International Day of Science, Technology & Innovation for the South 2026; September 16th.

FORUM: "Rethinking the STI architecture". International Day of Science, Technology & Innovation for the South 2026. Science, technology & innovation are key to achieving the #GlobalGoals & a more inclusive world. Yet many countries still face major gaps & challenges in these areas. The sectoral diversity in technology sharing is equally noteworthy, ranging from agriculture and health to cutting edge technologies in energy, biotechnology and genetic engineering. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #scientificinnovations, #16September, #Globalsouth, #Tech4SDGs, #tech, #innovation, #STIForum.

EVENT: On September 16th, a high-level event will be held to mark the International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South 2026, the United Nations General Assembly invites member states, specialized agencies, international organizations, academia, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders to observe this International Day. It encourages them to present "initiatives, including cooperation projects in the areas of science, technology and innovation that contribute to the development of developing countries in those fields."The celebration represents an important step in reaffirming our commitment of leaving no one behind. It underscores that advancing science, technology, and innovation is essential not only for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also creating a fairer, more participatory, and inclusive world. Register to participate!

PUBLICATIONS: Mapping South-South Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation for Theory and Practice. Science, technology, and innovation (STI) are key to economic and social development, yet the capacity for scientific innovation remains unequally distributed across the globe. Working from the perspective of access, equity and inclusion (AEI), the present study analyses the state of STI in the Global South and the potential challenges associated with creating an effective linkage between STI and South-South Cooperation (SSC). Our objectives are to assess the state of STI in the Global South from an analytical perspective, determine its importance, identify the challenges and issues faced by stakeholders as they strengthen their STI architecture, and generate a template for a database and inventory of SSC-STI linkage initiatives so as to track STI collaboration through SSC. This study offers insights into the nature of the gap that exists in STI infrastructure between the industrialized and the developing worlds, particularly in countries considered as the least developed, through the analysis of a number of the standardized indicators used to quantify achievement in knowledge and technology. It further considers a number of instances of cooperation between countries in the Global South through sharing technology and attempts to identify the existing cooperation patterns. The patterns thus identified form the basis for a template that may be used to document the kinds and variations in technology sharing among partner countries in the Global South that can serve as reference points for further collaboration and sharing. The template will also help to create an inventory of technologies that could potentially be improved or modified to meet the specific requirements of interested partners. The document offers policy recommendations that may enhance STI architecture in the Global South through SSC. To read the full publication; Download the South-South Ideas Paper.

Driving change in a shifting landscape - OECD Science; Technology and Innovation Outlook 2025.

According to a recent analysis of science and technology policy trends, OECD member countries are experiencing changes in the science, technology, and innovation environment, with R&D investment as a percentage of GDP stagnating at around 2.7%. The share of the energy sector in national government R&D budgets was found to have significantly expanded, increasing approximately 2.3-fold compared to 2015. The growth in the share of international co-authored papers from the United States and the European Union (EU) has slowed since 2018, while the number of countries introducing research security-related systems has increased to over 40. The OECD diagnosed the recent trend as "a situation of increasing policy complexity due to intensifying technological competition and expanding geopolitical fragmentation," emphasizing that countries must secure policy efficiency and agility even with limited resources. It stated that in a rapidly changing environment, countries must create synergy between conflicting science and technology policies and enhance efficiency by strengthening linkages between them. The OECD observed that the convergence of advanced technologies such as synthetic biology, neurotechnology, quantum technology, and space-based Earth observation is fundamentally changing the innovation process and policy demands. It predicted that technological convergence will be a key factor in future global competitiveness. The report presented a three-pronged policy framework of "promote, protect, and project" and three principles of "proportionality, partnership, and precision" to balance scientific openness and economic security.

Science, technology and innovation: cooperation, integration and regional challenges published by ECLAC (Studies and Research Papers)

GET INVOLVED! Promote SSC and STI in developing countries and the least developed countries '

The future of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in ASEAN just took a big leap forward. Officially adopted at the 21st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-21) in Indonesia, the APASTI 2026-2035 charts a shared vision for a sustainable, innovative, and resilient ASEAN. The document was developed through a consultative process with all ASEAN Member States and partners. The APASTI 2026–2035 will guide ASEAN’s STI cooperation over the next decade, strengthening regional capacity to innovate, collaborate, and respond to emerging global challenges.

The ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology, and Innovation (APASTI) 2026–2035 is here!