The first-ever United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Science, Technology, and Innovation for the South was observed on 16th September 2024 to emphasise the important role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in supporting economic growth and sustainable development, particularly in the Global South.
Significance:
i.This annual observance underscores the significance of leveraging scientific and technological achievements for sustainable development.
- It aligns with the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ii.This day highlights the necessity of STI in achieving the SDGs and creating a fairer, more participatory, and inclusive world.
Background:
On 9 January 2024, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/78/259, proclaiming the 16 September of every year as the International Day of Science, Technology, and Innovation for the South.
Points to Note:
i.During the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Group of 77 (G77) and China on Current Development Challenges: the Role of STI, the leaders of the G77 and China agreed to designate September 16 as the International Day of STI for the South.
- The Summit was held in Havana, Cuba, on 15 and 16 September 2023.
ii.The Summit’s Havana Declaration on Current Development Challenges: the Role of STI, aims to emphasizes:
- The need for equitable technology access, and cooperation;
- The role of STI in achieving the SDGs; and
- The responsible use of scientific innovations for developing countries.
The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI):
i.STIs are important in all aspects of life and development, serving as crucial catalysts for economic growth, competitiveness, and societal advancement.
ii.While some developing nations leverage STI to advance rapidly, many in the Global South face significant hurdles.
iii.Many other countries face challenges due to governance issues and limited technology access due to inadequate frameworks.
Key Facts:
i.Achieving the SDGs by 2030 necessitates robust Research and Development (R&D) to tackle global issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and pandemics.
ii.Despite global R&D expenditure rising to about USD 2.5 trillion in 2022, investment remains concentrated in developed countries and China, with limited resources allocated to the Global South.
iii.High-Income Countries (HICs) account for 77% of R&D spending, while Low-Income Countries (LICs) contribute just 0.3%.
- In 2022, HICs had 59 times more health researchers than LICs.
iv.Additionally, only 0.2% of health research grants went to the latter, and less than 0.5% of health products for the World Health Organisation (WHO) neglected tropical diseases.
India’s Remarkable Advances in Science and Technology:
i.Gross R&D expenditure has surged from Rs 60,000 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 1.2 lakh crore in 2023.
ii.The total expenditure of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) rose from Rs 3,200 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 6,700 crore in 2021-22.
iii.India achieved the fastest 5th Generation (5G) rollout with 2.70 lakh sites deployed by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel within nine months.
iv.In 2023, the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) set to make India a chip manufacturing hub, marked by Micron’s USD 2.75 billion plant construction in Sanand, Gujarat.
v.India moved from 7th (2010) to 3rd (2023) in global scientific publications rankings, behind China and the United States of America (USA).
vi.India retained the 40th position in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023 and ranked 7th in Resident Patent Filings (RPF) as per the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Report 2022.
vii.As of June 2024, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) recognised 1,40,803 startups, creating over 15.53 lakh jobs.
Additional Information:
The Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) in New Delhi, Delhi, in partnership with the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)) (ISTIC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, announced the organisation of an International Training Programme on “STI Policy: Roles of STI for Excellence in Commercialization in Emerging Economies” from 12-14 September, 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- The International Training Programme on STI Policy is designed to address the pressing need for capacity building in STI policy formulation and implementation, with a special focus on commercialization.
