The 11th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) was held 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 Sustainable Development Goals under the theme of “Transformative, equitable and coordinated science, technology and innovation for the 2030 Agenda and a sustainable future for all.”
IEEE was involved in two sessions at this year’s UN STI Forum showcasing current activities that can help to advance SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
05 May 2026 | 08:00-10:00 EDT/12:00-14:00 UTC
Scalable Digital Infrastructure: Community Networks, Local Language AI, and Standards-Based Innovation - The Path to SDG Implementation
Reliable digital infrastructure is essential to achieving the 2030 Agenda, yet many communities remain underserved due to cost, limited capacity, and a lack of locally relevant services. This session will highlight practical, scalable pathways that combine community-led infrastructure, local-language AI, and standards-based innovation to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation.
06 May 2026 | 13:15-14:45 EDT/17:15-18:45 UTC
Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future: From Innovation to Practical Implementation
The session will examine how resilient infrastructure can be strengthened through shared approaches for safety, performance, and cybersecurity-by-design. This focus directly advances the Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG9)’s call for infrastructure that is both robust and future-ready, capable of resisting climate pressures, evolving cyber threats, and rapidly shifting demand profiles.
