g-stic 2018 chairperson summary - 20181130...2018/11/30 · 30/11/2018 g-stic 2018 chairperson...

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CONNECTINGTECHNOLOGICALINNOVATIONTODECISIONMAKINGFORSUSTAINABILITY

G-STIC2018ChairpersonSummary1Introduction 2

G-STIC2018GeneralInfo 2G-STIC2018ParallelSessions 2

2Keyfindingsofthethematicclusters 4AgroecologyforSustainableFoodSystems 4CircularEconomy 5Education 6EnergyPositiveCommunities 7GeospatialData 8Health 8(Waste)WaterasaResource 10

3Keyfindingsofthecross-cuttingthemes 11Climate-smartTechnology 11GenderMainstreaming 11ICTasEnablingTechnology 12SustainableTechnology&Development 12YouthEngagement 13

4KeyfindingsoftheIndustryNight 14Bamboo 14

5G-STICcontributiontointernationalprocessesdealingwithsustainabletechnologyandinnovationfortheSDG 15BAMBOO 16CIRCULARECONOMY-Closingthematerialloop-Sortinganddismantling 19CIRCULARECONOMY-Trackingproductsacrosstheirlifecycle 20CIRCULARECONOMY-Improvingurbanmaterialflow 21ENERGYPOSITIVECOMMUNITIES 22(WASTE)WATERASARESOURCE 256Closingremarks–Wordofthanks 28Annexe1:G-STIC2017Keyfindings 29


1Introduction

G-STIC2018GeneralInfoThe second conference in theG-STIC serieswas convened from28 to30thNovember2018.Over1200 participants, representing policymakers, technology researchers, business and industrycaptains,andcivilsocietyattendedthemeeting.Thetextbelowisasummaryofthemajormessagesemergingfromthemeetingfromtheperspectiveofthechairperson,Ir.DirkFransaer.

Other outcomes include: (1) the background papers, key findings, and other documents from thethematic and topical sessions, available on the G-STIC website, (2) the recording of thepresentations, also available on the website, (3) communities of practitioners built around thevarioussessions,and(4)theoutreachmaterialthroughvideosandsocialmediaemergingfromtheconference.

All thesematerials, as well as the established communities of practitioners, provide an excellentstartingpoint toensurethatthemessagesofG-STIC2018areheardbypolicymakersand industryleadersalike,andtostartpreparationofthethirdG-STICconferenceplannedforNovember2019.

G-STIC2018alsohostedanumberofpartnerevents,including:

● ExpertGroupMeeting(EGM)onSTIRoadmapsforSDGs,● RoundtableonEnergy-RelatedSDGs,● EventonFlemishBestPracticesregardingtheintegrationofsustainabilityinhigher

education,● FUTURINGH2020ProjectOutreachEvent,● GeSIeventontheenablingpotentialofICTforsustainabledevelopment,● Planningenergypositivesolutions,partofIRENA‘sCEMCampaign“Long-termEnergy

ScenariosfortheCleanEnergyTransition”,● The4theditionoftheOrganicInnovationDays,TPOrganics’annualevent,● VerifiableSustainabilityGoals:fromgoodintentionstorealimpact,● YoutheventonEnsuringaPeople-and-PlanetCenteredTechnologyStrategy,● VITOAlumnicorner.

G-STIC2018ParallelSessionsG-STIC2018 focusedon integrated technological solutions thatpotentiallyhavea large impactontheachievementof theSDGsandclimatechangegoals.TheG-STIC2018activitieswereorganizedandstructuredin7thematicclusters:

● AgroecologyforSustainableFoodSystems● CircularEconomy● Education● EnergyPositiveCommunities● GeospatialData● Health● (Waste)WaterasaResource


Parallelsessions foreachof thesethematicclusters includedamixof (keynote)presentationsandinteractivepaneldiscussionswhileprovidingroomforquestionsbyconferenceparticipants.

The G-STIC 2018 parallel sessions also addressed aspects that are related to a number of cross-cuttingthemes:

● Climate-smartTechnology● GenderMainstreaming● ICTasEnablingTechnology● SustainableTechnology&Development● YouthEngagement

ThisChairpersonSummaryreportsontheKeyFindingsforeachofthethematicclusters,thecross-cutting themes and a number of themes during the G-STIC 2018 Industry Night. More detailedreports include (1) the background papers, key findings, and other documents from the sessions,availableontheG-STICwebsite,(2)therecordingofthepresentations,alsoavailableonthewebsite,


2Keyfindingsofthethematicclusters

AgroecologyforSustainableFoodSystems

Theparadigmshifttowardsdiversifiedagro-ecologicalsystemsisincreasinglygainingrecognition,asthe dominant agricultural practices of today that favour industrial monocultures and intensiveanimalhusbandryareunsustainableandhavebeenunabletoaddresstherootcausesofhunger.

AgroecologycancontributetomeetingTargets2.1and2.2toendhungerandmalnutrition,andtoensure universal access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. Agroecology, ifsufficiently supported, can double agricultural productivity, meeting Target 2.3. Its technologies,innovations and practices increase resilience, enhancing the capacity for adaptation to climatechange, while improving soil quality, helping to achieve Target 2.4. Because a key pillar ofagroecologyisagriculturalbiodiversity,itcontributestoTarget2.5.AgroecologyalsocontributestomultipleotherSDGs.

G-STIC2017concludedthataparadigmshiftisneededtowardsmoreresilientanddiversifiedagro-ecological practices to achieve SDG2. G-STIC 2017 provided evidence that such diversified agro-ecological systems can work in delivering nutrition and secure livelihoods, in the places whereneededmostandtopeoplewhoneedthesemost.

G-STIC 2018 reconfirmed that agroecology comprises an integrated suite of technologies,innovations, practices and knowledge systems that are embedded in a larger framework ofrespecting farmers’ knowledge and ensuring equity, and include those that: (i) diversify in spaceandtime,suchascroprotationsandpolycultures,whichincreasenutrientavailabilityandregulatepestsandweeds;(ii)reduceerosionandimprovesoils,suchascovercropsandmulching,andgreenmanures; (iii) increase complexity to optimize nutrient cyclings, such as agroforestry systems andcrop-livestock mixtures; and (iv) improve water storage and water harvesting. Technologiesassociated with agroecology achieve several simultaneous goals such as rebuilding soil fertility,controllingpestsandweeds,improvingnutrientuseefficiency,conservingwater,reducingerosion,whilediversifyingproductionanddiets.

Agroecology combines both scientific and traditional knowledge so that they complement andreinforceeachother.ExamplesincludethewaruwarusystemofraisedbedsandirrigationchannelsenablinghigherproductivityathighelevationsintheAndes;the‘push-pull’platformtechnologyforintegratedmanagementofpestsinsub-SaharanAfrica;theIfugaoriceterracesthatprovidemicro-watershedsinthePhilippines;andthetabiarainwaterharvestingsysteminsouthernTunisia.

Complementarytechnologiescouldhelpincreasetheuptakeofagroecology,forexample,toaidinanimal husbandry or address farm labour shortages, particularly in developed countries. Thesewouldneedtobeaccessible,affordable,environmentallysound,sociallyjustandempowerfarmers,andcouldincludeappropriateadvancesinrobotics,bigdataandICT.

G-STIC2018discussedand identified specificactions in the fieldofpolicy setting,economicandsocialareastoupscaletheuseofagro-ecologicaltechniques.


Threekeybarrierstothedeploymentofagroecologytechnologiesatscaleare(i)continuedpolicyand resource support to industrial agriculture systems, coupled with the lack of support toagroecology,whichareconsequencesofnotaccountingforexternalities;(ii)researchandextensionsystems focusedona fewmajor speciesand structuredaround theneedsof large-scale industrialfarms;and(iii)currentverticalmarketsystemsthatsupportlargevolumesofundifferentiatedcropcommodities.Enabling measures include removing incentives that encourage the adoption of unsustainablefarming practices such asmonocultures and chemical pesticides, and providing incentives for theadoption of specific agro-ecological technologies and requisite training, while helping to bufferfarmers, especially family and small-scale producers, in the transition period. There is a need tofocusontruecostaccountinginfoodandagriculture,toaccuratelymeasureexternalities.

Changing agricultural research, education and extension programmes to focus on agroecologyneedsandco-creationofknowledgeandinnovationsbyfarmerswouldbeakeystepinsupportingthetransitiontoagroecology.

Support to local and regionalmarkets for diversified agro-ecological products as well as publicprocurementprogrammesareneeded.Shortsupplychains,directmarketingschemes,cooperativemarketingandpurchasing,andlocalexchangeschemessuchasfarmers’marketsforagro-ecologicalproducts need policy and infrastructure support. The relocalisation of food and farming systemsbrings producers and consumers closer together and reduces food miles, while ensuring thatalternativesupplychainsremainviable,accessibleandaffordable.

Agroecology focuses on empowering the critical agents of change – family farmers, smallholderproducers, indigenous peoples, fishers, rural women and youth. Building new community-ledgovernance structures, for example in cooperative marketing functions, farmer-to-farmerknowledgesharing,community-buildingactivities,andadvocacy,canbehighlyeffective.

CircularEconomyG-STIC2017concludedthattoachieveSDG9andSDG12,atransitiontoanewsocietalframeworkisrequired,poweredbyacirculareconomyapproachthatisenabledbydigitaltechnologies.Thiswill,among others, lead to an optimization ofmaterial use per unit of output and reduce waste andpollution.Thecompletevaluechainneedstoberevisitedandcustomersneedtobeprovidedwithservicesratherthanthrow-awayproducts.Industry4.0providesthetechnologicaldriverforcircularinnovation, while the circular economy is the driver to transition to a sustainable industrial andsocietalframework.G-STIC 2018 saw representatives from the University of Oxford, World Resources Forum (WRF),Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific, the International SolidWaste Association (ISWA), theEuropeanCommission,andG-STICexpressingtheirwillingnesstostepupthecollaborationinthefieldof technological innovationneeded for the transition toa circular economy. This increasedcollaborationwill include (1) providing an open exchange platform to stimulate collaboration, (2)learningfromeachother.Aninternationaldialogueisnecessarytoensurethatacirculareconomydoes not create a group of closed local economies, but becomes a global system of variouseconomiescollaborating.


G-STIC2018 looked indetailat "closing thematerial loop" fromapost-consumptionperspective,examiningadvancedsortingsystemsthatcombinemultipledetectionsystemswithmachinelearningtoallowforcharacterisationofmixedwastematerial flows;andtheuseofrobotics indismantlingandseparation.AsecondmajorareaoffocusofG-STIC2018wastrackingproductsacrosstheirlifecycle, involvingtaggingandidentificationsystems,anddigitaltwinning.Blockchaintechnologywashighlightedtobeone useful technology to trace transactions. Mobile money is an enabler for take-back systems,especiallyinAfrica.Andlastly,theroleofurbanflowsingeneratingacirculareconomyatthecitylevelwasdiscussed.New demonstrated technologies include building information management systems and digitalmaterialmapsthatallowoptimisationofurbanmaterialflows.Citizensonallcontinentsareinvolvedinthescale-upofcircularsystemsandtheoptimisationofmaterialflowsthroughtheuseofmobileapps and collaborative platforms. Circular economy can act as a delivery mechanism for urbaninnovation,toenablethenecessaryreductionsinresourceuseinthegrowingurbanareas.G-STIC2018concludedthatthecontactsbetweendigitalandcirculareconomyexpertsneedtobestrengthened to develop common approaches, and to showcase the opportunities of blockchaintechnology,InternetofThings,AI,BigData,productidentification,collaborativeplatforms,…

EducationBoth ‘Innovating Education’ and ‘Education for Innovation’ canmake strong contributions to theoverall SDG implementation. Scientific knowledge and innovative thinking should, therefore, beorganizedinthecontextofglobalsustainability.

Education must benefit from an innovative ‘industry’, developing resources that improve itseffectiveness and efficiency. G-STIC 2018 concluded that innovation should offer the educationsectorthemeanstonewpractices,organizations,andtechnology-improvingstandards,quality,andaccess.

G-STIC2018confirmedthatinnovationandtechnologyhaveanimportantroletoplaytoexpandbothaccesstoeducationandthequalityoftheeducationbeingprovidedinthedevelopingworld.G-STIC 2018, therefore, looked in detail at technological challenges for teacher training, and howtechnological innovations can support and stimulate a pedagogical transformation in highereducation.

Theproliferationofdigitalandotherinnovativeformsofeducationshouldbeusedforincreasingtheprovisionofqualityeducationservicesindevelopingcountries,aimingatachievinglargeraccessandbetterqualitywith lowercosts.Properapplicationof technologycansolveeducational issuesnotonlyrelatedtoaccess,butalsotolackofproperphysicalinfrastructureandlackoftrainedteachers.

Beyond technology, innovationcan takemany forms,and indeed itwillhave to takemany forms.Especially in low-income countries, Ministries of Education are not equipped to deal with themassive increase in the cohorts of students completing their primary education and aiming topursue their education at the secondary level. Current models of service delivery may not befinancially sustainable. Partnerships with the private sector can reduce costs, while not


compromisingonquality.Evenissuesrelatedtothecorecurriculumtobetaughtinlowersecondaryschoolsmayneedrethinking.

Technology must be tailored to specific populations that may vary by language, usableinfrastructure, and end-user adaptations. Context and adaptation are essential for reachingmarginalizedpopulations,andtherebyreachingtheSDGsthroughimprovedlearningandeducation.

Technological innovations canhelp to implement and fasten the realisationof aparadigm shift inpedagogytowardstransformational learning,supportingstudents(1)tosolvecomplexproblemsinaninterdisciplinarysettinginconnectionwithrealsocietyandethicalreasoningand(2)toactivatethenetworksofknowledgeintheirbrainsthankstodiscussions,feedbackandreflection.

Technological innovations in education should be encouraged by educational institutions,legislatorsandgovernmentat-largebyprovidinganopenspaceforsuchinnovationandnotlimitingitbyrestrictivestandardsandregulations.

EnergyPositiveCommunities

G-STIC 2017 called for an energy access agenda that is driven by decentralized systems that areaffordable, appropriate, allow for bottom-up distribution and generate and deliver renewableenergytocoverthelivingandcomfortneedsoflocalcommunities.

Thepositive impactofsuchdemand-drivenenergysystemson localcommunitiesgoesbeyondthedelivery of energy services and providing universal access to modern, affordable, reliable andsustainable energy (SDG 7). Access to modern energy improves the availability of water andsanitation for local communities (SDG6). Also, by advancing employment in local communities, ithelps promote sustainable economic growth (SDG 8) and industrialisation (SDG 9). Increasing theshare of local renewable energy sources will also contribute to combat climate change and itsimpacts(SDG13).

G-STIC 2018 identified that to achieve a stable investment climate for energy positivecommunities,weneedtobringtogethertwoworlds.Ononehand,theworldofinternationalandnationalenergyscenariosandplanninghasastrongfocusonthecentralenergynetworks.Ontheotherhand,theworldoflocalenergyplanningandsolutionsiscloselyinvolvedwithrenewablemini-and microgrids. More than ever, we need an equal focus on decentralized and central energysolutions,andweneedtomonitorthemarketimpactofeachsolutionwithreal-timedatainordertoconvinceprivateinvestors.

To bring both worlds together,we need a coherent portfolio with intelligent decision tools forenergyplanningondifferentgeographiclevels.ThesetoolscanbebasedonagrowingamountofbigdataavailablefromrunninginitiativesandcanbewidelyappliedviaopensourceplatformssuchasOdyssey,OSeMOSYS, PEAK, etc. These decision tools allow translating thewide opportunity ofpromisingenergysolutionstothelocalconditions(whichvaryalot),butcanonlyworkifthetargetsandquestionsareclearlydefined foreachcommunityand if there isanactive involvementof the(local) stakeholders. Inaddition,weneed to clarify/definehow to feed/update theseopen sourceserviceplatformswithrelevantinnovationsandpracticeexamples.


To empower a shift from thousands tomillions of energy positive communities,weequally needenergy solutions that are based on the principles ofmodularity, interoperability and reliability.Thisisessentialifwewanttosupportenergypositivecommunitiestogrowinfeasiblesteps,andifwewanttoassurethe involvementandacceptanceoftheir inhabitants. Inthiscontext,anenergysolutionisnotmerelyatechnology.Anenergysolutionisacombinedsolutionof“hardware,multi-servicesandanintegratedfinancingmechanism”.Energyisnolongeracommoditysoldperunit,itisacompleteserviceadaptedtothelocalneedsofcommunitiesandtheirinhabitants.

G-STIC2018clearlyidentifiedthatentirelynewsolution,stillrequiringadditionalresearch,canalsohave a significant impact before 2030, especially as digital breakthroughs in the field of artificialintelligence(e.g.deeplearningforenergymanagement)haveproventohaveamuchshortergo-to-marketthanhardwaretechnologies.

GeospatialDataThe Earth is finite. Both its resources and the space available for people, animals, and plants arelimited.Geospatialdatacanhelpinmanagingthesefiniteresourcesandthelimitedspacethatisavailable.However, as the amount of available geospatial data is growing at an astonishing rate, this holdsbothopportunitiesandchallenges.Extractingvaluableinformationfromadatatsunamiforuseinawiderangeofapplicationsisbynomeansaneasytask,butcanbeenabledbyBigDataAnalytics,AI,cloudcomputingaswellascrowdsourcingandopensourcesoftwaredevelopment.Sharingdata,aswellasdataprocessingmethods,isakeyelementtoharmonizingalldata.Technicaladvancesareclearlybeingmade,evenifnotatthesameleveleverywhere.AccesstoEarthObservationdatathroughtheinternet,forexample,isnotalwayseasyinmanyAfricanregions.Astechnicaladvanceswillcontinuetobemade,theuseofEarthObservationdatatobettermanagetheEarth’sresourcescanincreasinglybecomeasignificanthelpinvariousapplicationsthatmatterconcretelytopeople’sdailylives.Examplesinclude:

● SDG 1 - No Poverty: helping farmers to improve food production so they can sustainthemselves.

● SDG2 - Zerohunger: foodproductionanddistribution, developmentof insurancepoliciesagainstdroughtandothernaturalhazards.

● SDG3-Goodhealthandwell-being:monitoringofairqualityandthespreadofdiseases.● SDG4-Qualityeducation: improvingaccesstoschoolsforall,raisingawarenessaboutthe

environmentandsustainablepractices.● SDG 6 - Clean water and sanitation: overlaying population density maps on maps of

untreatedwastewaterleakingintotheenvironment,inlandwaterqualitymonitoring.● SDG11–Sustainablecitiesandcommunities:measuringandmodellingairquality incities

andacrossregions● SDG14–Lifebelowwater:marinemonitoringoftheoceans.● SDG15-Lifeonland:trackingtreecoverandmonitorforestlossorgainovertime,globally.

Health


Healthisanindividualandcollectiveright,anditisessentialforqualityoflife.The2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentcallsfor“Ensuringhealthylivesandpromotewell-beingforallatallages,”(SDG3)andhighlightsuniversalhealthcoverage(UHC)asaparamountgoal.

Over the past decades, exogenous factors such as economic development, urbanization,globalization, and technological conversion have transformed the world. The demographic,nutritional, and epidemiological transitions - clear consequences of these changes - create newperspectives and challenges for the future and have direct impacts on the field of health. Toovercome these challenges, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) gather InformationTechnology(IT),ArtificialIntelligence(AI),bigdata,biotechnology,andothersources,tocomeupwithawiderangeofsolutions.Atthesametimeastheyraiseexpectationsforafuturewithbetterhealthanduniversalhealthcoverage,theyalsoraiseconcernsabouttheirpotentialtobedisruptive,increaseinequalitiesandchallengethesustainabilityofhealthcaresystems.

Theholisticapproachofthe2030Agendareflects,amongstotherdimensions,theneedtoanalysethe social determinants of health (for example, climate change, urban life, food safety, andenvironmental degradation) and find “one-health” solutions that integrate human, animal andecosystems. To achieve a more inclusive and sustainable world, it is extremely important tosynchronize the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with technologies that areefficient,applicable,scalable,andaffordable.Inotherwords,tobetterachievetheSDG3targetonuniversalhealthcoverage,itiscrucialtoshrinkthegapbetweenSTIandhealthgovernance.

The G-STIC 2018 Health sessions looked at the problems that health faces today, gathering thetechnology trends to face them, and the governance systems that can lead toward the SDGs. Inparticular, it was discussed how technology can improve universal health coverage systems andpreparednessforemergingdiseases.G-STIC2018recommendationsincludetheuseofbigdataandAI for health surveillance systems, the use of OMICS for health predictions, the development ofaccessible vaccines and the development of off-grid energy technologies to support the vaccinelogisticscoldchain.

G-STIC2018alsoaddressed technologies suchas lab-on-a-chip,point-of-carediagnostic tools, andsmart vaccines, which can contribute to sustainable healthcare. Conference participantsrecommended fighting inequality through inclusive technologies, fostering open sources in thedevelopment of accessible AI for diagnosis, and using IT and AI for health systemsmanagement.Theyalsoadvisedusingoff-gridenergytechnologiestosupportthevaccinelogisticscoldchain.

Thecross-cuttingnatureofhealthanditssynergieswithothersectorswasalsodiscussedextensivelyduringG-STCI2018,focusingoninter-sectoralapproachesandhealthtechnologieswithimpactsonabroadergroupofSDGs.Itwasrecommendeddevelopingasystemanalysistoaccesshealth-relatedSDGsandprioritizetheimplementationoftechnologieswithabroadinteractiveeffect.Theuseofsocial networks and social media to engage sustainable policies and to promote inter-sectoralinformationexchangewas identifiedasa leverto improvehealthsurveillanceandregulation. TheOne-Healthapproachwasmentionedasasustainabledevelopmentinter-sectoralstrategy,bringinguptheneedtocreateconsortiumfundingforbasicdiseasepreparednesstechnologies.

G-STIC 2018 thus brought attention to technologies that are impactful, scalable and affordable,which can confer resilience touniversalhealth coverageand contribute to themaingoalof the2030 Agenda: to promote sustainable development, leaving no one behind. A broader list of


recommendations was developed, including the need to reinforce the aspirational goals of 2030Agenda and apply the principles and recommendations of the UN’s Technological FacilitationMechanism(TFM)tohealth.G-STIC2018emphasizedtheneedtobuildSTINationalRoadmapstohealth-related SDGs and bridge the divide between health and STI Governance. It also advisedfostering national innovation for health systems and building innovative funding mechanisms forhealth innovationwhile underlining that such large-scale approach does not exclude the need tobuild capacity to incorporate health technologies at a local level, reassuring inclusiveness andaccessibilityforall.

(Waste)WaterasaResourceG-STIC2017concludedthat"Resourcerecoveryfromwastewaterisreadytotransitiontofull-scalemarket applications.The technologies to do so are available, affordable, accepted and applied incitiesand industriesalike,at largeandsmall scales.Adding the functionof resource recovery toawastewater treatment facility has the potential to create additional sources of income or costsavings, includingfromthesalesofbulkwater,bio-energyorfertilisers,orthereduction inenergycoststhroughon-sitebio-andrenewableenergyproduction."The"water"discussionsatG-STIC2018zoomedinon(waste)waterasaresourceinsupportofthesub-target ofSDG 6.3: " .... halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantivelyincreasingrecyclingandsafereuseglobally".Thissub-targettranslatesinconnectingapproximately500,000citizensperday to some formofwastewater treatment - anddo thiseverydaybetweennowand2030!G-STIC2018identifiedthatthepriorityactionstomakesuchresourcerecoveryacommonpracticeat theglobal levelandhencecontribute toachieving thewater treatmentandreuse targetof theAgenda2030,wereasfollows:

● Actnowdeliveringwastewater treatment solutions, leavingnoonebehindand learningfromdoing.Evenifthis impliesworkingwithlessthanperfectsolutions,celebratingshort-termsuccesseswillenabletodeliverlong-termresults.

● Develop, adopt and implement new regulations, including tariff reforms, that promote(1)highereffluentstandardsforwastewatertreatmentand(2)enablethesalesofrecoveredproducts(energy,nutrients,water,etc);

● Develop and implement new business models and financial mechanisms to establishwastewater treatment as a new asset class, mobilising public and private financingforinfrastructure&refurbishingof"resource-recovering"wastewatertreatmentplants;

● Establishresults-orientedpublic-private-peoplepartnershipsformonitoring,reportingandverification.Weneedbankableprojectsbutevenmoreimportantly,weneedprojectswithtangibleresults;

● Clarify and exploit the benefits that water brings to health, energy and agriculture, toestablishstrongsynergisticcasesthatcombinewatertechnologieswithothertechnologies;

● Strengthen the empowerment of people to accelerate change. Strong, local reuse casesstart with people recognising the value that water brings to them. Adequate qualitymonitoringsystemsandopencommunicationchannelsneedtobeestablishedtobuildtrust.


3Keyfindingsofthecross-cuttingthemes

Climate-smartTechnology

One of the key recommendations emanating from G-STIC 2018 Climate-Smart Technologydiscussions is the development of a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, supported by research,knowledgeandevaluationprotocols,tounlockfinancingforincubatorsandacceleratorsanduptakeofclimatesafetechnologies:

● Implementingpolicies, standards, regulations and financial instruments thatbuildmarketsandprovideincentivesforclimatetechnologyentrepreneurship;

● Supporting research and knowledge to understand how the Paris Agreement actions andpolicychangescanfeedintomodellingplatformssocountriescanassesstheclimateimpacton its vulnerable communities and regions, on its infrastructure, aswell as their progresstowardsSDGgoals;

● Facilitating private sector participation by undertaking business environment regulatoryreforms that incentivise businesses to develop and implement climate solutions, whileensuringmaximumpublicsafety;

● Utilisinggovernmentanddevelopmentfinancinginstitutionsfundingtobridgethefinancinggap, in particular for climate change adaptation projects that might not be commerciallybankableyet.

Otherkeyrecommendationsrelateto

● Crowdfunding in private finance, to help transform ideas into concrete solutions bydeveloping financial instruments that reduce the risk andopportunity cost for localpublicand private financial institutions to invest in the development and demonstration oftechnologiesthatwillhavemultiplebenefits-bothonclimateandSDGsfronts.

● Encouragingthecreationofmulti-countryincubatorsandacceleratorsthatdrawonalargerpool of entrepreneurs, financial providers, supply chains and potential markets, with theparticipationofpublicandprivatefinanciers;

● Strengthening the adaptive capacity of innovation actors through training and educationprogrammes,includingtheprofessionalsthatmanageincubatorsandaccelerators.

GenderMainstreaming

TheachievementoftheambitiousSustainableDevelopmentGoals (SDGs),notablygenderequalityand women’s empowerment (SDG 5), requires transformative shifts, integrated approaches, andnewsolutions.Innovationandtechnologyprovideunprecedentedopportunitiestobreaktrendsandreachthosewhoarethemost likely tobe leftbehind.This iswhyUNWomenUNWomenand itsGlobalInnovationCoalitionforChangehavedevelopedtheGenderInnovationPrinciples,tosetthestandardforagender-responsiveapproachtoinnovation.


The principles are a guide to help organizations fulfil themission of promoting and championingwomen and girls and to steer an organization both internally, in its innovation process, andexternally,inestablishingwaystosupportwomenandgirls.

UNWomenengagedG-STICparticipantstosignupfortheprinciplestoimprovetheirorganizationalandbusinesspractices,committingto:

● Making a high-level corporate commitment to adopt a gender-responsive approach toinnovation;

● Designinginnovationsthatincludewomenasendusers;● Adopting an adaptive approach to implementation, ensuring innovations are gender-

responsiveandmeettheneedsofwomen;● Evaluatinggender-responsiveimpactusingadata-drivenapproach;● Scalinginnovationsthatprovidesustainablesolutionstomeettheneedsofwomenandgirls.

As each organization is unique with different challenges around this subject, UN Women hasdevelopedspecifictoolstohelpallsignatoriesstarttheir journeyandaccessself-assessmenttools,resourcesandbestpracticestomakeinnovationandtechnologyworkforwomen.

ICTasEnablingTechnology

ThediscussionsrelatedtoICTanddigitaltechnologyinG-STIC2018confirmedthefindingsofG-STIC2017:ICTisakeycomponentandkeyenablerformost,ifnotall,integratedtechnologicalsolutionsfor the SDGs. It is vital that an open and honest conversation continues with all relevantstakeholdersonhowtoaddressthepotentialnegativeimpactsofthetechnologyroll-out.

Partnershipsandjointinvestmentsinconnectivitywillbeindispensabletoalloweverybodytoreapthebenefitofthedigitalrevolution.Connectingtheunconnected,integrateSDGsconsiderationsinICTprojectsfromtheverystart,ensurethatsolutionsempowerpeople,anddevelopcyber-securitymeasuresweresomeofthekeyG-STIC2017messagesthatwerehighlightedagain.

TherecentreportfromtheGlobalEnablingSustainabilityInitiative(GeSI),EnablingtheGlobalGoals,demonstrated positive correlations and early signs of causation between digital access and SDGachievements.ThekeynoteaddressbytheNobelPrizeLaureateShirinEbadiduringtheG-STIC2018High-LevelPlenaryOpeningSessionhighlightedthe importanceofhumanrightsconsiderations forsustainable development. The newly-released GeSI report, Enabling Rights, presented at G-STIC2018, looksathowICTapplicationscansupporttheworkofhumanrightsdefenders,andSDGs16and17.

SustainableTechnology&Development


Technologyinnovationanditsupscalingoffertheopportunitytoleapfrogtheaccesstobasicservicessuchasenergy,potablewater,etc.fordevelopingcountries.Fromadevelopmentandbasicaccesspoint of view, technology upscaling requires a holistic enabling environment that covers businessmodelsandsocialinclusion.

A largenumberof innovative technologies thatcan transformthedevelopmentscenario fromthepoint of view of the economically deprived are ready for upscaling and urgently need policy,regulatoryandfinancial(particularlyde-risking)support.Fortechnologyinnovationtomakeadentinthedevelopmentscenario,itneedstobecoupledwitheffortsforbuildinghumancapacitiessuchastechnical,entrepreneurial,financialandmanagementskills.

YouthEngagement

Paradigm shifts are needed to enable purposeful transformative technological pathways towardssustainable development.We need to shift to an economic system that views the economy as asubset of the environment, with cleared defined planetary boundaries and biologic carryingcapacities,andweneedtopromoterights-basedparticipationthatovercomespowerstrugglesandensuresmulti-stakeholderinclusion.

OtherkeymessagesthatarosefromtheG-STIC2018discussionsrelatedtoYouthEngagementarethat (1)comprehensiveanticipatoryand lifecycletechnologyassessmentshouldbe integrated intothedevelopmentofSTIRoadmaps for theSDGs, conductingassessmentswith theparticipationofdiversestakeholdergroupsandwithforesightonthepotentialformultidimensionalrisks,and(2)amore intergenerational approach shouldbeadopted throughout theprocessofdeveloping,using,and monitoring various STI strategies. Education systems should be transformed in ways thatpromote both STI skills, as well as an understanding of the complex ethical, legal, and societaldimensionsrelatedtoSTIstrategies.YoungpeopleshouldbemeaningfullyengagedinSTIstructuresatthelocal,national,regional,andgloballevels.

UN MGCY commits to continuing its role as a G-STIC partner in facilitating the meaningfulengagementofyoungpeopleinthepreparation,executionandoutcomeoftheconference,aswellasconnectingG-STICtoourparticipationinthevariousintergovernmentalprocessesattheUN.


4KeyfindingsoftheIndustryNight

BambooG-STIC 2018 highlighted building construction and clean energy production as two maindevelopmentareasforbamboo.While existing construction technology is copied from wood technology, new constructiontechnology should explore and exploit the specific characteristics andqualities of bamboo.Onekey challenge is reducing manufacturing costs, which will happen when production starts atscale. Another key challenge is the lack of bamboo-based standards and certification schemes,whichisawork-in-progresswithISOandotherorganisations.Energycurrentlymainlycoversbambooasawoodenergysource (burningtheculmorchangingitinto charcoal).Gasification is a more efficient form of energy production, and this is starting tohappenincountriesasdiverseasIndia,IndonesiaandKenya.Energyfrompelletproductionwouldbeaninnovation,possiblytoreplacewoodpelletsfortheEuropeanmarketsothattheEUMemberStatescanreachtheirtargetof20%renewableenergyby2020.Themainchallengeforthisisplantinglargeareasofbamboo.Thatshouldbepossible,however,asbamboosarenaturalvegetationthroughoutthetropics(source:INBAR),andthereisalotofbarrenand unproductive land in the tropical belt that could be restored through planting vegetation(source:WorldResourcesInstitute).Thiswouldcreate jobs intheglobalSouth,providesecondarybenefits to local farmers of food and resilience. It would help local governments with carboncapture,especially intheroot/rhizomesystems,andprovideasourceofrenewablebio-energyforthemarket,withpotentialhardcurrencyincomefordevelopingcountries.


5G-STICcontributiontointernationalprocessesdealingwithsustainabletechnologyandinnovationfortheSDG

The G-STIC 2018 Co-host statement confirmed a concrete engagement toward internationalprocesses that forward STI for the SDGs. In striving to catalyse a process of better harnessingsustainable technologies and innovation to achieve the SDGs by 2030, and improve humanwell-beingandprosperitybroadly,G-STICpledges itssupporttotheinternationalprocessesthataimatprovidingSTIsupporttotheSDGs.

Inparticular,G-STICpromises tosupport the IATTExpertGroupMeetingonSTIRoadmaps for theSDGs process under the Technology Facilitation Mechanism and its STI forum, by providing forspecifictargetsofaselectednumberofSDGs.

ThisChairpersonSummaryincludesexamplesofapotentialinputthatcanbeprovidedbyG-STICasan input to the guidelines on selected technologies that can significantly contribute to theachievementofspecificSDGs.TheexampleshavebeensummarizedinaseriesoftablesrelatedtoindividualG-STICthemes.


BAMBOOInnovativemarket-readytechsolutions

PertainingtoSDG

ContributiontoachievementofSDG

Barrierstodeployment

Levers/policychangesrequiredforupscaling

Verifiabletargets&actionsbyindustry

Criticaleconomicdimensionofdeployment

Criticalsocialdimensionofdeployment

Bambooasfood SDG1 ++ Culturalstigma.Lack

ofawareness

Promotionand

publicity

Establishmentof

SMEs

Limitedmarket Reluctancetotrynew

products

Bamboofibresforproductionoftextiles

SDG12 +++ Useofpolluting

chemicalsforfibre

extraction

Improvedwaste

management

Creationof

closedloopwaste

management

systems

Limitedneedfor

irrigationwillbea

criticalpositive

argument

Sustainabilityfactor

willencourage

consumers.If

pollutionisanissue,

however,wehavea

problem.

Promote

alternativefibre

extractionlike

Lyocell

Implementation

ofnewmethods

Isalternative

technologycheaper

thanRayon?

Ifwecanaddressthe

pollutionfactor,

consumerswillbuy

bambootextiles

Bamboofibresforcompositematerials(construction&manufacturing)

SDG11

SDG12

++

+++

Useofunsafeglues&

adhesives

Encourage

research

Availabilityof

newgluesonthe

market

Isitcheaperthan

plastic?


willencourage

consumers.Ifsafety

ofgluesisanissue,

however,wehavea

problem.

Limitedsupplyofraw

material

Plantmore

bamboo,aspartof

climatemitigation

actions

Hectaresof

bamboo

increased

5-7yearsROIon

financingbamboo

plantation

Managingbamboo

plantationsrequires

differentskillsfrom

managingwood

plantations


Engineeredbambooforinteriordesignandfurniture

SDG2

SDG11

SDG13

+

+++

++

Limitedsupplyofraw

material

Plantmore

bamboo,aspartof

climatemitigation

actions

Hectaresof

bamboo

increased

5-7yearsROIon

financingbamboo

plantation

Managingbamboo

plantationsrequires

differentskillsfrom

managingwood

plantations

Woodbuildingcodes

andproduction

standardsdonot

applytobamboo

Approvestandards

andadaptbuilding

codes

Adoptionof

legislative

changes

Certificationfor

marketaccess

Consumerswant

proofofcertification

Lackof

encouragementfor

localindustry

Providefinancial

incentives

Establishmentof

SMEs

DoSMEshave

marketaccess?


willencourage

consumers

Bambooforrenewableenergy

SDG7

SDG13

SDG1

+++

++

+

Limitedsupplyofraw

material

Plantmore

bamboo,aspartof

climatemitigation

actions

Hectaresof

bamboo

increased

5-7yearsROIon

financingbamboo

plantation

Managingbamboo

plantationsrequires

differentskillsfrom

managingwood

plantations

Bamboonotincluded

inenergypolicies

Developnew

policies

Adoptionof

legislative

changes

Renewableenergyis

growthsector

Publicopinion

encourages

renewableenergy

Lackofawareness

aboutinvestment

opportunities

Shareinformation Establishmentof

businesses

Isbamboocheaper

thanothertypesof

renewableenergy?

Reluctancetotrynew

products

Bambooforlandandwatermanagement

SDG15

SDG13

+++

+

Bamboonotincluded

inrelevantpolicies

Promote

appropriate

amendmentof

policies

Hectaresof

bamboo

increased

5-7yearsROIon

financingbamboo

plantation

Managingbamboo

plantationsrequires

differentskillsfrom

managingwood

plantations

Publicconcernsabout

invasiveness

Explainthatmost

bamboosarenot

invasive.Provide

management

adviceforinvasive

bamboos.

Awareness

materials

Potentialeconomic

benefitsare

immense

Overcomeperception

and“fakenews”


Bambooandrattanforeco-tourism

SDG15 + Encouragementfor

localindustry

Providefinancial

incentives

Establishmentof

SMEs

Potentialeconomic

returnishigh

Touristsarekeenon

eco-tourism


CIRCULARECONOMY-Closingthematerialloop-Sortinganddismantling

Innovativemarket-readytechsolutions

PertainingtoSDG


Barrierstodeployment Levers/policychangesrequiredforupscaling




On-the-beltcharacterizationofmixedwastestreams

9

12

+ Effortformachine

learning

Upscalingofequipment

tofullindustrialscale

Bindingrecycling

goals

Upscalingand

investmentcost

Enablingthe

replacementof

hand-pickinglabour

Robotizeddismantlingofwasteelectronicequipment

9

12

++ Specificdesignof

individualbrandsand

models

HighCAPEXrequires

largevolumeflow–

increasecollectionand

logistics

Building

recycling/refurbishment

systemaroundthe

dismantling

Wasteshipment

regulation

Proximityprinciple

forwaste

management

Introduction

take-backsystem

foruseddevices

Designproducts

fordisassembly

Valueofrecycled

materials

Re-useof

equipmentin

developing

countriesallows

low-priceaccessto

products,butlimits

end-of-liferecycling


CIRCULARECONOMY-Trackingproductsacrosstheirlifecycle


PertainingtoSDG






Digitaltwinsofbuildings

9

11

+ Dataneededforawide

varietyofproductsand

materials

Limitedstandardization

ofconstruction

elements

Legislationon

selective

demolishingand

re-use/recyclingof

construction

materials

Introductionof

building

information

management

systemsin

construction

projects

Increasedmaterial

efficiencywilllower

construction

materialssales

volumes

Increasingthe

necessarytechnical

skillslevelof

construction

workers

Blockchainandtagging-basedvirtualproductchains

9

12

++ Productsnotdesigned

fordisassemblyresults

infunctionalityloss

uponrecycling

Lackofwillingnesswith

productmanufacturers

toturntocircular

businessmodels

Developmentof

opensourcedata

platformsand

blockchain

protocols

Designproducts

fordisassembly

Introductionof

taggingin

productparts

Opensource

sharingof

product

composition

Developmentof

blockchaintechnology

Re-useof

equipmentin

developing

countriesallows

low-priceaccessto

products,butlimits

end-of-liferecycling


CIRCULARECONOMY-Improvingurbanmaterialflow


PertainingtoSDG






Digitalplatformsforproductandmaterialreuse

9

12

++ Reliabilityofplatform

providersandlogistics

Acknowledgment

ofcommercial

digitalreuse

platformsasa

contributionto

wasteprevention

targets

Reliable

transactions

basedon

guarantee

approach

Avoidanceoftaxby

directpeer-to-peer

sales

Misuseofplatforms

fornon-market

conformsales


ENERGYPOSITIVECOMMUNITIES


PertainingtoSDG






Micro-andmini-gridsbasedonlocaloptimalmixofrenewableenergysupply

3

4

5

7

9

11

+++ Interactionwiththe

centralgrid

Stableinvestment

climate

Tailor-madedesign

Smartmeteringdevices

Highinitialinvestment

Integrationoflocal

energyplanningin

nationalenergy

scenario’s

Promote“open”

decision/design

platformfortailor-

madelocalgrids

consistingofa

combinationofTSF

combinations:

technology,(multi)

serviceand

financing

Modular,

interoperable

andquality

micro/mini-grid

components

Needfornew

financingschemes:

pay-as-you-go,micro-

financing,thirdparty

Createcommunity

serviceswiththe

micro-mini-grids,in

somecasesco-

operativeinitiatives

arepossible


Swarmtechnologyfordecentralintegrationofenergypositivecommunities

7

11

++ Regulatoryconditions

onexchangeof

electricitybetween

prosumers

Createsupporting

regulatory

environmentboth

forenergy

exchangeand

businessmodels

fore.g.peak

shaving,orother

gridsservices

Positionas

aggregatorson

theenergy

marketco

Swarmtechnology

aloneislow-cost,the

applicationdepends

onthedeploymentof

interoperableenergy

componentsasPV-

panels,batteries,etc.

Theimpactdepends

onthescaleof

application;the

securityofend-user

dataisimportant

Localrenewableenergysupplywithservicestoagro-economy(e.g.soilfertilization)basedonlocalbiomass

2

7

11

+ Localintegrationin

agro-economy

traditions

Biomassavailability

Biomassfueldiversity

See“microand

mini-grids”

Maximizethe

fuelflexibilityof

thetechnologies

Provethereal

impacton

fertilityofthe

soilandfarmers

productivity

Lowinitialinvestment

cost(lowernominal

powerrange),

minimalmaintenance

cost

Theimpactdepends

onthesocial

preferencesand

agricultural

practicesofthelocal

farmer


Localrenewableenergysupplyforcommunitywatersupply

6

7

11

++ Localconditions

(availablewaterquality)

Alotof(renewable)

energyisneeded

Highinitialinvestment

cost

Interactionbetween

water-energy

companiesrequired

Developwater

demandplansand

supportthecorrect

choiceofthelocal

conditions

Supportfavourable

localenergy

distribution

conditions

Supportthe

interaction

between

energy/water

companies

See

water/materials

topicsfor

separation

technologies

Furtherlowerthe

costof

renewable

energysolutions

Thecostofthe

(desalinated)wateris

mainlydependenton

the(declineof)cost

ofthesupplied

renewableenergy

Thedisposalofthe

brine(waste)can

disturblocalenergy

systems


(WASTE)WATERASARESOURCE


PertainingtoSDG ContributiontoachievementofSDG

Barrierstodeployment

Levers/policychangesrequiredforupscaling




Proteinrecoveryfromwastewater

SDG2:Wemake

microbialprotein

fromCO2from

wastewaterbio-gas

+ Public

sentimentsand

social

acceptance

Newregulationand

policies

Pilotprojectsand

scale-up

Contributionto

proteinproduction

Cheapproduction

ofproteinfor

animalfeed

Wastewatertreatmenteliminatinghazardouschemicals

SDG3:Contributes

toSDG3.9reducing

theexposureto

hazardous

chemicalsinwater

++ Lackof

awareness

Morestringent

regulationand

enforcement

EffluentWater

quality–

monitoring,

reporting,

verification

Additionalcostsfor

industryand(local)

governmentwith

limitedbudgets

Limited(but

growing)citizen

awarenessand

demand

Wastewatertreatmentandwaterre-use

SDG6:Contributes

totheentireSDG6

and6.3in

particular,reducing

pollutionand

halvingthe

proportionof

untreated

wastewateran

increasingrecycling,

and6.4Wateruse

&WaterScarcity

+++ Lackof

awareness

about

investment

opportunities

Improvedwaste

management

regulation,national

policyand

strategiesforwater

andsanitation

sector

Amount/

percentage

wastewater

collectedand

safelytreated

Salesofenergy,bulk

water,nutrients,…

producedfrom

wastewater,

willingnesstopayfor

wastewaterservices

Demandforclean

water,safeand

cleanenvironment

Demandformore

waterunderwater

scarcityand

populationgrowth


Wastewatertreatmentwithbio-energyrecovery

SDG7:Contributes

to7.2toincreasein

shareofrenewable

energyand7.3

improvementin

energyefficiency

+++ Wastewater

quality

insufficientfor

energy

production(too

diluted)

Policyand

regulationtoallow

biogasandCHPto

produceenergy;

Attractivefeed-in

tariffs;allow

organicsolidwaste

tobemixedwith

wastewater

Amountof

biogasand

energyproduced

fromwastewater

treatment

facilities

Renewableenergy

marketdevelopment,

energyprize

Demandfor

renewableenergy

andwillingnessto

pay

SustainableandresilientInfrastructure/Industrialinnovation

SDG9:Contributes

to9.1todevelop

sustainableand

resilient

infrastructureand

9.4toupgrade

infrastructureto

makethem

sustainable

++ Fundingfor

applied

researchand

rapidscaleup

Promotionofnew

partnerships-PPP

andTripleHelixon

appliedresearchto

market

Pilotprojectsand

scale-up

marketdemandfor

newlyproduced

productsfrom

wastewater

Socialacceptanceof

newproductsfrom

wastewater(e.g.

protein)

Urbandrainageandadvancedwastewatertreatment

SDG11Contributes

to11.6reducing

environmental

impactofcities,

especiallythrough

addressing

municipalwaste

management

+++ Lackofpolitical

willand

awarenessof

opportunity

Nationalandlocal

regulationand

enforcement;

PPPregulation

%wastewater

collectedand

treated

Solvencylocal

government,

wastewatertariffs

Acceptanceof

privatesector

involvedinwater

andwastewater

services


WastewatertreatmentwithreductionofGHGemissions

SDG13Contributes

to13.afulfilling

commitmentsmade

undertheUNFCCC

andParis

agreementby

reducingcarbon

emissionsrelatedto

(untreated)

wastewater

++ Lackof

awareness

Policyand

regulationtoallow

biogasandCHPto

produceenergy;

Attractivefeed-in

tariffs

Biogasproduced,

bio-energy

produced

Energyprices Demandfor

addressingclimate

changecauses

Wastewatertreatmenttoreducepollution

SDG14Contributes

to14.1reduce

marinepollution

fromland-based

activities,incl.

nutrientpollution

+++ Lackof

encouragement

forlocal

industry

Providefinancial

incentives

Waterquality

improvements,

reductionof

nutrientsand

hazardous

chemicals

Businessopportunity

forenergyandwater

productionandre-

use,fertilizer

production

Demandfor

improvedwater

qualityfor

downstreamuse


6Closingremarks–Wordofthanks

Above all, the overall message of G-STIC 2018 is a positive one. Even though the challenge toachievetheSDGsby2030hascertainlynotdiminishedsinceG-STIC2017tookplace,wecanachievemanyoftheSDGsby2030.Thiswillnothappenbyitselfbutrequiresdeeptechnologicaltransitionsthrough the deployment at scale of new,market-ready technological solutions that already existtoday.

Theresolveandingenuityofthoseintheacademic,research,NGO,andtheprivateandpublicsectorcommunitiestomovejointlytoamoresustainableworldcontinuesunabated.G-STIC2018echoedthisresolveandcontributedinconcretetermstofindingtransformative,existingandmarket-readytechnologicalsolutionstothemanychallengesthatcivilsocietyandtheprivateandpublicsectorsfaceinrealisingtheSDGs.

Knowingthesetechnologicalsolutionsisnotenough,however,tobringthemtothemarketatscale.Societal,policy, legislative, regulatoryand institutionalchanges,aswellaschanges in the financialandbusinessenvironments,areneeded,alongwithchanges inhumanperceptions,behaviourandconsumerpreferences. That’swhyG-STICwants tobring the transformative, existing andmarket-ready technological solutions to theattentionofpolicyanddecisionmakers so that theycan takethemintoconsiderationwhendevelopingnewlawsandregulations.

Tosupportthehigherorder,whole-of-governmentchangesthatareessentialtocatalyseaprocessofbetterharnessing thecontributionof sustainable technologiesand innovation forachieving theSDGsby2030,G-STICiscommittedtosupportingtheinternationalprocessesthataimatprovidingSTIsupporttotheSDGs.

On behalf of theG-STIC 2018 co-hosts and theG-STIC 2018 thematic leads, I sincerely thank thenumerousexpertsandallconferenceparticipantsfortheiractivecontributionandengagementwithG-STIC2018.IhopetowelcomethemagainatG-STIC2019,November27-29,Brussels,Belgium.

TheG-STIC2018Chairperson,

DirkFransaer

ManagingDirector,VITO


Annexe1:G-STIC2017Keyfindings

KEYFINDINGSOFG-STIC2017CONFERENCE

1. Many technologies needed to achieve many SDG-related targets are readily available.Following the demonstration to showeffectiveness under real-life conditions,we need todevelopstrategiesfordeploymentatscaletoalevelnecessarytoachievetheSDGs.Forthis,suitablepolicyandinstitutionalenvironments,models,targetedincentivesandpartnershipsare needed,which themselves are underpinned and strengthened by deep and sustainedbusiness,politicalandcitizenengagement.

2. Widely distributed and bottom-up technological solutions that are appropriate forcommunities’needsandcircumstancesare todrive therealisationof theenergyand foodSDGs,twokeySDGsforachievingthe2030Agenda.

3. Circular economy is an essential element of the new narrative, with Industry 4.0 a keyenabler to achieve it and resource recovery and use from waste streams, such aswastewaterandCO2,thenewnormal.

4. ICTsareanindispensabletooltoenabletheachievementoftheSDGs.

KEYFINDINGSOFG-STIC2017THEMATICCLUSTERS

AGROECOLOGYFORSUSTAINABLEFOODSYSTEMS

A paradigm shift is needed from input-intensive crop monoculture and industrial-scale animalfeedlots towards more resilient and diversified agroecological practices. G-STIC 2017 providedevidence that such diversified agroecological systems canwork in delivering nutrition and securelivelihoods,intheplaceswhereneededmostandtopeoplewhoneedthesemost.

CIRCULARECONOMYANDTHEROLEOFINDUSTRY4.0

Industry 4.0 provides the technological driver for circular innovation, while circular economy isconsidered a driver for envisioning the industrial framework in 2030. We can’t have a circulareconomy without the 4th industrial revolution, nor can we have socially useful and doabletransitions to more sustainable economic development models without advancing the circulareconomy.

ENERGYPOSITIVECOMMUNITIES

G-STICcallsforanenergyaccessagendathatisdrivenbydecentralizedsystemsthatareaffordable,appropriate, andallow forbottom-updistribution.Ownershipof customers in theenergypositivecommunitiestransitionisessentialintheenergyaccessdebate.

SMARTWATER

Thedigitalrevolutionisprovidingahugepotentialtomanageourwaterresourcesmoreefficiently.The Smart Water session illustrated how Instrumentation, Control and Automation (ICA)technologies,combinedwith informationderivedfromremotesensing,arealreadyrevolutionizinghowwaterresourcesaremanaged.Threecomponentsarerequiredtomovefromdigitaltechnology


tosmartsolutions:(1)thecreationofdataplatforms,(2)theavailabilityofopendata,and(3)citizenparticipation.

URBANDESIGNANDSUSTAINABLEBUILDING

A systemic and integrated approach is needed, in which design, construction, operation and usecome together, with ICTs and the Internet of Things as major enablers. Much of the neededtechnologyalreadyexists,butmovingforwardwillrequirenewvoluntaryandmandatorymeasuresandmoredemonstrationprojectsthatwillcreatetherequiredpublicandpoliticalawareness.

ELECTRICMOBILITY

Ameretechnologicalshiftwithoutchangesinmobilitybehaviourisinsufficient,andtheimportanceof urban planning, fuel efficiency, and prioritising system electrification was underscored.Meanwhile,managingthegrowthoftheglobalvehiclefleetalongwitheffortstoreducethecarbonintensityofthefleetisavitalintervention.

WASTEWATERASARESOURCE

Thereisaneedtonotthinkofwastewaterasaburden,butratherasaproviderofenergy,nutrientsand cleanwater for irrigation and human use. Again,much of the needed technology exists, andthere is an immediate need formore demonstration efforts and new businessmodels to ensureeconomicviability.

BAMBOO

Bamboofibreandpolesaresuccessfullyusedinanincreasingnumberofapplications,fromtextilesandfurniture,woodpanels,laminates,biofuels,pulp&paper,uptoprostheticsandwaterpipes.G-STIC 2017 illustrated how bamboo can also be an alternative resource in many commercialapplications,supportingthecreationofnewjobsandextraincomeforlocalpeople,andactingasasignificantcarbonsink.

CO2ASARESOURCE

Feasible solutions to harness CO2 as a resource by transforming CO2 into chemicals, fuels andmaterials were highlighted at G-STIC 2027. Although further research and innovation efforts areneededinseveralapplications,someofthetechnologiesarereadyforthemarket.

INNOVATIVEBUILDINGMATERIALS

Innovationsintheproductionanduseofbuildingmaterialsplayakeyroleinthedevelopmentofamoresustainablebuiltenvironmentaroundtheworld.Atthesametime,thereisagrowingfocusonwhether and how building materials may affect the environment and the health of buildingoccupants. G-STIC 2017 showcased feasible innovations in the production and use of buildingmaterials.

g-stic 2018 chairperson summary - 20181130...2018/11/30 · 30/11/2018 g-stic 2018 chairperson...

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