Regional UN forum reinforces the use of innovation and emerging technologies to address COVID-19 challenges

The Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT) and the Uzbekistan Ministry of Innovative Development held a regional workshop on ‘new paradigms of innovation and technology to address the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.’ The high-level participants at the workshop tackled issues related to the use of technologies, including emerging fourth industrial revolution technologies, to address challenges in the areas of healthcare, business, production, education, and research and development, during and post-COVID. The delegates further stressed the role of open technology platforms to enhance access to information and promote collaborative research and development, innovation, and cross-border technology transfer. This should, in turn, facilitate effective recovery and accelerate sustainable development progress in the region. The workshop recommendations focused mainly on strategies to facilitate innovations to mitigate the pandemic’s impact and support socio-economic recovery.