On Wednesday 15th July, the online Technology platform - 2030 Connect was launched at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, 2020 (HLPF). The launch took place during a session hosted by the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) titled 'Rebuilding better with STI during COVID-19: Leveraging the Technology Facilitation Mechanism'. TMCD Director, Prof Xiaolan Fu, who was a former member of the 10 Member Group of the TFM, participated in the discussions. Prof Fu led the independent technical assessments which was mandated by the member States in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (paragraph 70) and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for Financing for Development (paragraph 123)

The platform will be a new starting point for feedback and support, discussing key challenges and opportunities towards the full operationalization of the Platform in the next phase. The discussion focused on how 2030 Connect, the TFM and the UN more generally can contribute to launching and supporting an inclusive international policy dialogue through which national policymakers in developed and developing countries can make sense of rapid technological change and direct it towards the common good, including also around the management of open science.

The event was organized by UNDESA, UNCTAD and OICT, with support of other members of the UN Inter-agency Task Team on STI for the SDGs, and other network members.