28th Session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development

7 Apr 2025 - 11 Apr 2025

Geneva, Switzerland

Event website

The twenty-eighth session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will take place from 7 to 11 April 2025 in Room XIX of the Palais des Nations, Geneva. A subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the CSTD focuses on leveraging science, technology, and innovation (STI) to advance sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda.

The session will address two priority themes:

  • Diversifying economies in a world of accelerated digitalisation
  • Technology foresight and technology assessment for sustainable development

In addition, the Commission will review progress made in implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), including its 20-year review, and will hear reports on science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy reviews and technical cooperation activities, with particular attention to STI park policies and practices.

Participants will include representatives from governments, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector.

Key Highlights:

  • Opening ceremony and ministerial round table (7 April): Discussions on the role of STI in delivering sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based solutions to advance the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. This session contributes to the 2025 theme of ECOSOC and the high-level political forum on sustainable development.
  • High-level sessions (7–9 April):
    • Thematic sessions on the two priority themes of the session.
    • A dedicated session to review the outcomes of WSIS and its follow-up at the regional and international levels.

The session will provide a forum for sharing best practices, conducting foresight analysis on emerging and disruptive technologies, and fostering dialogue among diverse stakeholders to advance STI for sustainable development.