Context:
Innovation is critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing new solutions and approaches to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Platforms and partnerships are essential in facilitating and scaling these innovations across various thematic areas of the SDGs. In light of these challenges, the urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions becomes apparent.
This side event seeks to explore how innovations, innovation ecosystems, and effective partnerships can serve as catalysts for positive change. By embracing these possibilities, countries and communities can overcome their unique obstacles and emerge as dynamic contributors to the global economy, accelerating our progress toward achieving sustainable development and prosperity.
Objectives:
- Addressing the challenges that impede the progress of the SDGs through fostering a culture of innovation across all sectors and ensuring no one is left behind.
- Showcasing how innovative approaches can reinvigorate efforts towards the SDGs, by demonstrating tangible examples where innovation has led to significant advancements.
- Sharing experiences and best practices of successful platforms and partnerships that have unlocked innovation for sustainable development.
- Fostering Collaboration among stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society.
Focus Areas:
- Innovation as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development: Explore the critical role of innovation in driving sustainable development, providing new solutions to address complex challenges and improve quality of life in areas such as food security, sustainable oceans, and energy.
- Effective Partnerships: Showcase examples of successful partnerships that have driven innovation and discuss how multi-stakeholder collaboration can be enhanced to achieve the SDGs.
- Role of Platforms in Innovation: Highlight the significance of collaborative platforms in driving
- innovation, sharing knowledge, and scaling up successful initiatives across different sectors.
- Innovation Ecosystems: Investigate the critical role of innovative ecosystems in fostering new ideas and solutions and discuss strategies to support and nurture these ecosystems.
Format:
This 75-minute side event will feature a mix of panel discussions, interactive Q&A sessions, presentations showcasing successful case studies and announcement of the winners for the UpLink innovation challenge. It will be open to all registered participants, offering both in-person attendance at the venue and virtual participation options.
Panelists:
- Ms. Hajar Algosair, General Supervisor of the Assistant Deputyship for Sustainable Development Affairs from the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning
- Prof. Carlos Duarte, Chief Scientist from WAVE (Powered By FII)
- Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
- Mr. John Dutton, Head of UpLink and Member of the Executive Committee for the World Economic Forum
- Mr. Julius N. Hill, Senior Partner and Sector, Leader for International Development Organizations (IDO) at Deloitte
- Mr. Abdulrahman Alzamil, General Manager of Sustainable Enablement for the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning