The role of STI in implementing the SDGs: 2-day meeting opens in New York

This is the first in a series of annual meetings to facilitate collaborative planning and action among governments, business, the scientific community and other stakeholders to more effectively harness  science, technology and innovation for Agenda 2030.

The Forum is part of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) mandated by the 2030 Agenda, and its outcome will inform the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) which meets in July in New York. The HLPF is the United Nations central platform providing political leadership and guidance on implementing the 2030 Agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

“With the advent of ‘knowledge societies’ and the current pace of new technological advances, STI must be seen as a primary mechanism for achieving all the SDGs and realizing the Secretary General’s call to focus the 2030 Agenda on people, planet, prosperity and partnerships,” said a statement from the 10-member group appointed by Ban Ki-Moon to support the Technology Facilitation Mechanism.

In the statement, the group provides nine recommendations which include the importance of identifying knowledge gaps and initiating solutions-oriented research, integrated assessments linked to transparency and accountability, the role of the private sector and  partnerships with multiple stakeholders, strengthening the science-policy interface in all countries and building peaceful Societies, accountable institutions and conflict resolution tools.

ICSU Executive Director Heide Hackmann, who is co-chair of the 10-member advisory group, said in the statement: “The global scientific community is rallying to respond to the complex and converging set of challenges posed by Agenda 2030. Key to that response is an emphasis on the need for integrated, collaborative approaches to the production and use of scientific knowledge.”

On Monday, an ICSU side event entitled “Co-designing fit-for-purpose Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) systems at national, regional and international levels” will take place from 1:15-2:30 PM in Conference Room A in the UN Conference Building, featuring speakers from the research, engineering and scientific capacity building communities. The event will showcase international initiatives involved in capacity development for integrated solutions-oriented research to help achieve the SDGs, with a special focus on the needs and priorities of the most vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Follow the event on Twitter via the hashtag #tech4SDGs.