2 June 2016: The Chair of the 19th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) has highlighted priority considerations that policy-makers should address regarding science, technology and innovation (STI) in order to make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Chair’s summary is provided in a note from the UN Secretary-General (E/2016/74), and is a contribution to the 2016 session of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High-Level Segment, on ‘Implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Moving from Commitments to Results.’

The CSTD took place from 9-13 May 2016, in Geneva, Switzerland. The summary from CSTD 19 Chair Peter Major (Hungary) reflects discussions at a ministerial roundtable on the theme of the ECOSOC 2016 session, and during two panel discussions on ‘Smart cities and infrastructure’ and ‘Foresight for digital development.’

The suggested priority considerations for STI are: nationalizing and contextualizing the SDGs; bridging technological and digital divides; building capacity in basic science and promoting a culture of innovation; increasing financial investment and strengthening complementary infrastructure to promote STI; exploring the gender dimensions of the SDGs; making sustainable urbanization a key agenda for the local STI community; using technology foresight effectively to maximize benefits and minimize the risk of technology; promoting new models of collaboration in STI; fully exploiting synergies between all UN efforts relating STI; and improving the science- policy interface.

The summary outlines ways to bridge the technological divide within and between countries, including: strengthening human resources with required skills, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); strengthening intellectual property rights (IPR); and enabling affordable access to “high impact” technology for developing countries, through international collaborations. It notes that several countries reported on their efforts to strengthen STI capacities. In this regard, Ethiopia conducted a research, development and innovation survey at the national level to identify and address national STI capacity gaps, and Sri Lanka plans to set up a national biotechnology laboratory to support the biotechnology innovation ecosystem of the country.

Participants also highlighted the need to earmark and direct funding towards developing technological capacity that would have a strong impact on sustainable development. For instance, Morocco reported on recent efforts to boost clean alternative energy technologies, especially solar energy, with the aim of having 40% of Morocco’s energy use provided by solar energy in the near future, the summary notes.

The summary also notes a call for innovative models for collaboration in STI. Participants highlighted some examples of new models of partnerships, such as the US Global Connect multi-stakeholder partnership, a collaborative effort between 30 developed and developing countries and leading technology firms to double public and private funding for connectivity, with the aim of connecting 1.5 billion people by 2020. According to the summary, there was also a general call for collaboration and cooperation between the CSTD and the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), which was officially launched in UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution 70/1 in September 2015, and to minimize the risk of duplication or overlap.

The CSTD is a subsidiary body of ECOSOC, which provides high-level advice on relevant science and technology issues to the UNGA and ECOSOC. The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is responsible for the substantive servicing of the Commission. [UN Secretary-General Note on CSTD 19 Chair Summary] [CSTD 19 Webpage] [IISD RS Story on CSTD 18] [IISD RS Coverage of STI Forum]