From May 7 to 8, pioneering scientists and innovators from around the world descended upon New York for the UN’s 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum). The forum was convened by Bob Rae, president of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and organized by the UN Inter-agency Task Team on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the SDGs (IATT). Dr. Cai Bin, chief representative of the International Mayors Communication Centre (IMCC) in New York, attended the opening and ministerial sessions of the forum.

ECOSOC President Bob Rae delivers opening remarks.

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed delivers video remarks.

Li Junhua, United Nations under-Secretary-general for economic and social affairs, delivers video remarks.

United Nations General Assembly President Philémon Yang delivers a speech at the ministerial session.

The theme of this forum is: Advancing sustainable, inclusive and evidence-based science and technology solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind.

The “fireside chat” at the opening session reflects on STI progress made over the past 10 years and how to turbocharge STI for SDG delivery.

A scene of the ministerial session. (Photo: Cai Bin)

Since its inception in 2016, the STI Forum has helped surface and scale innovative solutions, and has become the UN’s principal multi-stakeholder hub for bridging science and policy to achieve humanity’s goals and aspirations.

The STI Forum is the flagship annual event of the UN’s Technology Facilitation Mechanism. The mechanism’s Inter-agency Task Team now spans 51 UN entities working collaboratively, among others, on capacity-building, including national science and technology roadmaps, and analysis of frontier science and technology developments. Convening technologists, policymakers and financiers in one space, the STI Forum operates as a connector, incubator and catalyst, and fosters integrated solutions, like financing mechanisms to support community-driven tech innovations or blended finance for climate-smart infrastructure.

Dr. Cai Bin, chief representative of the IMCC in New York, attends this year’s forum.

In recent years, the IMCC has actively participated in the STI Forum and related activities, followed the latest developments in sustainable development, and promoted relevant experiences and achievements.

In March 2019, the IMCC submitted the “Open Green City Laboratory” (OGCLab) to the STI Forum as an innovative solution, introducing the innovative achievements of China and Shenzhen to the world and enhancing China’s participation in this event. (Previously, the themed webpages in 2018 showed a total of 190 projects participating in the solicitation, and only four of the projects were implemented in China.)

The pages of the OGCLab among the themed webpages of the 2019 STI Forum’s innovation program collection activity.

During the seventh STI Forum in May 2022, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs authorized the IMCC to host the online parallel forum of “SDG 4: Quality Education.”

In May 2024, Dr. Cai Bin, chief representative of the IMCC in New York, attended the ninth STI Forum and promoted “Pachauri Tea” at the venue. This is a series of tea drinks launched by the IMCC, which uses biodegradable food packaging materials and can be refilled. The tea has been provided to public utilities such as governments, schools, and hospitals, and has been well received.

In the future, the IMCC will continue to move forward on the path of promoting sustainable development, making use of its advantages and extensive resources to share China’s experience and Shenzhen’s story with the world.