Joint session on Frontier Science around the UN Forum on Science, Technology & Innovation for SDGs

The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the United Nations (UN) in New York, the European Research Council (ERC) and the International Science Council (ISC) are jointly organising a side event around the UN Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology & Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum on STGs). The hybrid session “Frontier Science for the SDGs: Turning Breakthrough Research into Global Action through the GSDR 2027” – will take place on 6 May at 8.15 EST -  that is at 14.15 CET - at the EU Delegation in New York City. (See below how to join online.)

Amongst the speakers are the ERC President and several ERC Grantees, the EU Ambassador to the UN, the ISC President-elect, the GSDR Independent Group of Scientists, and the UN of Ten High-level Representatives to Promote Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs who will give their insights on the role of frontier research in enabling systemic transformation pathways for sustainable development.

This will be followed by an interactive dialogue with participants from academia, the UN, civil society, and youth and innovation organisations.

Background:

With 2030 approaching rapidly, the international community has a final window to accelerate SDG-based systems transformation. The UN Global Sustainable Development Report (UN GSDR) serves as the UN’s scientific assessment on sustainable development and provides key scientific input to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The 2027 UN GSDR currently being drafted will provide evidence-based policy guidance for integrated action and increased accountability, that will accelerate progress and lay the foundations for sustained action beyond 2030.

This session will highlight concrete examples of frontier research breakthroughs, innovations and technologies that support the implementation of SDGs, especially SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17. The discussion will show how transformation pathways based on scientific insights, co-designed with stakeholders and supported by blended finance, can translate public goals into investable projects, long-term sustainability needs into fund-compatible assets, and existing risks into risks that are effectively priced and allocated.

Registration is required both for in person and online participation. (A confirmation will be sent by email, along with the connection details for those joining remotely.)

Agenda:

08:15 Welcome by H.E. Mr Renaud Savignat – EU Ambassador to ECOSOC and Head of the Section for Sustainable Development and International Partnerships EU Delegation to the UN 

08:20 Opening remarks by Prof. Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council

08:25 Opening remarks by Prof. Robbert Dijkgraaf, President-elect of the International Science Council 

08:30-09:00 Presentations by researchers

• Prof. Phoebe Koundouri – ERC Grantee and Ambassador to the ERC;  Athens University of Economics and Business and the University of Cambridge; Co-Chair, UN Global Sustainable Development Report 2027
• Prof. Joyeeta Gupta – ERC grantee, University of Amsterdam; Co-chair, UN 10-Member Group for the Technology Facilitation Mechanism
• Prof. Vanesa Castán Broto –  ERC Grantee, University of Sheffield; Member of the Independent Group of Scientists for the UN Global Sustainable Development Report 2027
• Guillaume Lafortune – Vice President and Head of the Paris Office, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) (online)

09:00-09:30 Discussion