Background
The ninth annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) will be held from Thursday, 9 May, to Friday, 10 May 2024. The Forum will be convened by the President of ECOSOC, Her Excellency Paula Narváez, who had appointed two co-chairs – Her Excellency Christina Markus Lassen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations, and Her Excellency Inga Rhonda King, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations. As per its mandate, the Forum will be prepared by the UN interagency task team on STI for the SDGs (IATT), convened by UN DESA and UNCTAD, and the 10-Member Group of High-Level Representatives appointed by the Secretary-General.
As in previous years, the theme of the STI Forum will be closely aligned with that of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), to be held from Monday, 8 July, to Wednesday, 17 July 2024, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, but will have an exclusive focus on the role and contributions of science, technology and innovation to sustainable development. The 2024 HLPF will hold in-depth reviews of five SDGs: Goal 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere; Goal 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; Goal 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; Goal 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; and Goal 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Accordingly, the theme for the STI Forum 2024 is: “Science, technology and innovation for reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions”.
H. E. Christina Markus Lassen
H.E. Christina Markus Lassen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations, Co-Chair of the 2024 STI Forum
H. E. Inga Rhonda King
H.E. Inga Rhonda King, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations, Co-Chair of the 2024 STI Forum
Announcements
The draft programme (with speakers) and all session notes are now available under the tab "documentation"
Please find the Background Note for the STI Forum 2024 prepared by the United Nations 10-Member-Group.
Please find the letter from ECOSOC to Member States on the appointment of new co-chairs for the STI Forum in 2024.
Please find the STI Forum 2024 Letter of Invitation from ECOSOC to Member States.
Pre-Conference Activities
Background Notes
Programme
Statements
Letters
Provisional agenda
Learn more about the Draft Programme (with speakers) here. More detailed session content will be provided here soon.
Participation of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) stakeholders
Registration for representatives of non-governmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders closed on 21 April, 5PM, EDT.
Interested participants not able to attend the meeting in person will be able to follow the discussions on UN WebTV.
Please Note:
- The STI Forum will be held from 9-10 May 2024. Side Events will be held from 8 – 10 May.
- Information about how to collect Special Events Tickets and access the UNHQ will be shared with registered participants closer to the event.
- Representatives of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC and in possession of valid UN Grounds passes will be able to access the Conference rooms without the need for Special Events Tickets.
- Please note that all registered participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements (visa, transportation, accommodation, etc) and related costs, as applicable.
A selected number of stakeholder representatives will be able to make interventions at the meetings of the Forum. Information about how to apply for speaking slots will be shared with registered stakeholders in the lead up to the STI Forum. Only selected speakers will be contacted by the Secretariat.
Briefing to Member States and Stakeholders
5 March 2024, 3:00pm-4:00pm, ECOSOC Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York
The co-chairs of the 9th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals held a briefing for Member States and STI stakeholders on Tuesday, 5 March 2024, from 3 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the ECOSOC Chamber, UN HQ, New York.
The briefing was recorded via the UN Web TV and is available here:
https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15thwf265
To learn more about the priorities for the 2024 STI Forum, please visit the following statements made during the briefing:
- FAO Statement for the STI Forum 2024 Briefing to Member States and Stakeholders
- ITU Statement for the STI Forum 2024 Briefing to Member States and Stakeholders
- Business and Industry Major Group (BIMG) Statement for the STI Forum 2024 Briefing to Member States and Stakeholders
- Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) Statement for the STI Forum 2024 Briefing to Member States and Stakeholders
- Scientific and Technological Community Major Group (STCMC) Statement for the STI Forum 2024 Briefing to Member States and Stakeholders
In connection with the 2024 STI Forum, from 8 May to 10 May 2024, a limited number of side events will be organized by Member States, UN entities, Intergovernmental Organizations and accredited non-governmental stakeholders, and selected representatives of universities, laboratories, scientific and engineering organizations.
An open call for side event applications was issued in mid-February. Applications received by 8 March were considered in the selection process. Selection of side events was guided by the following criteria:
- Side events must be closely related to the theme of the 2024 STI Forum;
- Side events should ensure gender and geographic balance and strive for meaningful participation of stakeholders, including civil society, women, youth, indigenous peoples, academic and scientific communities, among others;
- Side events should highlight concrete success stories and examples of innovations, solutions and technologies that support the implementation of one or more SDGs, especially those under in-depth review in 2024 (SDGs 1, 2, 13, 16 and 17);
- Preference was given to side events organized by coalitions of actors including UN Member States, UN entities, Intergovernmental Organizations and recognized stakeholder networks, associations, Major Groups and Other Stakeholder constituencies.
Organizers of selected side events are in the process of confirming final details, which will inform the finalization of the side events programme. Side-event organizers are required to commit to the responsibilities outlined in the Side Events Guidelines. For further logistical guidance for side event organizers, please refer to the FAQs for Side Event Organizers.
Kindly note that the preliminary side events programmes below are subject to change. Please always check this page for latest information.
In-Person Side Events taking place inside UNHQ:
The in-person side events included in the programme below will be open to all STI Forum participants on a first-come-first-served basis, up to the capacity of the conference rooms. No side-event-specific registration is required. Please refer to the General Participant Guide for detailed guidance on how to participate in the 2024 STI Forum for different types of participants.
Disclaimer: Official intergovernmental meetings at UNHQ conference facilities have higher priority over side events. Although rare, side events may have to be cancelled by the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management last minute if an urgent intergovernmental meeting needs to use the conference room.
Virtual Side Events and Off-Site Side Events:
These virtual side events and off-site side events (taking place in New York City outside UNHQ) may or may not require registration to access the respective virtual platforms/ off-site venues. Please check the programme below for further details of these side events.
Media advisory
UN Forum to harness the power of science, technology and innovation
to advance sustainable development while addressing the climate crisis
Media accreditation OPEN until Friday 3 May 2024
WHAT: The 9th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (2024 STI Forum)
World leaders will join science and technology communities, academia, civil society, private sector and young people to discuss ways to harness the power of science, technology and innovation to accelerate progress across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Forum will give special attention to the Sustainable Development Goals under review at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July 2024, namely SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 13 (Climate action), SDG 16 (Peace, justice, and strong institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals). The event will also examine the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing climate action and SDG progress.
In addition to a ministerial and seven thematic sessions, the Forum will include a reception and innovation showcase, as well as over 40 side events taking place from 8 to 10 May at both UN Headquarters and off-site locations, and virtually.
The Forum is convened under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
WHO: The Forum will feature high-profile speakers such as the below, and more:
- Paula Narváez, United Nations ECOSOC President;
- Dennis Francis, United Nations General Assembly President;
- Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social, on behalf of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres;
- Selwin Hart, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General of the Climate Action Team;
- Joyeeta Gupta, Professor of Environment and Development, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Amsterdam and Professor on Sustainability, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education;
- Carlos Henrique Brito Cruz OBE, Senior Vice-President, Research Networks, Elsevier
WHEN: 9-10 May 2024 (with side events 8-10 May 2024)
THEME: Science, technology and innovation for reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions
WHERE: United Nations Headquarters in New York
Trusteeship Council Chamber
Follow live on UN Web TV (official programme):
webtv.un.org/en
BACKGROUND:
The two-day Forum preparations are led by the two Co-chairs H.E. Christina Markus Lassen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN, and H.E. Inga Rhonda King, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the UN, supported by the UN interagency task team on STI for the SDGs (IATT) and the 10-Member Group of High-Level Representatives appointed by the Secretary-General.
Key links
Forum website: https://sdgs.un.org/tfm/STIForum2024
Official programme: Official Forum Programme (9-10 May 2024)
Side events: Side Events (8-10 May 2024)
Social Media
Please follow us on the 2024 STI Forum using hashtags: #Tech4SDGs and #SDGs
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SustDev and on X: https://twitter.com/SustDev
Media accreditation
Please note that media accreditation closes on Friday 3 May 2024.
Media representatives applying independently are required to submit an application form, including a letter of assignment from a bona fide media organization, samples of their work and a government-issued ID. Instructions are available on the website of the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit.
Requests for delegation media, including journalists and official photographers and videographers, should be submitted by Missions and Organizations enrolled in the eRegistration system, which is available through the e-deleGATE portal (instructions).
Please note that all media representatives must apply for accreditation in advance, as there will not be on-site accreditation.
For more information, please visit the UN Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit’s website or contact them at malu@un.org or +1 212-963-6934.
Media contacts
UN Department of Global Communications
Bingjie Wang: bingjie.wang[AT]un.org
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Meng Li: li39[AT]un.org
Helen Rosengren: rosengrenh[AT]un.org