The 11th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) took place from 06-07 May 2026 in a hybrid format at the UN headquarters in New York. It focused on the role and contributions of science, technology and innovation to the achievement of the UN SDG under the theme of “Transformative, equitable and coordinated science, technology and innovation for the 2030 Agenda and a sustainable future for all.”
With the goal of bringing into the dialogue current activities, practical approaches and solutions that can help to advance the SDGs, including SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, IEEE hosted a side event entitled “Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future: From Innovation to Practical Implementation”. This hybrid session convened global experts Mary Ellen Randall, IEEE President, who provided virtual opening remarks; Jill Gostin, IEEE 2026 President-Elect provided the Keynote address where she addressed the importance of collaboration to turn innovation into something tangible, scalable, and impactful in the real world. She also noted that standards are enablers, they help improve planning and investment decisions, strengthen procurement processes, ensure interoperability, and reduce risk while accelerating deployment.
Dr. Carl Gahnberg, Director, Policy Development and Research, Internet Society; Nicos Ioannou, Electronic Communications Engineer, Department of Electronic Communications, Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy – Cyprus; and Dr. Sajith Wijesuriya, Chair, IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Young Professionals Advisory Council. Moderated by Dr. Paulina Chan, Chair, Collaboration and Engagement Committee, IEEE, successful examples were shared on how to connect the unconnected.
The session examined how resilient infrastructure can be strengthened through shared approaches for safety, performance, and cybersecurity-by-design. It highlighted how collaborative approaches can help align deployments with public-interest outcomes, including reliable services, inclusive access, sustainability, and how standards-informed approaches can improve planning, investments and procurement decisions so infrastructure remains scalable, maintainable and future-proof.
Outcomes included a concise set of implementation readiness takeaways, with practical actions to inspire and align pragmatic efforts with measurable results. The takeaways emphasized how progress on SDG 9 acts as an enabler for energy access and sustainable, resilient urban systems, illustrating how coordinated infrastructure and industrial innovation can accelerate multiple goals across the 2030 Agenda.
Panelists underscored the critical role of standardization and community-centered connectivity – networks built by and for local communities – as a proven path in achieving sustainable connectivity and connecting the unconnected.
Cyprus illustrated its goal to achieve 100% gigabit and 5G network coverage by 2026 through strategic investments in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure and connectivity voucher schemes to ensure nationwide high-speed access. This roadmap prioritizes digital inclusion and transformation by aiming for 100% online public services, enhancing citizens’ digital skills, and fostering SME innovation to align with the European Union’s Digital Decade 2030.
Discussants also explored how future energy practitioners must evolve beyond traditional technical roles by mastering digital fluency, resilient design, and systems thinking to directly support SDG 9. It outlined actionable strategies to equip the workforce to drive sustainable industrialization, foster innovation, and build resilient infrastructure.
To watch the session recording and view the presentations, please see the session page.
