Chapter 3: Science, Technology and Innovation and Digital Cooperation
Action 29 - We will scale up the means of implementation to developing countries to strengthen their science, technology and innovation capacities.
Sub-Action Initiative
Indicator and Target
Baseline Data
Sub-Action (a) Ensure that science, technology and innovation contribute to our efforts to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions and hunger, and to reduce inequalities, in addition to areas such as food security and nutrition, health, education, social protection, water and sanitation, energy, climate and environment;
(a2) Contribution of science, technology, and innovation to eradicate [reduce] hunger and inequality in food security and nutrition
SDG 2.a.1 [Increase] Agricultural Orientation Index for government expenditures
Increase in value added as % of global GDP spent on agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Although government spending on agriculture has risen in recent years, the Agricultural Orientation Index decreased from 0.50 globally in 2015 to 0.43 in 2023. A value greater than 1 means the agriculture sector receives a higher share of government spending relative to its economic value; a value less than 1 reflects a lower orientation to agriculture.
As of 2023, agriculture, forestry, and fishing value added as a percentage of global GDP was 4.1%, according to the World Bank.
Sub-Action (b) Increase efforts to support developing countries, in particular by developed countries and those developing countries in a position to do so, with capacity-building in science, technology and innovation through policy exchanges, knowledge-sharing, technical assistance, financing, joint international research and personnel training tailored to specific needs, policies and priorities of developing countries;
(b1) Increase efforts to support developing countries, in particular by developed countries and those developing countries in a position to do so, with capacity building in science, technology, and innovation
SDG 17.7.1 [Increase] Total amount of funding for developing countries to promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies
SDG 9.5.1 [Increase] Research and development expenditure as a proportion of developing countries’ GDP
Global trade in environmentally-sound technologies totaled U.S. $2.36 trillion in 2020, up only slightly from U.S. $2.25 trillion in 2015. However, for least developed countries, trade in environmentally-sound technologies declined by 43% from U.S. $15.28 billion in 2015 to U.S. $8.78 billion in 2020.
As of 2025, Northern Africa and Western Asia increased research and development spending from 0.80% to 1.05% of GDP, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, while other developing regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, remain at a lower 0.32% average.
Action 32 - We will protect, build on and complement indigenous, traditional and local knowledge.
Sub-Action Initiative
Indicator and Target
Baseline Data
Sub-Action (a) Foster synergies between science and technology and traditional, local, Afrodescendent and Indigenous knowledge, systems, practices and capacities.
(al) Foster synergies between science and technology and traditional knowledge, indigenous knowledge, local, systems, practices and capacities
Increase in % of global Key Biodiversity Areas overlapping with Indigenous Peoples’ lands
Establishment of High-Level Expert Advisory Group to accelerate action on benefit-sharing, value addition, and fair trade
Creation of a permanent subsidiary body for Indigenous Peoples to participate in decision-making on biodiversity
As of 2019, the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Center reported 36% of the global area covered by Key Biodiversity Areas overlaps with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ lands.
On April 21, 2025, at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Secretary-General announced that a UN High-Level Advisory Group will soon be launched to accelerate action on benefit-sharing, value addition, and fair trade.
At COP16 on Biodiversity, Member States committed to create a permanent new subsidiarybody, as a space for Indigenous Peoples and others to participate in decision-making on biodiversity.
Action 33 - We will support the secretary-general to strengthen the role of the United Nations in supporting international cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
Sub-Action Initiative
Indicator and Target
Baseline Data
Sub-Action (a) Strengthen the capacities of the United Nations to leverage science, technology and innovation in the work of the Organization, including planning, futures thinking and foresight, and to monitor and measure ongoing global progress to bridge the science and technology gap within and between developed and developing countries;
(a1) Strengthen the capacities of the United Nations to leverage science, technology and innovation in the work of the Organization, including planning, futures thinking and foresight
(a2) Strengthen the capacities of the United Nations to monitor and measure ongoing global progress to bridge the science and technology gap within and between developed and developing countries
Increase in # of UN staff trained in science foresight topics through the UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice
Increase UN capacity in data, innovation, digital, and foresight expertise through the UN 2.0 Quintet of Change initiative
Decrease in the Frontier Technologies Index gap between developed and developing countries
As of 2024, each interactive session of the UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice has engaged more than 100 participants from more than 40 UN organizations. Over 2,300 UN staff members are actively participating in these sessions.
As of September 2023, 0.3% of ODA was allocated to data and statistics, 0.7% to innovation, 0% to foresight, and 0.4% to digital initiatives annually. (In 2026 and beyond, we hope to report on progress in implementing the UN 2.0’s modernization initiative.)
From 2021 until 2023, the Frontier Technology Readiness Index value for developed economies has an average of 0.80 points; for developing economies 0.50.
Sub-Action (b) Support national Governments to leverage science and technology for sustainable development, including by exploring ways to strengthen the capacity and expertise of United Nations country teams.
(b1) Support national governments to leverage science and technology for sustainable development
Increase in # of national science and technology strategies adopted to support sustainable development
Since the 2021 adoption of UNESCO’s Recommendation on Open Science, 11 countries have introduced open science policies, strategies, and legislative frameworks, nearly doubling the global count of such policies.