A Facebook Live session on “What do frontier technologies mean for people, planet and prosperity?” was held on 1 November 2018 at 12 noon EDT, hosted by DESA Communications Officer Helen Rosengren on DESA’s Facebook page.  Mr. Elliott Harris, United Nations Chief Economist and Assistant-Secretary-General for Economic Development and Mariangela Parra-Lancourt, Senior Economic Affairs Officer in the Development Research Branch, expounded on the recent findings of the World Economic and Social Survey 2018, highlighting how frontier technologies are helping to achieve sustainable development.

Mr. Harris discussed frontier technologies in general, how these technologies are deeply interconnected and interdependent, as advances in one are likely to impact many others.  He also discussed the challenges in harnessing the benefits of these technologies for all, while giving everyone the opportunity not only to cope with its side-effects, but to thrive. The online panel also discussed the imperative of bridging the technological divide through active national innovation systems.