Joint Special Meeting under the theme "From Digital Inclusion to Innovation: Advancing Science, Technology and Youth Entrepreneurship for Development" - General Assembly, 80th session & Economic and Social Council, 2026 session.



The Joint Special Meeting will be held in conjunction with the 11th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals.This meeting will be convened in line with General Assembly resolution 80/147 and have a focus on advancing digital inclusion and youth entrepreneurship for sustainable development, reflecting a priority of the President of the Economic and Social Council.

Thematic Focus:
  • Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Countries in Relation to Science, Technology, and Innovation
  • Youth Innovation in Action: Creating Enabling Environments for Youth-Led Entrepreneurship, Advancing STI Skills, and Leveraging Strategic Finance

The meeting aims to:
  • Examine the challenges that developing countries face in leveraging science, technology and innovation as drivers of sustainable development, with particular attention to barriers affecting youth agency and STI-driven entrepreneurship.
  • Identify key policy, institutional, and financial enablers that support STI development in developing countries and, within that context, youth entrepreneurship in science, technology, and innovation sectors.
  • Share good practices, evidence, and lessons learned from national and regional experiences.
  • Promote multi-stakeholder partnerships among governments, the private sector, academia, and youth-focused and youth-led organizations.
  • Amplify youth voices and highlight their role as partners and drivers of sustainable development and inclusive economic growth.

The meeting is expected to contribute to:
  • Enhanced understanding of developing countries' challenges and opportunities in harnessing STI, and how to promote youth entrepreneurship
  • Identification of scalable and replicable approaches to strengthen inclusive innovation ecosystems in developing countries, including for youth.
  • Strengthened collaboration and partnerships across sectors and stakeholders
  • Policy-relevant recommendations to support youth-led innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital service exports.
  • Increased visibility of youth innovators and entrepreneurs and their contributions to achieving the SDGs as agents of change.

Joint Special Meeting under the theme "From Digital Inclusion to Innovation: Advancing Science, Technology and Youth Entrepreneurship for Development" - General Assembly, 80th session & Economic and Social Council, 2026 session



United Nations General Assembly, 80th session & Economic and Social Council, 2026 session


Economic and Social Council

Location: 405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, USA

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