Nzimande argues that science, technology and innovation are fundamental to achieving the sustainable development goals and require urgent structural transformation rather than incremental change. He emphasizes that SDGs cannot be achieved through business as usual approaches.

South Africa's national system of innovation includes institutions such as the Technology Innovation Institute, the South African Medical Research Council and science councils designed to align innovation with national priorities and societal needs.

Nzimande highlights that despite technological advancement, progress towards SDG 9 remains uneven across the African continent. The COVID-19 pandemic particularly exposed vulnerabilities in health innovation and vaccine production, demonstrating risks of technological dependence.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored vulnerabilities in health innovation and vaccine production, highlighting the risks of technological dependence.

Nzimande expresses concern that Africa's STI agendas tend to be donor-determined due to poverty and donor-dependence. He calls for true friends to allow Africa to develop its own agenda like the science, technology, innovation strategy for Africa and then support that agenda.

Africa is poor, donor-dependent, and STI agendas tend to be donor-determined. The continent needs to develop a sovereign African science, technology, and innovation agenda.

Nzimande argues that finance mechanisms must respond to Africa's agenda rather than the other way around. He emphasizes the need for reforming intellectual property systems to prevent leakage of intellectual property from Africa to other parts of the world.

There is concern about the leakage of intellectual property from Africa into other parts of the world, and the need to reform infrastructure and intellectual property systems.

Nzimande outlines four key policy imperatives including strategic public procurement, adaptive regulatory frameworks, and investment in human capital. He emphasizes that governments should use procurement to support domestic industrial and technological capacity.

Four key policy imperatives: long-term STI strategies, strategic public procurement, adaptive regulatory frameworks, and investment in human capital, with STEM education especially for women, youth and marginalized communities.

Nzimande emphasizes that STEM education, particularly for women, youth and marginalized communities, is essential for sustainable and inclusive innovation systems. He argues that people are the key resource for innovation and technology without people does not lead to development.

STEM education, especially for women, youth and marginalized communities, is essential for sustainable and inclusive innovation systems.

Safi argues that the Democratic Republic of Congo believes STI are essential in accelerating social economic transformation. The country has undergone bold reform to modernize its higher education system and place universities as key actors of development.

DRC has undergone bold reform including updating university infrastructure, research lab equipment, creating thematic excellence centers, and including digital technologies in teaching and research.

Safi explains that the DRC has taken a significant step by operationalizing this national mechanism that allows sustainable financing of research, guiding scientific priorities towards country goals, and supporting key sectors like agriculture, health, digital energy, and sustainable resource management.

The National Fund for Scientific Research and Technological Innovation allows sustainable financing of research, guides scientific priorities towards country goals, and supports agriculture, health, digital energy, and sustainable resource management.

Safi describes how the country created an incubator to support researchers and innovators in transforming research results into prototypes and local innovation ideas. They also created additional work in universities and research centers to identify high-potential projects.

The incubator supports researchers and innovators in transforming research results into prototypes and manufacturing local innovation ideas, with additional work in universities and research centers to identify projects with high potential.

Safi emphasizes that the DRC calls for well-balanced scientific partnerships, technology transfers, and access to world scientific platforms to assist national reforms. The country believes that science, technology, and innovation should be seen as global public assets accessible by all states.

DRC calls for well-balanced scientific partnerships, technology transfers, and access to world scientific platforms to assist national reforms, viewing STI as global public assets accessible by all states.

Abdulrazak advocates for the socialization of science and creating clusters on various STI thematic areas to strengthen the STI ecosystem. He emphasizes bringing together universities, research institutions, and private sector to create synergies and break silos for greater societal impact.

Kenya is creating clusters on various STI thematic areas to strengthen the STI ecosystem, bringing together universities, research institutions, and private sector with an objective of creating synergies and breaking silos towards greater impact to society.

Abdulrazak emphasizes that Kenya recognizes AI's transformative potential across sectors but stresses that its development and deployment should follow specific guiding principles. He highlights the importance of bridging digital divides and ensuring meaningful participation of all countries, particularly in the global south.

Kenya's Artificial Intelligence Strategy of 2025-2030 prioritizes digital infrastructure, robust data governance, skills development, and promotion of ethical, responsible AI, focusing on key sectors such as agriculture, health, education, and public service delivery.

Abdulrazak notes that persistent underinvestment in STI, particularly in Africa where research and development expenditure remains low, continues to constrain progress towards the SDGs. He calls for urgent efforts to address systemic barriers to STI financing.

Kenya is currently spending around 0.8% of GDP on STI activities and aims to improve to 1% and ultimately 2% as per science technology innovation activities, with plans to boost research and innovation capacity through funding.

Abdulrazak outlines Kenya's specific financial targets for STI investment, showing the country's commitment to increasing research and development expenditure. This is part of efforts to boost research and innovation capacity and build an innovation ecosystem towards commercialization.

Kenya is currently spending around 0.8% of the GDP and aims at improving or moving to 1% and ultimately 2% as per science technology innovation activities, aiming at boosting research and innovation capacity and building an innovation ecosystem towards commercialization.

Abdulrazak calls for urgent efforts to address systemic barriers to STI financing, emphasizing the need for predictable, adequate and accessible funding mechanisms. He stresses the importance of enhanced international cooperation, innovative financing instruments and strengthened public-private partnerships.

Reforms of global financial architecture is necessary to close existing gaps and enable developing countries to build resilient and inclusive innovation ecosystems, supported by enhanced international cooperation, innovative financing instruments and strengthened public-private partnership.

Rodriguez Hernandez argues that Cuba holds that technology should not be a market privilege but rather a global public good. He calls for rejecting technological monopolies and unfair practices that hinder development, advocating for an open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment.

Cuba agrees with the appeal made in the G77 and China summit in 2023 of rejecting technological monopolies and unfair practices that hinder the development of peoples, calling for an open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment.

Rodriguez Hernandez explains that the US economic, trade, and financial embargo imposed on Cuba for over 60 years is a criminal policy that has been recently strengthened. This embargo prevents fuel imports and severely restricts Cuba's ability to find sustainable technological solutions.

The economic, trade, and financial embargo imposed by the U.S. government on Cuba for over 60 years has been recently strengthened to the extent of preventing fuel imports and frequently violating international law and the U.N. Charter.

Rodriguez Hernandez emphasizes that Cuba reiterates the need to prioritize South-South and triangular cooperation as fundamental pillars in bridging gaps in science, technology, and innovation. He argues these approaches allow countries to optimize potential and complement resources.

Experience has taught that collaboration based on mutual respect, non-meddling of others' affairs, and horizontal transfer of knowledge brings about solutions better adapted to specific contexts, more so than traditional vertical assistance models.

Rodriguez Hernandez calls for urgent reform of the international financial architecture to ensure it's more inclusive and representative. This reform should provide sufficient and predictable financial flows that allow countries to invest in digital infrastructure, scientific research, and human capital training.

Reform should provide sufficient and predictable financial flows that would allow countries to invest in digital infrastructure, in scientific research, and in training human capital, thereby bridging the gaps of technology that leave millions of people behind.

Nuryatunu argues that as geopolitical tensions and global conflicts threaten stability, science, technology, and innovation must serve as a universal language for peace and the primary instrument for achieving the 2030 agenda. For Indonesia, STI is not merely an engine for economic growth but a central pillar for inclusive development.

Indonesia has undertaken significant reform by consolidating national research capacities under BRIN to eliminate fragmentation, integrating 121 research locations into eight national clusters and strengthening approximately 45 science and technology parks across the archipelago.

Cordeiro argues that Portugal advocates for strong alignment between STI and mission-oriented public policies, directing scientific and technological efforts towards concrete societal goals such as climate neutrality, digital transformation and social inclusion. This approach ensures that AI and STI contribute to competitiveness, equity, territorial cohesion and inclusion.

Programs like Horizon Europe illustrate how scientific excellence can be effectively linked to innovation ecosystems and societal impact. Portugal's artificial intelligence agenda and digital strategy reinforce this mission-oriented approach.

Cordeiro emphasizes that closing STI gaps, especially in developing and least developed countries, requires partnerships based on co-creation, trust and institutional capacity building. She highlights that deep tech domains depend on global knowledge networks and require responsible governance promoting transparency and non-discrimination.

Portugal is actively engaged in European and international initiatives such as the Spanish-led AI Factory and the EuroHPC joint undertaking, which provide shared computational infrastructure and support development of trustworthy AI applications across the globe.

The Egypt delegate argues that STI serves as a key enabler for achieving SDG 9 and SDG 17, providing a foundation for stronger global partnerships by facilitating knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and coordinated international action. The rapid advancement of frontier technologies creates new opportunities for inclusive industrialization and innovation.

The rapid advancement of frontier technologies and substantial growth in data generation are transforming research and development, creating new opportunities for inclusive industrialization and innovation, which are the core objectives of SDG 9.

The Egypt delegate highlights a critical gap in AI governance, noting that 118 countries, mostly from the global south, are excluded from major international AI governance initiatives. They argue that the governance of emerging technologies cannot be shaped by a few actors alone and must be more inclusive.

Today, 118 countries, mostly from the global south, are not part of major international AI governance initiatives.

The Egypt delegate identifies significant challenges including the widening digital divide between countries and unequal STI capacities, particularly in the global south, as major barriers to inclusive development. They warn that without comprehensive policies and adequate investment, emerging technologies like AI risk exacerbating existing inequalities.

Without comprehensive policies and adequate investment, emerging technologies such as AI risk exacerbating existing inequalities rather than reducing them.

Ouadah explains that Algeria put in place a dedicated ministry for knowledge economy, startups and SMEs in 2020, which represents a strong signal from the country's leadership that innovation is one of the most important actors for African continent development. From 2022, they launched the African startup conference to promote collaborative work among African countries.

Algeria started working in 2020 within this ministry and from 2022 launched the African startup conference to make African countries work together in innovative ecosystem building.

Sadr issues a grave warning that the exploitation of AI for strategic cyber-terrorism and targeting of civilian infrastructure, of which Iran is a victim, must be strictly prohibited. He calls for justice-based frameworks to ensure AI remains a tool for human dignity, not a weapon for aggression and terror.

Iran has been victim of acts ranging from assassination of people and scientists to attacks on students, which are flagrant violations of international conventions and the Additional Protocol of Geneva Conventions.

Sadr emphasizes the destructive impact of illegal unilateral coercive measures on the application of science, technology and innovation, particularly AI, for sustainable development. These measures prevent nations from accessing essential resources and technologies crucial for progress toward sustainable development goals.

Illegal sanctions prevent nations from accessing essential resources and technologies that are crucial for progress toward the vision of the VCs, the Global Digital Compact, and the sustainable development goals.

Miquidade explains that Mozambique considers AI regulation crucial for ensuring proper regulation and ethical use, viewing the adoption and regulation of artificial intelligence as a matter of national surveillance. However, they believe that AI regulation should not inhibit the advancement of innovation in this specific area.

Mozambique approved the National Policy and Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation in 2024, and created a National Commission for Artificial Intelligence in March 2026 as an advisory board for government and AI related science and security matters.

Miquidade explains that in 2024, via Resolution No. 39 of July 23, Mozambique approved the National Policy and Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation. This instrument aims to make Mozambique a developed and sustainable country with a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and massive use of cutting-edge and emerging technologies such as AI.

The policy aims to make Mozambique a developed and sustainable country with a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and the massive use of cutting-edge and emerging technologies such as AI in economic and social activities.

The Gambia delegate emphasizes that for countries like Gambia, the challenge is not only access to AI technologies, but the ability to govern them effectively and ensure they deliver tangible benefits for people. They stress that the quality, accessibility, and governance of data will determine whether AI accelerates development or deepens existing inequalities.

The Gambia has strengthened data governance ecosystems through a data protection and privacy law, a national data policy validated in 2025, and an open data strategy for 2024-2027, complemented by investments in digital infrastructure including interoperable systems, digital identity, and secure data exchange platforms.

The Dominican Republic delegate, speaking for SIDS, argues that small economies cannot replicate the computational infrastructure or data holdings of larger economies, which makes the openness of AI models, data repositories, and scientific knowledge a matter of equity in AI evolution. They emphasize the need for open licensing, public access mandates, and data sharing provisions.

This includes open licensing for AI data sets, public access mandates for publicly funded research, and provisions on data sharing and open standards in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Internal Property Rights.

The Saudi Arabia delegate affirms that maximizing AI benefits requires a balanced international approach that combines innovation with responsibility, bridges the digital divide, and empowers developing countries to access technology and build national capacities. They emphasize the need for multilateral international cooperation to exchange expertise and best practices.

Saudi Arabia declared 2026 the year of artificial intelligence and launched the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence, led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, with the objective of building a data-driven digital economy.

The Palestine delegate explains that while Palestine has local platforms, opening up internationally is very limited or sometimes impossible due to Israeli occupation. The infrastructure exists but there is no freedom of movement for people and goods in occupied Palestinian territory, and occupation remains the greatest obstacle to accessing technology and materializing projects.

In Palestine, they use 3G for mobile telephony and do not have access to 4G, not to mention 5G used by Israelis. In Gaza Strip, they still use edge technology which came before 2G.

Mohd emphasizes that Tanzania calls for enhanced international cooperation in technology transfer and capacity building, increased investment in research, strengthened public-private partnerships to support innovation ecosystems, and expansion of digital infrastructure to bridge the digital divide.

Tanzania has made progress in expanding renewable energy solutions, particularly solar and hydropower, and rapid growth of ICT with over 50 million mobile subscriptions has enabled digital services across finance, education, and health sectors.

Mohd explains that Tanzania is integrating STI into key sectors to drive transformative and equitable development, with science enabling informed policymaking and strengthening institutional capacity. In education, they are expanding digital learning platforms and strengthening STEM education to equip youth with relevant skills.

In education, Tanzania is expanding digital learning platforms and strengthening STEM education to equip youth with relevant skills. In health, scientific research continues to support the fight against diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

Antwi explains that Ghana is advancing an integrated national financing framework and actively pursuing innovative partnerships to bridge resource gaps. A flagship priority is the development of science, technology, and innovation parks, supported by UNCTAD's capacity-building work, with Ghana finalizing a national roadmap and action plan for these parks.

Supported by UNCTAD's capacity-building work, Ghana is finalizing a national roadmap and action plan for STI parks that will serve as dynamic hubs for research commercialization, startup growth, technology transfer and skills development, particularly in innovation, renewable energy, agri-tech and health solutions.

Luambia explains that Zambia is implementing its national digital transformation strategy covering 2023 to 2027, which aims to integrate digital technologies across all sectors to enhance productivity, create jobs and promote economic growth. The strategy is grounded in Zambia's Vision 2030 to transform into a digitally empowered society.

The strategy focuses on five main pillars: digital infrastructure, digital platforms, digital services, digital literacy and skills, and digital innovation and entrepreneurship, vital for attaining a fully functional digital economy.

Gramatyka explains that Poland supports sustainable development based on responsible growth, meaning building a strong and competitive economy through new ideas and technologies while ensuring no social group is left behind. This approach focuses on quality of economy and its value for humanity rather than just GDP size.

Poland emphasizes investment in research, modern industry, automation and robotics as essential for economic growth and resilience, while ensuring technological transition is fair to society and includes regions relying on traditional industries.

Gramatyka emphasizes that people's skills are extremely important for innovation, requiring more engineers, IT specialists and experts in science and technology. He stresses the need to improve digital skills across society, arguing that people are the key resource for innovation and technology without people does not lead to development.

Poland emphasizes the need for more engineers, IT specialists and experts in science and technology, as well as improving digital skills across society, recognizing that people are the key resource for innovation.

The Chinese delegate explains that China has continued to foster an open environment for STI and innovation, deeply engaging in global STI governance and working with countries worldwide to address global challenges and build win-win partnerships. China has established STI cooperation partnerships with more than 160 countries and regions.

China has signed 120 intergovernmental STI cooperation agreements, joined over 200 international STI organizations and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, and launched the International STI Cooperation Initiative and initiative on international cooperation in open spaces.

The Burkina Faso delegate argues that regional cooperation within the institutions of the sub-region is the best possible approach for STI development. They also emphasize that South-South partnerships offer specific possibilities for triangular cooperation, funding transfer of technologies and local initiatives.

South-South partnerships offer specific possibilities for triangular cooperation, for funding transfer of technologies and local initiatives, while public-private partnerships are crucial to ensure sustainable innovation ecosystems.

Milambo outlined three thematic sessions for the STI Forum: transforming water systems through science and technology, powering sustainable development through clean energy technologies, and shaping the future for STI in times of uncertainty and change. These sessions will examine latest STI developments with strong potential for accelerating progress in water, energy, and urban solutions.

Session 1 will examine STI developments for water and sanitation (SDG 6), water infrastructure and service delivery (SDG 9), and cities as STI solution accelerators (SDG 11). Session 2 will explore clean energy technologies (SDG 7) and energy infrastructure innovation. Session 3 will consider how STI can help decision makers anticipate and respond to systemic risks.

Milambo highlighted that the Forum provides an opportunity to showcase groundbreaking innovations and promote promising technology solutions to critical sustainable development challenges, particularly in low-resource settings. The high number of submissions, especially from Africa, demonstrates growing innovation capacity in developing regions.

This year's call for innovations was announced and has been closed, with over 900 submissions received from around the world, including a significant number from Africa. Selected innovations will be featured at the STI Forum, reaching a global audience of policymakers, experts, and innovators.

Milambo emphasized the co-chairs' commitment to ensuring gender balance and meaningful inclusion of youth in the Forum, including in the selection of moderators and panelists. This approach recognizes the importance of diverse perspectives and the next generation's role in driving innovation.

As co-chairs, we are committed to practically ensuring gender balance and the meaningful inclusion of youth, including the selection of moderators and panelists.

The Oman delegate emphasized the importance of using artificial intelligence responsibly across various sectors, particularly agriculture and other areas of the economy. They stressed the need for proper regulation and ethical use of AI while building national capacities for technological advancement.

Oman has integrated AI principles in development programs since 2020 and emphasizes the need to ensure responsible use of AI in order to build national capacities.

The Oman delegate highlighted the critical need to consolidate technology transfers to ensure that developing countries can benefit from technological transformations. They emphasized the importance of international cooperation in supporting science, technology, and artificial intelligence for development.

It is important to consolidate the transfers of technologies in order to ensure that developing countries can benefit from technological transformations.

Kah emphasized that the Ministerial Roundtable on STI represents the Commission's contributions to the 2026 theme of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. This demonstrates the integral role of science, technology, and innovation in achieving the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.

This Ministerial Roundtable represents the contributions of the Commission to the 2026 theme of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the implementation of its 2025 Ministerial Declaration.

Koessler explained that the STI Forum is closely linked with the High-Level Political Forum and represents the multilateral, multi-stakeholder component of SDG implementation. The forum aims to showcase high-impact technologies and practical, innovative solutions while facilitating in-depth discussions and sharing lessons learned.

The STI Forum is closely linked with the high-level political forum HLPF and represents the multilateral, multi-stakeholder component of SDG implementation, aiming to showcase high-impact technologies and practical, innovative solutions.

Koessler argued that science remains the best bet for the future and greatest source of solutions for achieving SDGs. He emphasized that emerging digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, offer powerful tools to reduce poverty and inequality, ensure access to modern energy and clean water, and tackle the climate crisis.

Emerging digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, offer powerful tools to reduce poverty and inequality, ensure access to modern energy and clean water, and provide a better future for all and tackle the climate crisis.

Koessler emphasized that while it's easy to be overwhelmed by global challenges and crises, the STI Forum should be used as a platform for optimism and empowerment, particularly for young people. This approach recognizes the importance of inspiring the next generation to engage with science and technology solutions.

At the moment, it is easy to be overwhelmed by all the challenges and crises of the world. So we also want to use the STI Forum as a platform for optimism and empowerment, especially for young people.