and partnerships on STI for SDGs?
How can we mobilize science, technology and innovation to improve the lives of the furthest behind? How could to raise adequate resources for the TFM of the future?
What are your three most important recommendations for concrete action, including the ones from stakeholders and Major Groups? What is the best way forward?

Chair:

H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Vice President of ECOSOC

Presentation:

H.E. Ms. H. Elizabeth Thompson, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN, and Co-Chair of the 2019 Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals

Moderator:

H.E. Ms. Marie Chatardová, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the UN, and Co-Chair of the 2019 Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals

Resource persons:

Mr. Vaughan Turekian, Co-Chair of the 10-Member Advisory Group to the STI Forum, and Executive Director Policy and Global Affairs National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine, US
Mr. Paulo Gadelha, Member of the 10 Member Group to the STI Forum, and Coordinator of the FIOCRUZ Strategy for the 2030 Agenda, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Brazil
Mr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President of the Institute for Global Environment Strategies, Japan