Your Excellencies, Co-Chairs of the 6th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to welcome you to the ministerial session of the STI Forum 2021.
We meet after a year when COVID-19 compelled the deferral of the annual STI Forum. Yet, over this past year, it is the accelerated pace of STI itself, that has enabled humanity’s response to the global crisis.
We are still far from an equitable exit from the pandemic. And, we are still to find our way out of the on-going climate crisis. Yet, the STI holds the keys to both. Despite tragic impacts, these crises force us to rethink how we develop and apply STI to transform our world towards equity and sustainability.
The multi-stakeholder Technology Facilitation Mechanism – or TFM – serves as a catalyst for this purpose. I value the opportunity presented by its Forum to make a powerful contribution.
Despite limited resources, significant progress has been made towards the operationalization of the TFM. Our first and second group of ten experts appointed by the Secretary-General, have provided invaluable guidance. I look forward to welcoming and engaging with the third such group.
The 45-member United Nations Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs, has provided knowledge and expertise. This includes its substantial analytical and operational work, such as:
- STI roadmaps for the SDGs,
- capacity-building, and
- gender in the context of STI.
The on-line platform 2030 Connect links technology seekers with providers of technologies and other resources. It aims to function as a hub for connecting different open source databases. It continues to grow and will benefit from broader collaborations. Science and technology themselves are evolving rapidly, into exciting, but also uncharted waters.
‘Open science’ - as well as emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnologies and biotechnology – come with great promise. However, they also present challenges and concerns. Policy makers and stakeholders – including those driving such changes and those impacted by them - must engage and learn from each other. Collaborative dialogue can help channel these developments towards the benefit of all, and achievement of the SDGs.
I am pleased to note that these discussions have been occurring at the TFM since its inception. I look forward to its annual report on these matters, to be presented later today. I am also impressed with the innovations being presented at the exhibition and the range of side events under way.
Excellencies,
I look forward to the national experiences that will be presented, and to continuing our collective efforts to strengthen coordination related to science, technology and innovation.
Let us have no doubt that together we can make the 2030 Agenda a reality for all.
I thank you.