G-STIC pre-event during the STI FORUM, 5 May 2022

Accelerating technological solutions for the SDGs

The transition to a sustainable society in line with the SDGs requires a shift in the global economy to one that prioritises sustainable development and investments. This can be done by deploying at scale the best available, transformative and innovative integrated technological solutions.

Agenda 2030 requires new ways of doing business that makes full use of technology. All over the world, technological innovations exist that are helping countries to build back better after the devastation caused by the COVID-19 crisis. These technologies are advancing the implementation of the SDGs by utilizing big data, artificial intelligence, and 3D-printing, for instance, to help improve wastewater treatment, desalination, mining, and carbon capture.

The G-STIC Pre-Event held during the 7th UN STI Forum (Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals) showcased some market-ready technologies as examples of practical ways to help societies and economies move onto more sustainable development paths.

How do we respond to the crisis and seize the opportunity to support SDG acceleration? What are the key attributes of the transformational innovation system needed to reach the SDGs?

For answers to these questions we turned to Paulo Gadelha (former President & Coordinator Strategy for 2030 Agenda, Fiocruz), Dirk Fransaer (Managing Director, VITO), Vibha Dhawan (Director General, TERI), Thulani Dlamini (Chief Executive Officer, CSIR) and Dietrich Van der Weken (General Manager, G-STIC). Rewatch the session.