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STI Forum Action Day | 6 May

Action Day | 6 May

Date
6 May 2025
Venue
ECOSOC, United Nations Headquarters, New York
Mode
In-person & Virtual via UN Web TV

In-person registration is now closed. For virtual participation, please join online via the UN Web TV link above.

Context

The STI Forum is convened annually by the President of ECOSOC to foster global collaboration on science, technology, and innovation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2025 forum will be co-chaired by the Permanent Missions of Morocco and Finland to the UN. 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”.

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 under the theme Advancing the Global Digital Compact, 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.

Join high-level policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates in their discussion on the future of inclusive and responsible digital development.

Agenda

The Action Day programming for the main stage will consist of the below sessions:

10:00 – 10:20
Action Day Opening
Action Day is designed to launch STI Forum 2025 with a high-level, cross-sector dialogue that sets the tone for the week. The opening will introduce the topics of the Global Digital Compact and emphasize the relevance of international digital cooperation.

It will highlight key opportunities and challenges in translating global commitments into action, particularly in harnessing digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and open digital ecosystems to drive sustainable development.

Speakers:

  • H.E. Mrs. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Morocco
  • Baroness Beeban Kidron, Founder, 5Rights Foundation
  • Azeem Azhar, Founder, Exponential View
  • Maria Ressa, Founder, Rappler
10:20 – 10:50
Implementing the Global Digital Compact – Fireside Chat
The fireside chat will feature the UN Tech Envoy in conversation with a Youth Representative and a young technology leader from the UN system. Starting with the vision set forth in the Pact for the Future and its two annexes, they will discuss the potential of digital and emerging technologies to contribute to the goals and priorities set by Member States as well as the innovative partnerships and approaches needed to achieve them.

Speakers:

  • Amandeep Singh Gill, Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies
  • Carolina Rojas, Youth Representative, UN Major Group for Children & Youth
  • Avishan Bodjnoud, Chief, Information Management Officer – United Nations, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO)
10:50 – 11:50
Implementing the Global Digital Compact – Panel
The high-level Panel is designed to kick-start a multistakeholder dialogue on how we can work together towards its goals. It will focus on how Governments, the private sector, and all stakeholders can contribute, collaborate, and stay informed about how implementation develops.

Speakers:

  • Anna Karin Eneström, Special Advisor on Digitalization in the Office of the President of the General Assembly (Moderator)
  • H.E. Mr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of Zambia to the UN
  • Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union
  • Whitney Baird, CEO, U.S. Council for International Business
  • Subho Mukherjee, Vice President & Global Head of Sustainability, Nokia
  • Natasha Crampton, Vice President, Chief Responsible AI Officer, Microsoft
12:00 – 13:00
Governing Data for AI: Reimagining the Global Digital Economy
As the Global Digital Compact (GDC) moves into implementation, this session will bring together leading implementers and multistakeholder partners to discuss the role of data governance for an innovative and equitable digital economy. The session will discuss the role of cross-border flows, interoperability, responsible data use, privacy, and how to ensure that countries are not just data providers but also benefit from the broader digital transformation.

Speakers:

  • Claire Melamed, CEO, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (Moderator)
  • Allison Gillwald, Executive Director, Research ICT Africa
  • Bruno Bioni, Founder, Privacy Brasil
  • Peter Major, Vice Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UN CSTD)
  • Abdulrahman Habib, Vice President of the Strategy Management Office at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)

Learn more about the Special Meeting of the Economic and Social Council on Artificial Intelligence (AI), taking place in the afternoon from 15:00 – 18:00.

Objective

The STI Forum 2025 is the first forum since the adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). With a strong mandate, the STI Forum is an ideal occasion to discuss the GDC’s implementation. The UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies’ (ODET) active curation of the STI Action Day will closely link the implementation of the Global Digital Compact with the STI Forum.

Attending the STI Forum on 7–8 May?

Learn more about the STI Forum