Joint Statement by India and Japan on Science, Technology, Innovation 

Delivered at the 2020 HLPF session on Science, Technology and Innovation 

by Dr. Arabinda Mitra, Scientific Secretary, O/o Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India

10 July 2020

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of Japan and my own country, India.   

As members of the Global Pilot Programme on STI for SDGs Roadmaps, Japan and India organized a series of bilateral and multi-stakeholder meetings last month, and we are pleased to share three salient recommendations from these events. 

Firstly, both Japan and India offer to extend their collaboration in applying frontier technologies in several SDG areas, and in particular collaborate with the UN-IATT in supporting pilot countries from Africa and other willing countries in the region, in formulating and implementing their STI for SDGs Roadmaps. This will be enabled by sharing of experience, knowledge and capacities, in the spirit of South-South and Triangular Cooperation as mandated under the UN driven goal on TFM.

Secondly, we reaffirm that STI for SDGs Roadmaps is a valuable working tool to strengthen national efforts on STI for SDGs mapping and international cooperation on knowledge sharing, technology transfer, capacity-building, governance, networks and finance for countries to better address global challenges including those posed by COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring access, equity and inclusion. 

Thirdly, we call for enhanced multi-stakeholder partnerships by launching “Partnership in Action” and leveraging more dedicated and diversified financing resources in order for UN-IATT to accelerate the Global Pilot Programme including through emerging partnerships, such as think-tank networks, foundations, and private enterprise. We further commit to work together to foster closer scientific and technological collaborations by integrating research (i.e. knowledge creation), with education (i.e. knowledge dissemination) and innovation (i.e. knowledge application).

We believe that strengthened STI cooperation is key to accelerating our collective response to COVID-19, as well as to achieving the human security, by building on the foundations for inclusive and sustainable development.  

For India our development mantra “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” which translates to “Collective Effort fostering Inclusive Development” has been already enabled by harnessing the powerful tool of knowledge convergence through technological platforms. 

India has played an important role in the negotiations for introduction of a UN driven global on Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), as an inclusive and equitable tool for SDG delivery based on affordable, accessible and available technological innovation.

To conclude, the Global Pilot Programme on STI for SDGs Roadmaps is inspired by the collective commitment of both Japanese and Indian Governments in harnessing the prowess of Science & Technology for promoting inclusive development, keeping in mind the needs and aspirations of people and towards delivery of larger global good through building international partnerships.

Thank you for your attention and for giving me the privilege to address this august Forum.