Session 3: Shaping the future of science, technology and innovation for sustainable development in times of uncertainty and change

Background
SPEAKERS

Background

This forward-looking session will consider how STI can help decisionmakers anticipate and respond to systemic risks to sustainable development in an era of rapid change, while also navigating key trade-offs, closing critical knowledge gaps, and leveraging emerging opportunities. Discussions will address strengthening foresight, governance, trust, planning through STI roadmaps, and international cooperation to steer innovation, including artificial intelligence (AI), toward resilience, equity, and sustainability to 2030 and beyond. Finally, the session will bring together insights from other STI-related forums and activities, including IATT, 10-Member-Group, and scientific stakeholders.

Guiding questions:

STI systems under pressure - strengthening international STI cooperation for the SDGs
- How can international science cooperation, diplomacy, and equitable global research partnerships better support collaborative and integrated SDG solutions and systemic action, while addressing key trade-offs between national priorities and global public goods?
- How can the autonomy, safety, and credibility of science be protected in an increasingly complex political and economic environment while strengthening trust in science and evidence-based policymaking?
- How can funding systems, research institutions, and STI4SDG roadmaps evolve to better support long-term scientific research, innovation, and the global public goods needed to achieve the SDGs, including addressing persistent knowledge gaps and inequalities in access to science and technology?
- What are the most important policy-relevant insights from TFM intersessional work in the past year? What should be prioritized at the global level between now and 2030?
- What key trade-offs and tensions (e.g., speed vs. safety, innovation vs. inclusion, short-term gains vs. long-term sustainability) must be managed to align STI systems with sustainable development?
From insights to action on emerging STI issues in the age of generative AI
- What is the role of generative AI in driving STI systems under pressure and in devising STI solutions for the SDGs, including its potential to unlock new opportunities for innovation, productivity, and inclusive development? Which actions are needed to make AI work for the world’s SDG aspirations?
- What should we expect from the evolution of AI and its impacts in the next few years, including both opportunities and risks?
- What governance and policy approaches are showing results in aligning AI and related emerging STI issues to sustainable development, while strengthening foresight and anticipation of systemic risks?
- Which insights should be offered to inform the upcoming global dialogues on AI governance? What should be prioritized at the global level between now and 2030?

For further details, read the Session 3 Note.

Chaired jointly by

 H.E. Mr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia to the United
Nations, and
 H.E. Mr. Gregor W. Koessler, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations

Innovator pitches

 SORA Health Intelligence Room (Kenya), presented by Mr. Masaki Umeda
 AquaSentinel (China), presented by Ms. Weizhen Liang
 Yaaka e-waste recycling (Zambia), presented by Mr. Chilumba Mutale

Moderator

Mr. Tony Maciulis, Chief Content Officer, GZERO Media

Panel:

 Mr. Carlos Henrique Brito Cruz OBE, Senior Vice-President, Research Networks, Elsevier; Cochair, 10-Member-Group of High-level Representatives
 Mr. Robbert Dijkgraaf, President-elect, International Science Council
 Mr. Wang Jian, Director, Zhejiang Lab; Chinese Academy of Engineering; Founder of Alibaba Cloud, China
 Ms. Inkyoung Sun, Chair, UNESCO Science Engineering Technology and Innovation Policy Asia and the Pacific Network; Director and Research Fellow, Science and Technology Policy Institute, Republic of Korea
 Mr. Anjani Phuyal, Founder and CEO of Genese Solution
 Ms. Mmaki Jantjies, Group Executive Innovation and Transformation, Telkom Group, South Africa

High-level respondents

 Ms. Maria Leptin, President, European Research Council
 Ms. Lidia Arthur Brito, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, and Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences (a.i.), UNESCO
 Mr. Dietrich Van der Weken, General Manager, Global Sustainable Technology & Innovation Community (G-STIC), Belgium
 Mr. Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer and Director of the Digital, AI and Innovation Hub, United Nations Development Programme

Intervention on behalf of Co-Chairs of the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance
 H.E. Mrs. Egriselda López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations (tbc)
 H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations (tbc)

Interactive discussions: A time limit of 2 minutes will apply.

Science

Related Goals

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