EU Statement – Joint UN General Assembly and Economic and Social Council Special Meeting: Advancing Science, Technology and Youth Entrepreneurship for Development

EU Statement - Joint UN General Assembly and Economic and Social Council Special Meeting: Advancing Science, Technology and Youth Entrepreneurship for Development

5 May 2025, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States delivered by Mr. Olivier Bailly, Managing Director for Global Issues and Communication, European External Action Service, at the Panel Discussion 1 - Challenges and opportunities in developing countries in relation to science, technology, and innovation at the Joint General Assembly - Economic and Social Council Special Meeting "From Digital Inclusion to Innovation: Advancing Science, Technology and Youth Entrepreneurship for Development"

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Madam President, Mister President,

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

Thank you, honourable Presidents, for convening us today - and to the panellists for their insightful contributions.

We all agree that science, technology and innovation (STI) are vital to achieve the SDGs. Amid rapid technological change and geopolitical divisions, we all look at the UN to provide strategic leadership in safeguarding the STI ecosystem. By working together, we can harness STI's potential for humanity, and in particular for developing countries, while tackling challenges and reducing risks.

The EU remains committed to the effective implementation of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the WSIS+20 outcome document. We are leveraging science and technology for the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient, rights-based and innovative solutions to achieve the SDGs, while championing an open, fair, and inclusive environment for scientific and technological development.

A prime example of these commitments is Horizon Europe, the EU's Research Framework Programme, which allocates over 60% of its budget to sustainable development, encouraging international participation to foster innovative solutions that address global challenges.

At the UN, we collaborate with the Inter-Agency Task Team on STI for the SDGs, to support locally tailored research and innovation agendas, with a strong focus on capacity-building, institutional strengthening and local ownership, including by supporting national STI for SDG roadmaps.

With the Global Gateway, the EU is also investing in people and building alliances towards prosperity. We invest in high quality education, as well as research and innovation cooperation, because they can build up knowledge-based economies and innovative value chains, closing the investment gap in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner.

We also support the digital transition of our partners, while boosting EU competitiveness in AI, quantum, cybersecurity, and semiconductors. Our 2025 International Digital Strategy drives EU digital cooperation, to advance universal and meaningful digital transformation globally.

Through EU initiatives such as the Global Gateway and the Tech Business Offer, we promote secure, resilient, and inclusive digital infrastructures worldwide - from connectivity to compute. We advance open-source solutions, digital commons, cybersecurity, DPI, and international interoperability standards, while fostering local skills and local AI ecosystems.

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

International STI cooperation is vital to tackle global challenges. The EU contribution, as a trusted global partner, is grounded in international law, human rights, and democratic values, and driven by the goals of peace, SDG progress, bridging technological divides,knowledge-sharing, and global talent mobility - especially for young researchers.

As new and emerging technologies create new opportunities and challenges, we will keep working with partners to tackle new divides, new dependencies and new fragmentation risks, ensuring STI can be leveraged for the benefit of all, leaving no one behind.

Thank you.