Background
This special event will provide an opportunity to hear from the authors of the science-policy briefs submitted by scientists and engineers from academia, private sector, UN system representatives and governments, in response to a call by the UN. Innovative formats will be explored to allow a frank discussion between authors and policy makers. The event will explore the latest developments in science and technology and their current and potential future impacts on sustainable development and the SDGs. The session will explore technology convergence and the multiple technology divides and challenges associated with these trends related to clusters such as blockchain, biotechnology, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies. As in the previous years, a senior UN official will present the “TFM findings on the impacts of rapid technology change on the SDGs” as a brief synthesis and update of what science and technology communities have learned on the wider societal and developmental impacts of scientific and technological breakthroughs in the preceding year.
Chaired by H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations
Moderator:
- Ms. Salome Muthoni Guchu, Principal Innovation and Outreach Officer, Inter-University Council for East Africa, Kampala, Uganda
Presentation by Secretariat: “Overview of this year’s science-policy briefs and updated TFM findings on the impacts of rapid technological change
- Mr. Richard A Roehrl, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Presentation of science-policy briefs
- Mr. Huadong Guo, Director General, International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, China
- Ms. Valentine Goddard, Founder and Executive Director, AI Impact Alliance, Canada
- Ms. Alma Cristal Hernández Mondragón, Visiting Professor. Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico
Q&A on the science-policy briefs
Conversation on lessons from science-policy inspired futures and scenarios:
- Mr. Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Professor em., Technical University of Vienna, Austria
- Mr. Keywan Riahi, Director, Energy, Climate and Environment Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria
TFM partners work on harnessing scientific breakthroughs and frontier technologies for the SDGs
- Ms. Daria Robinson, Executive Director, Solution Accelerator & Deputy CEO, Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Campus Biotech, Switzerland
- Mr. Motodi Maserumule, Group Executive, Council for Industrial and Scientific Research, South Africa
Interactive discussion
Compilations of video presentations of science-policy briefs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm3x235CGGc
Background documents
Background papers/Special studies
The following science-policy briefs have been prepared by TFM stakeholders following a peer-review organized by IATT work stream 10. Note: The views expressed in this brief are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its senior management.
- Health, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals
- Victorien Dougnon et al, Improving the Quality of Biological Diagnostics for Better Control of Antimicrobial Resistance, Bloodstream Infections and Pandemics in Benin: A Policy Brief, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
- Erik Kamenjasevic et al, Cyber(in)security of medical devices, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Eluemuno Blyden et al, The Mother of Birds Initiative: Building biopharmaceutical sectors from the ground up with enabling technologies and local resources, Avril Biopharma Inc, United States
- Alice Rotiroti et al, Drones for Improving Medical Infrastructure, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trends and future prospects of genome editing in human and plant health, Italy
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Existing and advancing trends in -omics development for the study of complex biological interactions in different organisms, Italy
- Kaveesha Wijesinghe, Accessibility of life saving biotherapeutics is still a dream for citizens in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
- María Cecilia Sanmartin et al., Between regional convergence, and locally rooted technological and cultural aspects: lessons from the case of COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America, Universidad de San Martín and CONICET, Argentina
- Nina Jamal et al, One Health, breaking institutional siloes and achieving health for all, FOUR PAWS International, Austria
- Carlos Leónidas Leiva et al., IgY-technology for sustainable development: A policy brief, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- David Silvestre, The difficult marriage of biopharma and the sustainable development goals, Université de Liège, Belgium
- Aqeela Ashraf et al., Impact of gender inequality and social stratification on antimicrobial resistance in developing countries, Lahore Garrison University, Pakistan
- Vanina Saraullo, Enfermedades infecciosas zoonóticas: Importancia de la notificación de casos positivos en animales, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Argentina
- Artificial intelligence technologies
- Anshul Pachouri, Regulating AI through sandbox: Roadmap for developing and under-developed countries, MicroSave Consulting, India
- Olivia Abbey, Artificial Intelligence, Bias, and the Sustainable Development Goals, University of Virginia, United States
- Anjali Mehta, The Threat of Facial Recognition Technology, University of Virginia, United States
- Katya Klinova et al, Steering AI for shared prosperity: practical lessons from 3 years of multistakeholder work at the Partnership on AI, Partnership on AI, United States
- Valentine Goddard et al, Gender Equality and the Environment in Digital Economies, AI Impact Alliance, Canada
- Communication and Information Sector, AI and Digital Transformation Competencies for Civil Servants, UNESCO
- Diego Chavarro et al., A call for action for coupling Artificial Intelligence Research and Sustainable Development, Sociedad Colombiana de Ingeniería Física, Colombia
- Janine Berg et al., Automation hits the knowledge worker: ChatGPT and the future of work, ILO, Switzerland
- Willem Fourie et al., Using machine learning to improve the science-policy-society interface on the SDGs in South Africa, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Somya Joshi et al, Anticipating Futures: How Artificial Intelligence acts as an Amplifier of Inequity, Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
- Nanotechnology and quantum tech
- Maluta Mufamadi, Harnessing the power of nanotechnology to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa and beyond, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
- Bartlomiej Kolodziejczyk, Scaling Quantum Computing Technologies – Opportunities, Challenges and Policy Interventions, Boston Consulting Group, Australia
- Digitalisation and virtual reality
- Larissa Magalhães et al, Open Data and Emerging Technologies Connecting SDG Performance and Digital Transformation, United Nations University, Portugal
- Yuto Kunitake, The Potential of Virtual Reality for the SDGs: Infrastructure Development through Content and Cultural Policies, NPO Virtual Rights, Japan
- Samantha-Kaye Johnston, Privacy considerations of using social robots in education: Policy recommendations for learning environments, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Sheng Wu, Innovative Digital Public-Private Partnership from Pandemic Response to Resilient Recovery, United Nations University, Portugal
- Shan Yin, Fundamental principles of data sovereignty policy making, China Academy of Information and Communication Technology, China
- Uma Rani et al, Digital labour platforms and their contribution to development outcomes, ILO, Switzerland
- Nilushi Kumarasinghe et al., Lessons learned on leveraging digital transformations to meet the SDGs, Sustainability in the Digital Age and Future Earth Canada, Canada
- Huadong Guo, Developing the SDG Satellites for Measuring and Evaluating Indicators of SDGs, International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, China
- Emily Chang, Broadband Expansion: Disseminating Policy Lessons on COVID-19, University of Virginia, USA
- Fouad Mrad et al., Data Innovation Deploying the SDG indicators for Change, UN ESCWA, Lebanon
- Ahlam Ahmad, From Big Data to Big Insights: The Power and Efficiency of Big Data and Data Science in Statistical Work, Jordan Department of Statistics, Jordan
- Shan Xu et al., Youth engagement in promoting digital innovation to accelerate the UN SDG 4, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, China
- Marco Zennaro et al., Bridging the Digital Divide: the Promising Impact of TinyML for Developing Countries, ICTP/UNESCO, Italy
- Carolina Rojas et al, Mobilizing and equipping the technical workforce for the SDGs through platforms for interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder collaboration, Engineering for Change, Panama
- Alina Game, Harnessing satellite data to measure progress towards decent work and economic growth, ILO, Switzerland
- Energy technology and climate
- Johannes Trüby et al, How green hydrogen conquers the world – An outlook on the global clean hydrogen market, Deloitte, France
- Heike Brugger et al., Energy Efficiency Vision 2050: How will new societal trends influence future energy demand in the European countries?, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation research, Germany
- Botto et al, Solar Radiation Modification and youth perspectives on its governance, World's Youth for Climate Justice, the Netherlands
- Taimur Mazhar Sheikh et al, Concrete, CO2, and catalysis: merging industry and research goals for sustainable development, University of Wah, Pakistan
- Joël Hollander et al, Printing Applications for Solar Microgrid Implementation in Remote Areas, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
- Daniel Xue, Strategies for mitigating the global energy and carbon impact of artificial intelligence, University of Virginia, United States
- Crystal H. Brown, Sustainable Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Africa: Combining Indigenous Knowledge and Modern Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, United States
- Vanderleia Radaelli et al., The role of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Industrial Decarbonization in Latin America and the Caribbean, Inter-American Development Bank, United States
- Ahmed Ali Khalifa et al., Developing a Market Solution to Control Global Warming within 1.5°C, Qatar University, Qatar
- Agricultural technology, fisheries, and bioeconomy
- Christoph Ernst et al, Bioeconomy in Argentina in support of the implementation of the Agenda 2030, ILO, Switzerland
- Alejandro Mentaberry et al, La bioeconomía como camino para el desarrollo sostenible, Instituto Universitario para el Desarrollo Productivo y Tecnológico Empresarial de la Argentina, Argentina
- Bocchetto et al., STI Policies to enhance the role of the bioeconomy as a vector of sustainable development in the Norte Grande of Argentina: a foresight study, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria and Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial, Argentina
- Joni Jupesta et al, Digital Traceability on Agriculture Industry towards Net Zero GHG Emissions in Developing Countries: Case of Southeast Asia, United Nations University, Japan
- Pablo Carcamo et al, Artificial Intelligence applications in agriculture need a justice lens to address risks and provide benefits to smallholder farmers, Virginia Tech, United States
- Syeda Saleha Fatim Ali, Promoting GIS and IoT Powered Climate Smart Technology Among Smallholder Farmers of Pakistan, Institute of Space Technology, Pakistan
- Christine Xu, A New Way of Designing Fisheries Management to Support SDG 14, Aquatic Life Institute, United States
- Altaf Hussain Samo et al ., Strategizing for the Innovation and Sustainability of Green Agriculture Enterprises, Sukkur IBA University, Pakistan
- Muhammad Tariq, Sustainable Dairy Production in Pakistan: Lesson Learned and Way Forward, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Javaria Nasir, Developing and accessing adaptation strategies against climate vulnerability in cotton wheat cropping system, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Naureen Naeem et al., Challenges and opportunities of integration of community-based Nutrition services in Punjab, Pakistan, Lahore Garrison University, Pakistan
- Alejandro Pablo Arena et al., Strategies, technologies and policies recommendations aimed at a more sustainable food and beverage sector in Argentina, National Technological University, Argentina
- Muhammad Tariq, Future policy interventions for the development of livestock sector in Pakistan, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Water and sanitation
- Anh Quan Nguyen et al, Atmospheric water harvesting using solar energy technology, Van Lang University, Viet Nam
- Anne-Tara Singh et al, Blockchain and IoT for water - A Game-Changing Opportunity or a Risky Proposition?, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
- Marlene Kanga, Sustainable and Climate Resilient Solution for Water Services - from Policy to Implementation – a Case Study , World Federation of Engineering Organisations, Australia
- Catarina Baptista et al, Bridging the science-policy-society gap for water management: lessons learnt from the G-STIC international conferences, VITO, Belgium
- Waste management and recycling
- Thien-An Tran Luuet al, AI Application for Solid Waste Sorting in Global South, Van Lang University, Viet Nam
- Azmery Afnan et al, Policy Considerations for Successful Implementation of Anaerobic Digestion in the Global South, State University of New York, United States
- Caterina Ossio et al, The Potential of Gene Editing in Wastewater Bioremediation, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
- Biodiversity
- Jonathan Andre Morales Marroquín et al., Biodiversity and Environmental policy challenges in Central America towards natural resource governance, University of Campinas, Brazil
- Anastasia Gracheva, The Russian Federation’s Challenges in Response to SDG Goals 13 and 15: A Stakeholder Perspective, University of Pennsylvania, United States
- Science and tech policy, cooperation, and standards
- Alison Regan Cathles et al, Opportunities and Challenges for the Twin Transition in Latin America and the Caribbean, Inter-American Development Bank, United States
- Karen Mulberry, Emerging Technology, Standards and Sustainability, IEEE Standards Association, United States
- Dario Gabriel Codner et al., Mapeo de instrumentos de promoción de la transferencia de tecnología y el desarrollo de negocios tecnológicos, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes and Instituto Universitario para el Desarrollo Productivo y Tecnológico Empresarial de la Argentina, Argentina
- William Kelly, Tech Ethics for Sustainable Development, WFEO, United States
- Cristina Uriarte Toledo, Strengthening SDG dimension in Science, Technology and Innovation policies: The case of the Basque Country, Basque Regional Government, Spain
- Patricia Agupusi et al., The Importance of ‘Ordinary’ Science, Technology, and Innovation and the Science-Policy Interface in sub-Saharan Africa, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, United States
- Alexander Dill, Science shift to supporting the SDGs, Basel Institute of Commons and Economics, Switzerland
- Pete Furlong et al, Technology and Geopolitical Crisis – A New Compact for a New World Order, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
- Luisa Echeverría-King et al., Science in Latin America: towards public policy proposals focused on the development of international cooperation, Corporación Universitaria del Caribe, Colombia
- Rita Luthra, Open Science to Achieve United Nations 2030 Agenda, Women’s Health and Education Center, United States
- Alex Tveit et al., Tech Stewardship as a foundation for Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration (MSC) to enable STI4SDGs, Engineering Change Lab, Canada
- Nizar Al Halasah et al., Promoting green techn in the Arab countries, Jordan
- Dang Thu Giang, Linking science and technology tasks from the state budget with the implementation of sustainable development goals in Vietnam: Efforts and future actions, Ministry of Science and Technology, Viet Nam
- Susan Schneegans, Rapid growth in scientific publishing on cross-cutting strategic technologies in least developed countries over 2011–2019 reflects national policy priorities, UNESCO
- William Kelly, Tech Standards for Sustainable Development, WFEO, United States
- Tommaso Ciarli et al, Steering science, technology and innovation towards the Sustainable Development Goals, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
- Lorena Lamas, Gender lens into STI policies to effectively address socio-economic development challenges, UN Women, Uruguay
- Innovation ecosystems
- Salome M. Guchu et al, Leveraging on Emerging Technologies Landscape to Bolster Kenya’s Innovation Ecosystem, Inter-University Council for East Africa
- Cintia Hernandez, Promoción de la innovación mediante acciones de co-desarrollo en Argentina, Ministry of Economy, Argentina
- Felipe de Andrade et al., Roadmap for a Role for Intellectual Property Offices in the Governance of Green Innovation, University of Antwerp/KU Leuven, Belgium
- David Schatsky et al., Full-spectrum innovation: What is needed to create the low-carbon economy, Deloitte, United States
- Myra Cheng et al., Working towards the SDGs through Research Infrastructure: Projects, Program and a Perspective on the Brno Declaration from Australia, Australian Research Data Commons, Australia
- Khalid Mahmood, Science & Technology requirements of SDGs, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
- Dorothea Kleine, A human-centred approach to innovation to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Shivani Nayyar et al., Girls and Women as Innovators, UN DESA
- Science and Tech Education
- Marguerite Nyhan et al., Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Scalable, Global, Ethical & Equitable Education for sustainability, University College Cork, Ireland
- Rachel Figard et al., STEM Education’s Misalignment to Proactive Accessible Design, Arizona State University, United States
- Khalid Mahmood, Primary & secondary education syllabus to be revised based on current STI requirements of SDGs
- Science-policy-society interface
- Alma Cristal Hernandez Mondragon et al, The possibilities for improving science-policy-society interfaces through training programs, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN and Centro de Estudios de Derecho e Investigaciones Parlamentarias, Mexico
- Sarosh Nagar, Lessons for SPIs from Novel Developments in Emerging Biotechnologies, Harvard University, United States
- Franklin Carrero-Martínez et al., Operationalizing Sustainable Development: Positive Case Studies for Improving the Science-Policy-Society Interfaces, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, United States
- Natalie Harms et al., Bridging science and policy for evidence-based action on plastic pollution in the East Asian Seas and beyond, UNEP, Thailand
- International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, A Permanent Science-Policy Interface: Realising the Potential of Libraries to Integrate Science into Policy Making, the Netherlands
- Shaiha Afaal et al., Assessment of policy-society interface to increase female participation: A study of Aerospace engineering in the Maldives, University of the West of England, UK
- Josefina Moya et al, Iniciativas y desafíos para el fortalecimiento del Asesoramiento Experto en política en los Poderes Ejecutivo y Legislativo, Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Argentina
- Sandra Piesik et al., Enablers for Transformative Change to Sustain People and Nature Centred World, 3 ideas, the Netherlands
- Jaako Kuosmanen et al., Science Sparring: An Emerging Science-for-Policy Interaction Model for Systemic Policy Issues, Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, Finland
- Other
- Jayeesh Chennupati, Addressing the Urban Poverty Crisis through Refugee Camps, University of Virginia, United States
- Kelsey Stoddard et al., Stress-testing the resilience of critical infrastructure, CREDERE Associates, United States
- Felipe Teixeira Dias et al., Cities and covid-19: challenges and strategies based on the Brazilian case, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Brazil
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Compilations (3.5 hours) of brief video presentations of science-policy briefs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm3x235CGGc
Technology
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