1340. International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South

Today, science, technology and innovation play an increasingly important role in all aspects of human life. As science and technology rapidly advance, some developing countries are seizing opportunities to leapfrog their development stages. However, for many other countries, this rapidly changing landscape poses significant challenges, particularly in the Global South, where governance issues and efforts to effectively innovate and adapt are prominent. Further complicating these challenges is the persistent disparity in technology access between developed and developing countries. This is primarily due to differences in technological capabilities and inadequate governance structures for widespread technology adoption.

The International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South, observed on September 16, provides an opportunity to reaffirm that promoting science, technology and innovation is essential not only to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring that "no one is left behind," but also to creating a more equitable, participatory, and inclusive world. In a world characterized by significant economic, social, and environmental polarization, and by widespread apathy in achieving the multilaterally agreed SDGs, achieving sustainable development is an increasingly challenging task for many developing countries

Meeting the SDGs by 2030 will require extensive research and development (R&D) efforts to address complex global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and pandemics.

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program