World Science Forum 2022 Thematic session: Localised Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmaps for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa

  • 08 Dec 2022

  • International Convention Centre,
    Cape Town, South Africa
     

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The thematic session is scheduled to take place under the World Science Forum 2022 Day 3 programme (Thursday / 8 DEC) from 11:30 to 13:00 with the aim to discuss the needs, challenges and way forward for the development and implementation of localized Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) roadmaps in Africa.

The meeting will also provide a deeper understanding of the STI systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as on available approaches and recent developments for the design of roadmaps. The session is expected to raise awareness on the relevance of STI for SDGs roadmaps as a key tool to leverage place-based STI potential for more sustainable, inclusive and just societies. It will benefit from the participation of country representatives, as well as STI experts and scientists who will share their experiences and perspectives for the development of STI for SDGs roadmaps.

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Programme

8 December 2022

8 December 2022

  1. 11:30 - 11:40
    Opening Remarks

    Stephen Quest, Director-General of the Joint Research Centre, European Commission 

    Moderator:  Chux Daniels, JRC expert and Visiting Fellow at University of Pretoria  

  2. 11:40 - 11:55
    Setting the scene: presentation of findings from JRC report on STI for SDGs in Africa

    Angela Sarcina, Economic and Policy Analyst, Territorial Development Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

  3. 11:55 - 12:45
    Feedback and discussion: challenges, needs and opportunities towards the development of localized STI for SDGs roadmaps

    Moderated discussion with guiding questions 

    Wei Liu, United Nations Inter-Agency Task Team’s coordinator, UNDESA 

    Lukovi Seke, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD 

    Mmboneni Muofhe, Deputy Director-General: Socio-Economic Innovation Partnerships, Department of Science and Innovation of South Africa 

    Mucktarr Darboe M.Y., Deputy Permanent Secretary-Technical, Ministry of Higher Education Research Science and Technology of The Gambia 

    Marie Chantal Cyulinyana, Science and Technology Foresight Analyst, National Council for Science and Technology of Rwanda 

    Erika Kraemer-Mbula, Professor of Economics at the University of Johannesburg 

  4. 12:45 - 13:00
    Wrap-up and closing remarks

    Sabine Henzler, Director for Strategy, Work Programme and Resources, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

    Sandra Kramer, Ambassador of the European Union to South Africa

Practical Information

When
08 Dec 2022
Where

International Convention Centre,
Cape Town, South Africa
 

Registration Information

By invitation only 

Description

Africa’s great potential for growth and development risks to be undermined by long-standing development challenges in many sectors, including education, energy, agriculture, and healthcare. While Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) are recognised as catalyzers for sustainable development, harnessing their potential implies having sound and well-established STI systems. STI for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) roadmaps are found to be valuable instruments to mobilize national STI potentials to address specific sustainability challenges.

In 2022, the Joint Research Centre and the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission launched a new project for Sub-Saharan Africa which aims at developing STI for SDGs roadmaps, as operational STI action plans and strategies to address localized sustainability challenges. The applied methodology identifies place-specific STI potentials and societal, environmental and economic challenges to be tackled through effective roadmaps for future investments.