The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the ninth of which is "Industry, innovation and infrastructure", namely: build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. 

Under this major goal, there are eight targets, the seventh of which is "Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities".

● Current Situation

About the World

R&D Expenditure in Developing Countries Relatively Low

There is a fear that the widespread adoption of frontier technologies in developed countries will reduce the labour-cost competitiveness of today’s less industrialized economies in Asia and Africa, increase the technological gaps between them and developed countries – make it more difficult to catch up, diversify their economies, and create jobs. 

Photo source: baidu.com

Most developing countries have increased their R&D expenditures, but these are still relatively low. The African Union, for example, has established a target of one per cent of GDP, but on average sub-Saharan African countries are still at 0.38 per cent. There is very little private funding of industrial technologies for productive applications.

Text source: Technology and Innovation Report 2021

About China

Developing International Technical Collaboration

Photo source: news.cn

Helping other developing countries to pursue the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a key goal for China. From 2013 to 2018, China has completed a total of 414 technical cooperation projects in 95 countries and regions, mainly involving industrial production and management, agricultural planting and breeding, cultural education, sports training, medical care, clean energy development, planning consulting and other fields.

Text source: China’s International Development Cooperation in the New Era

●  Cases

About the World

UNCTAD

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is a United Nations agency mandated to assist developing countries, including African Member States, in using international trade and its interrelated fields, such as science, technology and innovation, development financing and investment, as a means to achieve sustainable development and sustainable development goals.

Through its long-term science, technology and innovation policy review programme, UNCTAD helps countries formulate science, technology and innovation policies consistent with sustainable development goals. For example, from November to December 2020, Angolan government officials participated in a series of online pilot training courses jointly organized by UNCTAD and the United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization under the inter agency task force on technology promotion mechanisms. The young women scientists programme was launched in November 2020 by UNCTAD and Okayama University in Japan, focusing on Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia and Madagascar.

Text and photo source: unctad.gov

UK Newton Fund

The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to support economic development and social welfare, tackle global challenges and develop talent and careers.

It does this through equitable partnerships with middle-income countries, multidisciplinary research based on agreed national strategies and nurturing talent and careers with capacity development.

Text and photo source: newton-gcrf.org

About China

China-Africa Innovation Cooperation Center 

On February 18, 2021, the China-Africa Innovation Cooperation Center was unveiled in Wuhan. It is the only national international regional innovation cooperation platform for Africa jointly built by the Ministry of Science and Technology and provincial governments. At present, the China-Africa Innovation Cooperation Center is committed to promoting technology transfer and innovation and entrepreneurship cooperation in key areas such as optoelectronic information, space technology, health care, agriculture, resources and environment, energy, and strive to provide a platform for China Africa scientific and technological innovation cooperation, investment in capacity upgrading and youth talent exchange.

Photo source: sina.com

On December 12, 2021, the China-Africa Innovation Cooperation Conference was held in Wuhan. The whole industrial chain cooperation between China and Africa, from basic research to technology application, from education and training to cultural exchange, provides continuous support for the economic and social development of Africa and the scientific and technological development of the two countries, and contributes scientific and technological strength to improving the people's livelihood and well-being of the Chinese and African people.

Text source: most.gov.cn

Talented Young Scientist Program 

Talented Young Scientist Program (TYSP) is an international mobility scheme funded by the Chinese government aimed at cultivating future leading scientists together with other countries.

TYSP promotes cross-border exchanges of excellent young scientists, scholars and researchers. TYSP also enhances cooperation among research institutes, universities and enterprises. TYSP offers sponsorship for talented young scientist from other countries to work in China on full time basis for 6 or12 months together with China’s team.

Text and photo source: tysp.cstec.org.cn

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On 1 January, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.