The document discusses priorities and imperatives for harnessing science, technology, and innovation (STI) to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It identifies the need for visionary leadership, integrated policies across sectors, institutions and infrastructure to support ideas, nurturing talent through education, investment, and international collaboration. Specifically, it calls for inclusive innovation that includes marginalized groups and open innovation through collaboration and sharing. The document concludes by praising Sri Lanka's leadership and role in knowledge sharing, and the UN's commitment to supporting countries in harnessing STI for the SDGs.

1. STI Imperatives for the SDGs
Jonathan Wong
Regional Adviser on Science, Technology & Innovation
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific
Twitter: @UN_JonathanWong

5. Priorities for harnessing STI for
sustainable development
• Visionary leadership
• Policies for economy, society and environment
• Institutions and infrastructure
• Nurturing talent
• Investment
• International collaboration
• Inclusive innovation
• Open innovation

6. • Committed leadership at the highest level
• Whole of government approach
• Integrated policies

9. • Institutions that support
ideas from lab to use
• Internet connectivity
• Corporate law and IP

10. • Scientific education for all
• Digital skills
• Nurture scientists and entrepreneurs
• Challenge-driven universities

13. • Encourage movement of students, scientists,
engineers and other professionals
• Promote sharing of technical knowledge
• Pooled investment funds

14. Innovation platforms for
collaboration

15. Inclusive Innovation
Inclusion of marginalized people in the innovation
process, and the development of products and services
for marginalized people

17. Open innovation
Open innovation describes the process of harnessing
the distributed and collective intelligence of the crowd.
It is based on a number of principles, including
collaboration, sharing, self organization,
decentralization, transparency of process and plurality
of participants.

20. Concluding Points
• Sri Lanka has shown visionary leadership through this Forum and
demonstrated an openness to international knowledge sharing and
collaboration.
• There is an opportunity for countries around the world to learn from the
Sri Lanka experience.
• Our role at the United Nations is to surface innovative practice in the
pursuit of the SDGs.
• Member States in the Asia-Pacific region have established a STI
Committee as a platform for governments to facilitate knowledge-sharing
and collaboration in the region.
• Sri Lanka will play a prominent role at this inaugural Committee.
• We look forward to supporting Sri Lanka on this journey, and sharing Sri
Lanka best practices to support governments around the world to harness
STI for the SDGs.

21. Thank You
Email: jwong@un.org
Twitter: @UN_JonathanWong