12 July 2016
STI Forum Co-Chairs’ Summary Highlights Opportunities to Enable SDGs
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The first annual Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI Forum) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) called for strengthening efforts to create innovative knowledge societies, advance STI policy coherence to enable technology development and diffusion, and support social technologies that are critical for changing mindsets and behaviors and helping those left behind, according to the Co-Chairs' Summary.

tfm22 June 2016: The first annual Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI Forum) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) called for strengthening efforts to create innovative knowledge societies, advance STI policy coherence to enable technology development and diffusion, and support social technologies that are critical for changing mindsets and behaviors and helping those left behind, according to the Co-Chairs’ Summary.

Over 600 participants representing 81 governments and including 350 scientists, entrepreneurs, technology specialists, and civil society representatives attended the Forum, which convened from 6-7 June 2016, at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on the topic of “realizing the potential of science, technology and innovation for all to achieve the SDGs.” Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya, and Vaughan Turekian, Science and Technology Adviser to the US Secretary of State, co-chaired the Forum.

The Co-Chairs’ Summary presents highlights of the discussions on: mobilizing science, technology and innovation for the SDGs; inclusive technology for leaving no one behind; striking the right balance between hard and soft technologies; strengthening STI capacity, STI literacy and human skills; enhancing STI policy coherence; STI action plans and technology roadmaps; creating robust science advisory ecosystems at all levels; using ICT tools, forums and platforms to support STI; and international cooperation.

On recommendations, the Summary discusses the Forum’s opportunity to strengthen dialogue between stakeholders and governments, and to promote a conducive environment for sharing and exchanging ideas and success stories, suggesting new initiatives and partnerships, and identifying practical means and solutions to foster STI in all countries. It calls for the Forum to consider various sources of knowledge, including indigenous knowledge, and provide concrete, practical guidance on how to make STI for the SDGs a reality. The Summary suggests that the Forum take inspiration from the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). Additional recommendations address: promoting networking and matchmaking; the STI Forum as a catalyst for multi-stakeholder partnerships; and making future STI Forums work cumulatively over the next 14 years.

Participants also considered the purpose of the STI Forum itself, and how it can fulfill its purpose in the future. Some called for the Forum to consider technology transfer issues and bridging technological divides, while others looked forward to “collective learning” around knowledge and STI. Several participants stressed the Forum’s role as a platform for communities to identify needs for STI to better support sustainable development, and to raise concerns about technology’s applications. Some suggested the next STI Forum work in a cumulative manner, building on the knowledge gathered at this session, and proposed intersessional activities.

The STI Forum is a component of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Other components of the TFM are the Inter-Agency Task Team on STI for SDGs (IATT), a 10-Member Group, and an online platform. The 10-Member Group was appointed in January 2016 to work with the IATT to prepare for the STI Forum, and to develop and operationalize the TFM’s online platform, among other tasks.

The Co-Chairs’ Summary is expected to be presented to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which is convening in New York, US, from 11-20 July 2016. [Co-Chairs’ Summary] [IISD RS Coverage of STI Forum] [STI Forum Website] [HLPF Website] [IISD RS Coverage of HLPF 2016]


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