This HLPF side-event addressed how recent advances in science, technology and innovation (STI) are facilitating the widespread realisation of SGD. Co-hosted by the Japan and Italy missions, the meeting was successful in highlighting the important advantages and disadvantages of rapid STI development and implementation in the pursuit of the SDG’s.

Currently more than half the world’s population choosing to dwell in urban environments. As this number increases so too will the strains on energy, sanitation and transportation demands within cities. Thickening pollution will also continue to degrade the urban-human quality of life. The emergence of transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), mass digitalisation, biotechnology, nanotechnology and additive manufacturing signify the 4^th industrial revolution, providing renewed potential to accelerate the realisation of the 2030 SDG’s. Science helps policy makers understand the interrelations between the SDG’s and the trade-offs between alternative approaches. It also offers predictive experiments, allowing for a more holistic view of the effects of STI deployment to the wider environment and society.

The forum finished by highlighting the hurdles, potential disadvantages and recommendations as STI are further integrated into society. Lagging regulation will slow STI deployment but inadequate regulation will lead to issues of digital accountability and reliability. Past industrial revolutions yielded many opportunities but also left large populations and states economically behind and socio-economically incompatible with other states. We are seeing this effect take root in the recent digital revolution with half of the global population remain disconnected from the internet.

Increased partnership between policy makers and the private sector, particularly academia and technology sectors, is important, with an emphasis on youth and women inclusion. It was noted that Asia is leading the world in patent registration filings, highlighting their accelerated urge to innovate. In a similar vein, Benin’s representative called for increased sustained funding for start-ups worldwide to fully utilise innovative technology concepts outside the established hubs of Silicon Valley and Asia.

Date / Location: Tuesday, 10 July 2018, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Conference Room 4, UNHQ, NY, USA

Speakers:
Chair:
E. Ms. Inga Rhonda King (Vice-President of ECOSOC)

Presenters:
H.E. Mr. Toshiya Hoshino (Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN, Co-Chair of the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals)
H.E. Mr. Juan Sandoval Mendiolea (Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the UN, Co-Chair of the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals)

Moderator:
Ms. Norma Munguía Aldaraca (Director General for Global Issues at the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Mexico)

Panelists:
Ms. Endah Murniningtyas (co-chair of the group of scientists for the Global Sustainable Development Report, Indonesia)
Mr. Carsten Fink (Chief Economist, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO))
Mr. Nebojsa Nakicenovic (IIASA Deputy Director General and Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Professor Emeritus, Vienna University of Technology, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) (Science and Technology Major Group))

Entities represented:
Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, ITU , Women’s Group, Children and Youth, Islamic Development Bank, International Atomic Agency

Countries Represented:
Kenya, The European Union, South Africa, Indonesia, Norway, Russian Federation, Benin, Belgium, Finland, Turkey

Author: WIT Representative, Farri Gaba