Science, technology and innovation

We help countries harness science, technology and innovation to make breakthroughs, create jobs and accelerate sustainable development.

Commission on Science and Technology for Development

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Reviews

The STIP reviews aim to contribute to the development of national capacities in the field in order that national science, technology and innovation plans and programmes better contribute to development strategies and to improve the competitiveness of the productive sectors.

They are intended to serve as an analytical instrument which examines a set of proposals from an external and neutral perspective, and to make some suggestions for action. They are not a rating mechanism.

Strengthening National Innovation Systems

Building Capacity for STI Policy-making

Innovation Policy Learning Programme

Intellectual Property

News

How blockchain can power sustainable development

By Shamika N. Sirimanne and Clovis Freire, UNCTAD

22 Jul 2021

Building technological capacities can help countries escape commodity dependence

About 64% of developing economies rely on exporting primary goods, and most risk continuing down a path of commodity dependence unless they embrace technology-enabled structural transformation.

7 Jul 2021

Green and yellow rice fields in Thailand

Developing countries use space technology to combat food insecurity

UNCTAD fosters South-South cooperation to build developing countries’ know-how on using satellite data to monitor crop conditions for better agricultural productivity.

11 Jun 2021

Getting life-changing technologies to the poor

Partnerships and sustainable business models can help scale up technologies needed to improve livelihoods in poor communities and achieve sustainable development goals.

2 Jun 2021

STIxNET Network of Experts

Women in STEM: Changing the narrative

Science, technology and innovation to support the achievement of SDGs in Africa and Asia

Technology and Innovation Report

Issues of science, technology and innovation remain endemic to development and furthering our understanding on these issues is a core challenge for policy research.

Deepening its commitment to this goal, UNCTAD launched this flagship report series in May 2010.

The series seeks to address issues in science, technology and innovation that are topical and important for developing countries in a comprehensive way with an emphasis on policy-relevant analysis and conclusions.