Closing the Funding Gap: Financing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals
Co-organized by: UNESCO, The International Science Council (ISC), Belmont Forum
Languages: English
Date & time: Monday, 30 June 2025, 2:30 pm-4:00 pm
Location: FIBES Sevilla Exhibition and Conference Centre, Side Event Room 5
Background
Recognizing STI as a critical enabler of sustainabled evelopment, the First Draft of the FfD4 Outcome Document lays out an ambitious agenda to leverage its full potential. It calls for increased investment in national STI systems and international collaboration on STI including in the areas of digital infrastructure, open science, equitable access to artificial intelligence, and expanded STEM education, particularly for developing countries and marginalized groups. In this context, UNESCO, the International Science Council (ISC), and the Belmont Forum propose a multistakeholder side event at FfD4 to galvanize action around the urgent need to close the STI financing gap. The event will bring together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to highlight innovative funding mechanisms and identify solutions and opportunities for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable STI financing.
Event objectives
- Raising awareness of the current STI financing gap and its wide-ranging implications, as well as the urgent need to scale up investment in STI for advancing sustainable development across all dimensions, for the full enjoyment of human rights.
- Showcasing innovative financing mechanisms and science models including missions-driven multistakeholder approaches as well as transformative shifts such as open science, that promote collaborative, transparent and cost-effective STI investments
- Fostering dialogue among diverse stakeholders, including governments, multilateral organizations, philanthropic actors, the private sector, and the scientific community, to identify shared priorities, highlight viable STI financing solutions and drive collective action.
- Championing STI as a strategic priority within the broader financing for development agenda, particularly within the framework of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development.
This event is open to all FfD4 participants registered through national delegations or accredited organisations. You’ll find details for each one attached.
