Professor Xiaolan Fu has participated in a series of UN-organised events in recent weeks to share her expertise on technology and innovation for development.

Her presentations emphasised that while the 4th Industrial Revolution and the green transformation pose significant challenges to developing countries, they also offer digital and green windows of opportunity to catch up with and even leapfrog the Global North.

However, she cautioned that making the most of these opportunities required that the global community incentivise technological advancements towards inclusive and sustainable development and create and transfer more appropriate technologies to developing countries. She also emphasised the importance of developing countries’ own efforts and agency in developing their technological and digital competencies and innovation systems.

Find out more about the events from the ODID website here.