Background
The tenth annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) will be held from Wednesday, 7 May, to Thursday, 8 May 2025. The Forum will be convened by the President of ECOSOC His Excellency Mr. Bob Rae, who had appointed two co-chairs - H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations and H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations. As per its mandate, the Forum will be organized 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, 14 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The STI Forum will have an exclusive focus on the role and contributions of science, technology and innovation to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2025 HLPF will hold in-depth reviews of five SDGs: Goal 3. Ensure health and well-being for all; Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development; and Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Accordingly, the theme for the STI Forum 2025 is: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based, science and technology solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”.
H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale
H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations, Co-Chair of the 2025 STI Forum
H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku
H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations, Co-Chair of the 2025 STI Forum
Announcements
The draft STI Forum Programme is now available under the tab "Documentation".
General Participant Guide and Side Event Guide are available under the "Documentation" tab.
The Featured STI Forum Call for Innovations will be announced shortly.
President of ECOSOC issued Letter of Invitation to Member States.
Briefing to Member States and Stakeholders on the 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs is scheduled on 3 March 2025, from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, at CR-2, UN HQs, New York. Please check the tab "Pre-Forum Briefing" for the recap.
Programme
Pre-Conference Activities
Letters
Concept Note
Statements
The STI Forum has worked cumulatively since its inception. An important part in this process is the intersessional work of the UN system, its Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (IATT), and of the 10-Member-Group of High-level Representatives. Here we will cross-link selected intersessional work since the last Forum in May 2024, for ease of reference.
Conferences, meetings and workshops
- AI for Good Summit, ITU, Geneva, 29-31 May 2024
- Summit of the Future, New York, USA, September 2024
- Workshop on Building Capacity and Exploring Resources for implementing STI4SDGs Roadmaps, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 8- 9 October 2024
- SIF Theme 2024: Inclusive Science and Innovation for Agrifood Systems Transformation, Leaving No One Behind, FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy, 14-18 October 2024
- Meeting of the 10-Member Group of High-level Representatives of Civil Society, Private Sector and Scientific Community to Promote Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (10-Member-Group) in preparation for the STI Forum 2025, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland, 22-23 October 2024
- 7th G-STIC Conference, India, 22-23 October 2024
- Strengthening Science, Technology and Innovation for Achieving the SDGs: Drawing Lessons from the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism and Innovative Financing Models - Side Event to the Multi-stakeholder Hearing for FfD4, 29 October 2024
- 43rd session of UN-Space, New York, 31 October 2024
- IATT Webinar on Space for SDGs, 19 November 2024
- IATT Webinar on The Joint SDG Fund, 11 February 2025
- African Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, Kampala, Uganda, 9-11 April 2025
- 28th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), Geneva, Switzerland, 7-11 April 2025
- WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025, Geneva, Switzerland, hosted by ITU, 7-11 July 2025
Publications
- Global Foresight Report: Navigating New Horizons, UNEP, September 2024. The report calls for the world to pay heed and respond to a range of emerging challenges that could disrupt planetary health and human wellbeing.
Capacity building
- UNIDO launches SDG 9 Learning Academy to strengthen global industrial knowledge and training.
The STI Action Day
6 May 2025 | 10:00
Venue: ECOSOC Chamber
This year’s STI Forum marks a milestone as the first gathering since the adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) by UN Member States. The Action Day will kick off the week with a dynamic, high-level event focused on translating the commitments of the GDC into concrete actions for science, technology, and innovation in support of the SDGs. For more details, see: STI Forum Action Day | 6 May | Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies
Join high-level policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates in their discussion on the future of inclusive and responsible digital development. For registration of the Action Day event, please click here.
Esteemed speakers include:
- H.E. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administration Reform for Morocco
- Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Laureate & CEO of Rappler
- Peter Vetter, President of Bell Labs at Nokia
- Ambassador M.O. Kah, Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the UN in Geneva
- Baroness Beeban Kidron Founder, 5Rights Foundation
The tenth annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 7 to 8 May 2025. It will be convened by the President of ECOSOC, His Excellency Mr. Bob Rae, and the meetings of the Forum will be co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations and H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations.
The overall theme of the 2025 STI Forum is: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based, science and technology solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”. Special focus will be given to the Sustainable Development Goals under review in 2025, namely SDG3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages), SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), SDG 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainbale economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all), SDG 14 (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development), and SDG 17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development).
In connection with the 2025 STI Forum, a limited number of in-person, virtual and off-site 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 10 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 2025 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 2025 (SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14 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.
Side-event organizers all committed to the responsibilities outlined in the Side Events Guidelines. Further logistical guidance for side event organizers could be found in the FAQs for Side Event Organizers.
In-Person Side Events Inside UNHQ:
21 in-person side events included in the programme below are open to all STI Forum participants on a first-come-first-served basis, up to the capacity of the conference rooms. Participants need to register for the access to UNHQ.
Virtual Side Events:
28 virtual side events will be convened in connection with the 2025 STI Forum, many of which required registration to access their respective virtual platforms. Please check the programme below for further details:
Off-Site Side Events:
5 off-site side events will be convened in connection with the 2025 STI Forum. Please check the programme below for further details:
Call for Innovations for the Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) is offering an exciting opportunity to showcase groundbreaking innovations that address critical sustainable development challenges in low-resource settings. This year, the search for innovations is organized in collaboration with Engineering for Change, focusing on advancing specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainbale economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and reviltalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
The UN STI Forum Call for Innovations aims to spotlight promising technology solutions for addressing SDG challenges while forstering collaboration among innovators, communities, and global stakeholders. Selected innovations will have the unique opportunity to be highlighted at the STI Forum, with a global audience of policymakers, experts, and innovators. Participation in person at the United States Headquarters in New York may be facilitated as appropriate for selected innovators. Young innovators are especially encouraged to participate.
Key Dates
Submission Deadline: 14 February 2025
Forum Dates: Wed 07 May 2025 - Thu 08 May 2025
How to Participate
Submit your innovative solutions to be considered for:
Thematic Sessions - Present lightning talks on solutions aligned with specific SDGs.
Innovation Showcase - Display your solutions at the Forum and connect with attendees.
Innovation Roundtable - Engage substantively with global experts and thought leaders in scaling-up innovations and solutions.
Benefits of Participation
Global Exposure: Gain recognition from UN Member States, researchers, funders, and development organizations.
Networking Opportunities: Build relationships with collaborators, investors, and policymakers.
Knowledge Exchange: Contribute to shaping a collaborative approach to STI for SDGs.
How You Can Support the Call for Innovations
Submit Innovations: Share your ideas, solutions, or funded innovations to inspire global action.
Encourage Participation: Motivate innovators in your networks to submit their solutions.
Spread the Word: Amplify this opportunity within your community to help us discover and feature groundbreaking ideas.
Submission Platform
Submissions can be made through the Link.
This search for innovations serves as a collaborative hub for knowledge exchange, advancing sustainable development by highlighting good practices, building capacity, and showcasing scalable solutions for low-resource settings.
Join us in celebrating innovation that matters - submit your solutions today and help create a better future for all!
For more information, please check the Concept Note.
The Featured STI Forum Call for Innovations will be announced shortly.
The UN Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (IATT) is calling upon scientists, engineers, economists, policy analysts, and UN staff experts to contribute science-policy briefs on science and technology issues that they would like to bring to the attention of policy and decision makers. The briefs will provide background knowledge to inform the discussions at the Forum. Contributions are accepted in English and French.
The deadline has been extended! Please submit your abstracts and expressions of interest as soon as possible and no later than 28 February. Full draft submissions are due by 10 March 2025.
More details: Call for science-policy briefs for the STI Forum 2025 (English | Francais)
The 2025 STI Forum will be open to all those in possession of valid UN Grounds Passes for the UNHQ in New York.
Deadline for registration to other participants was 18 April 2025 - Registration is now closed. Confirmed registered participants will receive guidance from the Secretariat about how to pick up Special Events Tickets closer to the event.
For more information about the 2025 STI Forum, click here.
Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs, including visas. The United Nations does not charge a fee for participation in any of its official events.
Briefing to Member States and Stakeholders
3 March 2025, 3:00pm-4:00pm, CR 2, UN Headquarters, New York
The co-chairs of the 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals held a briefing for Member States and STI stakeholders on Monday, 3 March 2025, from 3 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Conference Room 2, UN HQ, New York.
The briefing was organized by DESA in collaboration with DGACM. The co-chairs, Ambassador Kalkku and Ambassador Hilale delivered introductory remarks. They highlighted opportunities for participation and contributions, including details on the ministerial session, thematic sessions, and side events. DESA ASG Hanif provided welcome remarks and moderated the session. A representative from the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) also provided an updated on preparations for the STI Action Day, which will take place on the margins of the STI Forum. Representatives from Member States, stakeholder groups, and the UN Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) on STI for the SDGs expressed their appreciation and support for the ongoing preparations for the Forum.
To learn more about the priorities for the 2025 STI Forum, please visit the following statements made during the briefing:
