Web Desk: Monday is the first-ever International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South.
Science, technology and innovation are key to achieving the Global Goals and a fairer, more inclusive world.
Yet, many countries still face significant gaps and access challenges in these fields, underscoring the need for global solidarity and investment in equitable solutions.
For most developing countries, achieving sustainable development has become an increasingly difficult task in a world marked by economic, social, and environmental polarization, and widespread indifference to meeting the multilaterally agreed SDGs. The growing gap between political rhetoric and reality in international forums further complicates this challenge.
During the Summit on Science, Technology, and Innovation, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2023, the leaders of the G77 and China agreed to designate September 16 as the International Day of Science, Technology, and Innovation for the South. The summit’s Havana Declaration on Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation highlights the essential role of STI in tackling development challenges by fostering better cooperation, fair access to technology, and the responsible use of scientific innovations.
On 9 January 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/78/259, officially proclaiming September 16th as the International Day of Science, Technology, and Innovation for the South. The resolution underscores the importance of leveraging scientific and technological achievements for sustainable development, aligning with the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the SDGs.
The resolution also invites UN member states, specialized agencies, international organizations, academia, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders to observe this International Day. It encourages them to present “initiatives, including cooperation projects in the areas of science, technology and innovation that contribute to the development of developing countries in those fields.”
Did you know?
Achieving the SDGs by 2030 requires extensive research and development (R&D) efforts to address complex global challenges, such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and pandemics.
Despite global R&D spending rising to about $2.5 trillion in 2022, investment remains concentrated in developed countries and China, with limited resources allocated to the Global South.
High-income countries make up 77% of global R&D spending, while low-income countries contribute just 0.3%. In reality, R&D is even more concentrated in a few countries.
In 2022, high-income countries had 59 times more health researchers than low-income countries, and only 0.2% of health research grants went to the latter. Moreover, only less than 0.5% of health products were for WHO neglected tropical diseases.
