
- Introduction
- STI Forum
- Online platform
- UN Interagency Task Team
- 10-Member Group
- News & Events
- Background
As requested by the General Assembly resolution 70/1 on 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the President of ECOSOC will convene the meetings of the STI forum once a year to discuss science, technology and innovation cooperation around thematic areas for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The General Assembly also decided that the meetings of the forum will be co-chaired by two Member States and will result in a summary of discussions elaborated by the two co-Chairs.
- Be used to establish a comprehensive mapping of, and serve as a gateway for, information on existing science, technology and innovation initiatives, mechanisms and programmes, within and beyond the United Nations
- Facilitate access to information, knowledge and experience, as well as best practices and lessons learned, on science, technology and innovation facilitation initiatives and policies
- Facilitate the dissemination of relevant open access scientific publications generated worldwide.
As mandated by the 2030 Agenda, the online platform “will be developed on the basis of an independent technical assessment, which will take into account best practices and lessons learned from other initiatives, within and beyond the United Nations, in order to ensure that it will complement, facilitate access to and provide adequate information on existing science, technology and innovation platforms, avoiding duplications and enhancing synergies.”
The Interagency task team on STI for the SDGs (“IATT”) and the 10-Member Group of representatives from civil society, the private sector and the scientific community in support of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (“10-Member Group”) undertook consultations and developed Terms of Reference for the independent technical assessment.
The Terms of Reference noted the IATT’s initial mapping of existing STI initiatives within the UN system (undertaken by IATT) and the development of three broad options for an online platform - with low, medium and high levels of ambition. It called for an independent technical assessment to serve as the basis for the development of the online platform. The assessment was to include sections on (a) architecture, functional requirements and user group; (b) stocktaking, benchmarking, best practices, and lessons learned from existing relevant online platforms, within and beyond the UN system; (c) recommendations on management and governance structure and regular quality control of the platform; and (d) assessment of the benefits and financial costs.
Following an open call, experts from the Institutes of Science and Development of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; the Overseas Development Institute, UK; and of DNV GL, the Netherlands, prepared the mandated independent assessment of the online platform. The final report is a consolidated version of the three reports with a joint summary.
The 10-Member Group examined the assessment report and found it a useful basis for further discussion and action. It should be noted that while Members of the Group agree with a number of important suggestions made in the assessment, there remains a diversity of perspectives on a number of points in the report.
It is therefore important to note that the views expressed in the assessment report do not necessarily represent the views held or endorsed by the 10-Member Group, the UN interagency task team on STI for the SDGs, nor those of the institutions they represent.
Independent assessment report on the TFM online platform (PDF)
We invite detailed comments, feedback, and suggestions for how best to move forward with the online platform as mandated by the 2030 Agenda. In particular, please let us know, if you are interested to partner with and contribute to the actual development of the online platform and if so, what role you see yourself playing. Please contact us here before August 31st, 2017.
- First Meeting of the 10-Member Group to Support the TFM with the UN Inter-agency Task Team on STI for the SDGs (IATT)
- Terms of reference
Mr. Peter Bakker (Netherlands), President and CEO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Prof. Elmer William Jr Colglazier (USA), Senior Scholar, Visiting Scientist, Center for Science Diplomacy, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Dr. Myrna Cunningham (Nicaragua), President, Center for Autonomy and Development of Indigenous Peoples (CADPI)

Ms. Elenita Daño (Philippines), Asia Director, Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC Group)

Prof. Xiaolan Fu (UK), Director, Technology and Management Centre for Development, Oxford University

Dr. Paulo Gadelha (Brazil), President, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz)

Dr. Heide Hackmann (South Africa), Executive Director, International Council for Science (ICSU)

Mr. George Essegbey (Ghana), Director of the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI) of the Council of Science and Industrial Research

Prof. Nebojsa Nakicenovic (Austria), Deputy Director General and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA)

Dr. Hayat Sindi (Saudi Arabia), Founder and President, Institute for Imagination and Ingenuity (i2institute)

- Terms of Reference for the UN Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (Adopted on 22 October 2015)
- Background Paper 1 - An Overview of the UN Technology Initiatives
- Background Paper 2 - Options of An Online Platform of a Technology Facilitation Mechanism
- Background Paper 3 - Landscape of Science, Technology and Innovation initiatives for the SDGs
- Work Stream 1: Establishment and management of the Interagency Task Team
- Work Stream 2: Group of 10 representatives of civil society, private sector and science (“10-Member Group”)
- Work Stream 3: Collaborative, multi-stakeholder forum on STI for the SDGs
- Work Stream 4: Online Platform
- Work Stream 5: Mapping of STI initiatives, background research and reports in support of the TFM activities
- Work Stream 6: UN capacity building programme on technology facilitation for SDGs
- Work Stream 7: Partnerships and fund raising
- Work Stream A: Gender and STI
- Work Stream B: STI policy frameworks, action plan and roadmaps
- Work Stream C: Analytical work on emerging technologies and the SDGs
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) (Coordinator)
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (Coordinator)
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- International Trade Centre (ITC)
- United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Africa (UNESCWA)
- United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- United Nations Global Pulse
- United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHabitat)
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
- United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
- United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
- United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
- United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS)
- United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology (UNOICT)
- United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
- United Nations University - MERIT
- United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
- World Bank Group
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
Division for Sustainable Development | Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Address: United Nations Secretariat Building, Room S-2660, New York, NY 10017, USA

Chief, Policy Review Section
Officer-in-Charge, Science and Technology Section
Science, Technology, and ICT Branch
Division on Technology and Logistics
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Palais des Nations, E 7058 | 1211 Geneva 10 | Switzerland


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A United Nations Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (IATT), including the 10-Member Group of representatives from civil society, the private sector and the scientific community |
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A collaborative Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) |
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An online platform as a gateway for information on existing STI initiatives, mechanisms and programs |
- 29 Jan 2018: Briefing on the Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum 2018) @ Conference Room 3, UNHQ, New York
- 29 Nov-1 Dec 2017: Workshop on Science, Technology and Innovation for SDGs
- 4 - 7 Dec 2017: High-level Study Visit to China on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs
- 18 - 19 Nov 2017: High-level Conference on Financing for Development and the Means of Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Co-organized by FfDO)
- 15-16 May 2017: 2nd STI Forum, New York (IATT)
- 08-12 May 2017: Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Twentieth Session (UNCTAD)
- 23 - 25 January 2017: CSTD inter-sessional panel, Geneva, Switzerland (UNCTAD)
- March 2017: Meeting of foundations and other STI funders, New York (ICSU, DESA)
- March 2017: Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation for advancing the Agenda 2030 with focus on health, Rio de Janeiro (Fiocruz)
- March 2017: Technology roadmaps for the SDGs, Vienna, Austria (DESA, UNEP, IIASA and 10-MG)
- 1-30 January 2017: UNIDO-UNEP Climate Technology Centre and Network Regional (CTCN) Forum, Caribbean
- 25-26 January 2017: Expert Group Meeting for the 10-Member Group on Preparing for the 2017 STI Forum and the online platform assessment, Paris, France (ICSU, DESA and UNEP)
- 27-30 March 2017: Global Manufacturing & Industrialization Summit, Paris-Sorbonne University, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- January – March 2017: UNIDO-UNEP 5th Global Network Conference on Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production
- the mapping of existing the technology facilitation initiatives including support for policy formulation and strengthening of technological capabilities and innovation systems;
- identifying areas of synergy and areas of possible cooperation within the UN system on technology-related work;
- developing options for a possible online knowledge hub and information-sharing platform; and
- cooperating with relevant stakeholders on building STI capacity building.
- ECA - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- ECE - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- ECLAC - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- ESCAP - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- ESCWA - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- IAEA - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- IMO - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- ITU - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- UN Women - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- UNCTAD - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- UNDP - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- UNEP - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- UNFCCC - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- UNIDO - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism
- WTO - Options for a technology facilitation mechanism