The UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta hosted the first UN Interagency Task Team (IATT) training on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Policy for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Asia-Pacific. Held online from 18-21 November 2024, this four-day training brought together over 270 participants from 28 countries, to learn about the different aspects of STI policies and policy instruments that drive SDGs. 

Participants, 55% of whom were women, included policymakers, researchers, academics, students, and early-career professionals. For more than half of the attendees, this training was their first introduction to STI policy, offering a unique opportunity to learn and exchange ideas.

"In the face of today's social and environmental challenges, we need policies and policy instruments that make science inclusive, transparent, and accessible to all, grounded in the human right to science," said Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta.

Expanding STI Knowledge Across Asia-Pacific

The program guided participants through the full process of creating and implementing STI policies, focusing on four key areas:

1. Current approaches to STI policy making in the context of SDGs: exploring the existing approaches and methodologies for policymaking and implementation, drawing on expertise from various UN agencies and country experiences.  
2. STI policy instruments design: featuring key aspects of the design of policy instruments, including legal frameworks, funding mechanisms, and methodological approaches. 
3. STI policy instruments implementation: highlighting the requirements for successful implementation, with analyzing key dimensions influencing implementation. It also featured concrete examples from different stages of STI policy implementation. 
4. STI policy monitoring and evaluation: introducing the conceptual frameworks and differences of monitoring and evaluation as well as systematic approaches and methods of monitoring and evaluation, addressing also challenges, practical solutions, and strategies to strengthen institutional capacities for effective policy evaluation. 

By integrating fundamental theoretical frameworks and their practical application in developing comprehensive STI policies, the sessions enabled participants to understand how STI policies can be developed and implemented to address sustainable development priorities.

Learning and Sharing Regional Stories

During the training, experts from different countries in the region, showcased specific examples of policy and policy instruments, from the divers STI landscape of Asia and Pacific. Members of the Science, Engineering, Technology, and Innovation Policy Asia and the Pacific Network (STEPAN) actively contributed their expertise to the discussions:

• Dr. José Cornelio Guterres, from Timor-Leste, shared the progress in developing the country's first STI policy. 
• Dr. Aini Suzanna Ariffin, Dr. Nor Ashikin Mohamed Yusof, and Dr. Natran Mohd Emran, from Malaysia highlighted several policy initiatives related to STI, including the national biotechnology law and monitoring strategies for high-tech innovation.
• Dr. Inkyoung Sun, from South Korea shared how the national STI funding strategies incorporate SDG priorities, such as Industry, Innovation and Infrastructures or affordable and Clean Energy to address global challenges. 

These contributions provided valuable insights, offering diverse approaches to enhancing STI in the region. Interactive elements such as real-time surveys, Q&A sessions, and online discussions enhanced the training experience. Participants praised the balance of theoretical insights, case studies, and collaborative discussions, noting the training’s practical relevance.

The training was organized under the UN IATT on STI for SDGs, Workstream 6 (WS6), and co-led by UNESCO, UNCTAD, and UNU-MERIT. By equipping participants with tools to design, implement, and evaluate policies aligned with global development priorities, it marked a significant step toward strengthening STI systems for sustainable development.

What's next?

Building on the success of this training, UNESCO and the IATT WS6 team will expand their capacity-building activities in 2025. Future programs will explore specialized tools and thematic priorities tailored to the region's needs.