STI Forum Action Day

Action Day | 6 May

Date

6 May 2025

Venue

ECOSOC, United Nations Headquarters, New York

Mode

In-person

Register by 25 April to attend the 6 May Action Day at the STI Forum.

Please note: Separate registration is required for the STI Forum main sessions on 7–8 May.

Context

The STI Forum is convened annually by the President of ECOSOC to foster global collaboration on science, technology, and innovation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2025 forum will be co-chaired by the Permanent Missions of Morocco and Finland to the UN. The theme for the STI Forum 2025 is: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based, science and technology solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”.

This year’s STI Forum marks a milestone as the first gathering since the adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) by UN Member States. The Action Day will kick off under the theme Advancing the Global Digital Compact, with a dynamic, high-level event focused on translating the commitments of the GDC into concrete actions for science, technology, and innovation in support of the SDGs.

Join high-level policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates in their discussion on the future of inclusive and responsible digital development.

Agenda

ODET’s programming for the main stage will consist of the below sessions:

10:00 – 10:20 Action Day Opening

Action Day is designed to launch STI Forum 2025 with a high-level, cross-sector dialogue that sets the tone for the week. The opening will introduce the topics of the Global Digital Compact and emphasize the relevance of international digital cooperation.

It will highlight key opportunities and challenges in translating global commitments into action, particularly in harnessing digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and open digital ecosystems to drive sustainable development.

Speakers: H.E. Mrs. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Baronness Beeban Kidron, Maria Ressa

10:20 – 10:50 Implementing the Global Digital Compact – Fireside Chat

The fireside chat will bring the experts’ conversation around the potential of digital and emerging technologies closer to international policymakers. It will highlight key opportunities and challenges in strengthening partnerships between innovators, decision makers and users.

Speaker: Guest to be announced

10:50 – 11:50 Implementing the Global Digital Compact – Panel

The high-level panel is designed to kick-start a multistakeholder dialogue on how we can work together towards its goals. It will focus on how Governments, the private sector, and all stakeholders can contribute, collaborate, and stay informed about how implementation develops.

Speakers: Whitney Baird, Anna Karin Eneström

12:00 – 13:00 Governing Data for AI: Reimagining the Global Digital Economy

As the Global Digital Compact (GDC) moves into implementation, this session will bring together leading implementers and multistakeholder partners to discuss the role of data governance for an innovative and equitable digital economy.

The session will discuss the role of cross-border flows, interoperability, responsible data use, privacy, and how to ensure that countries are not just data providers but also benefit from the broader digital transformation.

Speakers: Bruno Bioni, Claire Melamed, Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Vukosi Marivate

Objective

The STI Forum 2025 is the first forum since the adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). With a strong mandate, the STI Forum is an ideal occasion to discuss the GDC’s implementation. ODET’s active curation of the STI Action Day will closely link the implementation of the Global Digital Compact with the STI Forum.