[Feature Article] The future of the international community opened up by STI for SDGs

Overview of STI for SDGs

At the United Nations SDG Summit held in September 2019, 9 was set as the "Decade of Action" to expand and accelerate efforts to achieve the SDGs.

However, the subsequent spread of the new coronavirus infection has become a wonder in the lives, lives, and security of people around the world, and there are concerns that efforts to achieve the SDGs will be delayed.It is a theme that the international community as a whole is required to make efforts not only to overcome the corona disaster but also to improve the reconstruction, and cooperation between nations is indispensable for that purpose.

To achieve the goals of the SDGs under these circumstances,Science and technology innovation (Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals:Abbreviation STIThe important point is how to utilize).

The importance of STI in the SDGs is a common recognition in the international community, and the United Nations has a technology promotion mechanism (Technology Facilitation Mechanism) Has played its role as part of activities toward the realization of the SDGs in each country, the United Nations / related organizations, political forums, etc.
And even at present, it is expected that STI and policies such as regulatory reform will be linked to achieve the goals of with corona, post-corona and SDGs, and further accelerating STI has become a global issue. ..

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Initiatives of STI for SDGs

What is needed to achieve the goals of the SDGs is the use of science and technology innovation (STI).The combination and fusion of science and technology will be the driving force for activities that promote innovation and the SDGs.

The fusion of science and technology is indispensable for achieving both "conservation of the natural environment" and "rich living", and it is especially digital technology that is desired to be fused and played an active role in various fields.Technologies such as big data, AI, and blockchain have issues that must be cleared, such as privacy and security, but in order to integrate cyberspace and physical space and provide services that do not depend on the physical environment or situation. It is expected to help.

An easy-to-understand example of a fusion of digital technology and other technologies is smart agriculture, which manages the condition of crops with digital technology.In terms of medical care and biotechnology, there is an IoBMT (Integration of Bio-Medical Things) strategy that aims to materialize individual prevention and predictive medicine by accelerating human research and data research.In addition, human-robot symbiotic systems are being developed and promoted by fusing sensing technology / robot technology with living / working environments.In this way, we can see that the fusion of various science and technology has already progressed and has permeated our lives.

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Efforts of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to promote SDGs

Each ministry and agency is promoting various efforts in Japan to achieve the SDGs goals.

Among them, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is in a position to play a central role in human resource development and strategic international expansion measures, and announced the "Basic Policy on Promotion of STI for SDGs" and "STI for" to realize it. "SDGs Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Policy Package" has been formulated.

In this package

・ Promote changes in the STI (Science and Technology Innovation) by implementing STI for SDGs initiatives that emphasize the participation of all stakeholders and parties.

・ Systematically and strategically implement measures included in the package with a bird's-eye view.Strategically promote STI for SDGs by appropriately reflecting the annual budget request

Etc. are listed as the aim.
In other words, the idea is to promote the participation of all parties and effectively promote science and technology innovation while grasping the achievement of the SDGs goals from a macro perspective.

Specifically, among the goals to be achieved in the SDGs 17, "Goal 9: Infrastructure, industrialization, innovation" and "Goal 17: Implementation means" are set as the base as cross-cutting and common efforts related to the entire STI for SDGs. The composition is to promote the development of each field of "ocean / water", "city / disaster prevention", "environment / energy", and "health / medical care".

In this way, in order to promote science and technology innovation from a bird's-eye view and macro perspective, an approach that enhances human resource development and activity momentum is indispensable.
As part of that effort, the National Research and Development Corporation, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) will start in 2019."STI for SDGs" AwardIs being done.This initiative is a system that recognizes outstanding efforts in the region to solve social issues using science and technology innovation as part of the future creation promotion project.
In addition to being given the opportunity to be widely known, such as posting on the JST information dissemination site and taking the stage at related events, the content of the award-winning efforts will be given advice and messages from the selection committee in the interview selection, giving hints to expand the range of efforts. You can get it.

 

Connection between STI for SDGs and Society 5.0

Efforts to achieve the SDGs in Japan are centered on the realization of a super-smart society (Society 5.0). Recommendations for the realization of Society 5.0 are advocated for promotion through a combination of science and technology, and show that the achievement of Society 5.0 and the SDGs are closely related.

Despite various differences in age, gender, place of residence, etc., Society 5.0 aims to aim for a society in which all people can live equally without disparity through the development and utilization of science and technology innovation.

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Summary

Countries around the world are accelerating the promotion of initiatives based on the idea that innovation and fusion of science and technology will greatly contribute to the achievement of the goals of the SDGs.In Japan, STI for SDGs is being promoted through the realization of Society 5.0, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is also focusing on creating a system for promoting science and technology technology and developing human resources and the environment.

There are various problems in each country and region, and promotion of science and technology is indispensable to solve most of them.Regional disparities and labor issues are also being talked about in Japan, but such issues are not limited to Japan, and there are similar issues around the world, regardless of size.Therefore, there is a need for a solution that can be used by as many people and regions as possible by grasping the problem from a global and macro perspective.

In addition, the problems of the environment and resources are also very serious, and clean energy and its highly efficient use are indispensable for realizing a "society where no one is left behind" that will continue to protect the affluent earth even after 2030.

We will actively introduce related information about new information, value bases and opportunities brought about by the combination and fusion of science and technology.
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