About the Innovation Fair 2013
The United Nations will organize an Innovation Fair during the Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) at the High-level segment of the annual substantive session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which will be devoted to “Science, technology and innovation (STI), and the potential of culture, for promoting sustainable development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)”. The primary objective of the Fair is to showcase innovative practices, approaches and projects in science, technology, innovation and culture from around the world.
Objectives of the Fair
The Innovation Fair will contribute to the objectives of the 2013 AMR, in particular, by:
- Sharing innovative products and projects in the area of STI and culture for promoting global and sustainable development;
- Demonstrating the strong links between STI and the potential of culture for promoting sustainable development and achieving the MDGs;
- Encouraging interaction among participants taking part in the Fair and Member States, which could possibly lead to the replication and scaling up of successful projects and encourage the creation of partnerships; and
- Promoting broad multi-stakeholder engagement in the work of the Council.
Participation
The UN Economic and Social Council aims to bring together all development actors, be they governmental or nongovernmental, from around the world. Consequently, a wide range of institutions are invited to take part in the Fair: governments, international and regional organizations, private sector entities, academia, civil society organizations and foundations.
What type of innovative approaches/projects/products will be showcased?
The Innovation Fair will contribute to the objectives of the 2013 AMR, in particular, by:
- Sharing innovative products and projects in the area of STI and culture for promoting global and sustainable development;
- Demonstrating the strong links between STI and the potential of culture for promoting sustainable development and achieving the MDGs;
- Encouraging interaction among participants taking part in the Fair and Member States, which could possibly lead to the replication and scaling up of successful projects and encourage the creation of partnerships; and
- Promoting broad multi-stakeholder engagement in the work of the Council.
STI initiatives addressing priority challenges in sustainable development will be featured, namely:
- Promoting sustainable energy for all.
- Improving primary health and education through innovation.
- Promoting food and water security.
- Social media: An innovative tool for advocacy.
Innovation criteria
The innovative products and projects that will be showcased will meet the following criteria:
- Utilize science, technology and culture to contribute to sustainable development;
- Demonstrate strong links between STI and Culture and the global development agenda;
- Encourage sustainability and replicability;
- Promote women’s inclusion; and
- Promote partnerships and foster synergetic activities with other stakeholders.
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