To be effective, the online platform for Global Technology Facilitation (GTF Hub) will be implemented as a part of a newly established technology facilitation mechanism will need to have clear objectives, structural components that adequately serve its aims and objectives, be visually attractive and user-friendly, with effective governance arrangements. It should connect individuals, communities, networks, and organizations and provide tools to mobilize joint knowledge and resources. It should take into account emerging/established trends such as openness, mobility, cloud, social networks, and data. It should build upon existing initiatives and efforts in this emerging field, avoid duplication, and build direct linkages to the sustainable development goals and post-2015 development agenda.

The purpose of this background note is mainly to serve as a reference for internal discussions within the UN interagency task team on science, technology and innovation (STI) for the SDGs, in order to define the parameters of the online platform and formulate ideas for the building blocks of an online knowledge hub and information-sharing platform. In addition, the background note will serve as an initial reference to the preliminary work on independent technical assessment for the online platform. It highlighted that mapping, searching, information repository, and connecting disparate areas of STI-related applications and projects towards SDGs are key functionalities to engage stakeholders from the UN, civil society, the private sector, and the scientific community through an online platform.

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