Mobilizing and sharing science, technology and innovation for an SDG driven recovery

COVID-19 has shown the huge potential of science, technology and innovation (STI) for responding to crises and realizing the SDGs. It also showed the impact of inequalities in the ability to access and use STI. Building on the outcome and recommendations of the 7th ECOSOC Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (5-6 May 2022) and considering the recommendations contained in the co-chairs’ Summary of the STI Forum, this session aims to further advance progress in gearing STI towards the SDGs and in maximizing benefits from the Technology Facilitation Mechanism created by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and other related UN processes.

The session will discuss the main challenges and opportunities for mobilizing STI and strengthening the science-policy-society interface. 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 examples/good practices of use of technologies and innovations during the COVID-19 crisis to tackle inequalities affecting vulnerable groups, including by ensuring equal access to quality healthcare, education, and finance? How can these be shared and scaled up?
Proactive STI policy measures are needed to stimulate research efforts, focus investments, and inspire coordination. How can countries’ science, technology and innovation (STI) roadmaps or action plans contribute to a more cost-effective SDGs-focused STI development?
From an STI perspective what are some of the key lessons learned on what worked and what did not work to meet the targets related to SDG 4 on quality education, SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 14 on life below water, and SDG 15 on life on land? Taking into consideration the strategies that did not work to meet the SDG targets, how could these barriers be overcome in the near future?
How can we further strengthen international cooperation on science, technology, and innovation for an SDG driven recovery, building on the 2030 Agenda?

Chair:

Vice President of ECOSOC (Bulgaria)

Keynote/Presentation:

H.E. Mr. Sergiy Kyslytsya, Co-Chair of the 2022 STI Forum, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations

Interactive panel discussion

Moderator:

H.E. Mr. Kennedy Gastorn, Co-Chair of the 2022 STI Forum, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations

Resource Persons:

Ms. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Associate Scientific Director of the Centre for AIDS Research Programme in South Africa, and UNAIDS Special Ambassador for Adolescents and HIV
Mr. Jiahua Pan, Member of the Independent Group of Scientists for the 2030 Global Sustainable Development Report, Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Director of the Institute of Eco-civilization Studies and Professor of Economics, Beijing University of Technology, China
Mr. Mario Cimoli, Acting Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
Mr. Lawrence Banks, Director General of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)

Lead Discussants:

Mr. Chris Sharrock, Vice President, UN Affairs and International Organizations at Microsoft
Mr. Charles Mwangi, Research, Education and Outreach Lead, Kenya Space Agency
Ms. Violet Shivutse, Shibuye Community Health Workers and Huairou Commission, Kenya (MGoG)

Respondent: