Mobilizing science, technology and innovation and strengthening the science-policy-society interface

One of the key functions entrusted to the HLPF by Rio+20 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to strengthen the science-policy interface, including through the Global Sustainable Development Report and the Technology Facilitation Mechanism. Progress in science, technology, and innovation (STI) continues to accelerate, promising significant benefits but also risks to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as they impact the economy, society and environment.

Despite the potential for STI in helping to realise the 2030 Agenda, challenges abound. Alignment between STI and SDGs remains weak. STI can reproduce and even amplify social and economic inequalities due to challenges in access and design.

Governments, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, need to accelerate efforts to close the digital divide and support the digital inclusion of disadvantaged and marginalized groups and communities, by addressing the various factors behind the divide including, access to ICT infrastructure, affordability of the Internet and ICT device, digital and literacy skills, and awareness / relevance of online content.

Advances in STI should be harnessed to enhance equal opportunities and access to basic services, so that no one is left behind. Governments and the international community have a central role to play in providing directionality to innovation activities to ensure that STI is driven by considerations of inclusiveness and sustainability.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked innovations and new forms of collaboration. STI is playing an important role in understanding, responding to, and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis has been a wake-up call for a better science-policy-society interface, for more effective international technology cooperation, and for building public trust in science related to all areas of sustainable development.

The purpose of the session is to further advance progress on the implementation of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and other related UN processes. It will build on the outcome of the 6th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (4-5 May 2021) and consider the recommendations contained in the co-chairs’ Summary of the Forum.

The session will discuss the main challenges and opportunities for mobilizing science, technology, and innovation and strengthening the science-policy-society interface. Specific attention will be given to exploring the existing mechanisms and potential innovations in developing and deploying STI for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing emerging challenges and bridging the digital divide. Views, suggestions, and current achievements are expected to be shared by practitioners, policymakers, and experts based on their most recent experiences and research.

Proposed guiding questions:

What are the most promising technology solutions, innovations, and transformative technology pathways towards achieving the SDGs?
What are the challenges and opportunities faced in developing and deploying STI for emerging challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic?
How can governments and other stakeholders work together to address the various causes of the digital divide (access, affordability, skills, relevance)?
How can we mobilize science, technology, and innovation to improve the lives of those furthest behind and reduce inequalities, without perpetuating the digital divide, especially during rapid technological change?
How can we strengthen international cooperation on science, technology, and innovation to better deal with sustainability challenges?

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. The session will follow by panel presentations and then followed by interactive discussion with the participants.

Chair:

H.E. Mr. Sergiy Kyslytsya (Ukraine), Vice President of ECOSOC

Keynote addresses:

H.E. Mr. Mohammad Koba, Co-Chair of the 2021 STI Forum, Ambassador and Charge d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations
Mr. Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Interactive panel discussion

Moderator:

H.E. Mr. Andrejs Pildegovičs, Co-Chair of the 2021 STI Forum, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations,

Panellists/Resource persons:

Ms. Cherry Murray, Co-Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s 10 Member Group to Support the Technology Facilitation Mechanism, Professor of Physics and Deputy Director for Research, Biosphere 2, University of Arizona
Ms. Imme Scholz, Co-Chair of the International Group of Scientists of the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), Deputy Director of the German Development Institute (DIE) and Honorary Professor of the Centre for Ethics and Responsibility at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg,
Ms. Nnenna Nwakanma, Chief Web Advocate, World Wide Web Foundation, Nigeria

Lead discussants:

Ms. Sanja Nikolin, member of UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group for Europe and Central Asia
Ms. Elenita Dano, Asia Director of ETC Group (Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration), Philippines (Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism and Science & Technology Major Group)

Respondents:

H.E. Ms. Karen Abudinen, Minister of Information and Communication Technologies of Colombia
H.E. Mrs. Ariunzaya Ayush, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Mongolia
H.E. Mr. Andrii Vitrenko, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine for European Integration, Ukraine
Mr. Ahmed El – Magarmid, Executive Director of Qatar Computing Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar
Ms. Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations