Commission on Science and Technology for Development, twenty-second session

Outcome documents:

• Resolution on Science, Technology and Innovation for Development

• Resolution on assessment of the progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society

• Report of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, twenty-second session

The twenty-second session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will be held at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland from 13 to 17 May 2019.

The CSTD is a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations focal point for science, technology and innovation (STI) for development, in analyzing how STI, including information and communications technologies (ICTs), serve as enablers of the 2030 Agenda.

It acts as a forum for strategic planning, sharing lessons learned and best practices, providing foresight about critical trends in STI in key sectors of the economy, the environment and society, and drawing attention to emerging and disruptive technologies.

Every year, the Commission has two priority themes. This year these are:

• The impact of rapid technological change on sustainable development.

• The role of science, technology and innovation (STI) in building resilient communities, including through the contribution of citizen science.

The twenty-second session will also review the progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

In addition, the Commission will hear presentations on national science, technology and innovation policy reviews (STIP Reviews).

Participants will include ministers and representatives of governments, civil society, the business community, academia and international and regional organizations. Most member States will be represented by high-level delegations.

The opening of the session will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, 13 May 2019.

The first day will consist of an opening ceremony followed by a special segment devoted to A Conversation with Great Minds – a dialogue between eminent thinkers in science and technology, which will be moderated by an award-winning journalist. It will continue with two high-level roundtables:

• Contribution of the Commission to the 2019 theme of ECOSOC and High-level Political Forum (HLPF), The role of STI in empowering people and in ensuring inclusiveness and equality, to be held in the morning.

• The impact of rapid technological change on sustainable development, to be held in the afternoon.

The second day will include a high-level roundtable on the Progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) at the regional and international level, to be held in the afternoon.

In the morning of the third day, an interactive discussion will be held on The role of science, technology and innovation in building resilient communities, including through the contribution of citizen science.

Several side events will also be held during the session. Additional information on these events and other relevant information will be uploaded to this website in due course. Please monitor this website for updates.

The meeting will be served in a paper smart manner.