The UNCTAD project "Science, Technology and Innovation Parks for sustainable development: building expertise in policy and practice in selected Asian and African countries", funded by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund under the UN Peace and Development Fund, aims to strengthen the policy and operational capacities for implementing STI parks in selected Asian and African countries. This project enables policymakers and practitioners to learn from the successful experiences of other countries, where STI parks have played a key role in technological and industrial advancements and development at regional and national levels.
STI parks which include incubators and accelerators have become important instruments for improving national innovation performance. However, attempts to use STI parks to generate positive socio-economic outcomes often fail to deliver optimal results due to insufficient local capabilities for STI park design, implementation and management. This project addresses these challenges by supporting beneficiary countries in building capacity and sharing best practices, with a focus on developing effective policy frameworks and promoting inclusive approaches.
A policy toolkit entitled “Policy and Institutional Frameworks for Science, Technology and Innovation Parks as a Vehicle to Promote Innovation and Sustainable Development - Proposed Guidelines for Developing Countries” will be launched at the present event. The project also established an STI Park Expert Network in October 2025, bringing together 17 experts in STI park development and innovation policy from Africa, Asia and Europe, as well as experts from the four beneficiary countries, to provide a structured platform for peer learning and exchange of good practices across regions. Additionally, UNCTAD has developed a capacity-building self-paced e-learning course on STI park policy and practice, the pilot session of which was successfully completed in February 2026 with 28 enrolled participants from the beneficiary countries and countries that have officially requested UNCTAD technical assistance in this field.
Target participants
Open to professionals engaged in STI park development or involved in related fields as part of their work.
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