Boosting Innovation for SDGs: UNIDO-ISO Innovation Seminar and Innovation Labs

Innovation is integral to a country’s performance as a key driver of economic transformation, including in terms of promoting the transition to the digital economy. However, many entities often struggle to make innovation an enduring and sustainable part of their business. Being aware of this challenge, UNIDO and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) work to enable developing countries to take a more active role in the development and adoption of international standards, as well as to help their enterprises and institutions apply and comply with international standards and conformity assessment guides. In light of common priorities and strong partnership between UNIDO and ISO, UNIDO will be hosting the UNIDO-ISO/ TC 279 Working Session on Innovation Management (WG1 and WG3). In this context, UNIDO promotes two special sessions entitled “UNIDO–ISO Innovation Seminar” and “UNIDO–ISO Innovation Labs”, with the objective of promoting standards for innovation and sustainable development.

The “UNIDO-ISO Innovation Seminar” will be held from 2.00 to 5.30 p.m. (GMT+2) on Monday, 27 June 2022. The special session will elaborate on UNIDO – ISO contributions to the innovation standards series. More specifically, the discussion will revolve around advancing technical cooperation for mainstreaming innovation standards series. The session will highlight partnership prospects for fostering innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in order to achieve an inclusive, gender-responsive, and sustainable industrial development.

The “UNIDO-ISO Innovation Labs” will be held from 3.30 to 5.45 p.m. (GMT+2) on Thursday, 30 June 2022. The session will revolve around how to leverage Innovation, Standards, and digital transformation as a driver for promoting inclusive, gender-responsive, and sustainable industrial development. Discussion will be centered on Digital Transformation and Innovation Ecosystem and Standards for Sustainable Development.

These two special sessions will bring together ISO/TC279 Members, representatives of the UNIDO Member States’ Ministries and Permanent Mission representatives, representatives from standardization institutions, local and international stakeholders, especially involved in innovation-related work, UNIDO officers and experts, including within the UNIDO ITPOs network.

Download the programme of the special sessions here: https://www.unido.org/UNIDO_ISO

Registration:

• In person participation at UNIDO HQ: please, contact Ms. Sibilla Sartori (s.sartori [at] unido.org (S).Sartori [at] unido.org)

• Online participation via Zoom, please, register at the following link

• Innovation Seminar: https://unido-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gLuho0CmRZaeksVIPhJzWw
• Innovation Labs: https://unido-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fuv6W5ffRUGLWiq5Ms2V8A

For further information contact Alejandro Rivera-Rojas (a.rivera-rojas [at] unido.org (A).Rivera-Rojas [at] unido.org)