The proclamation of September 16 as International Science, Technology and Innovation Day for the South today represents an important step for developing nations and the premise of leaving no one behind.
The new date, adopted Tuesday by the United Nations General Assembly, highlights the key role of scientific and technical advances in economic growth and sustainable development.
At the proposal of the G77 and China, a bloc chaired by Cuba, the international day advocates closing the gaps between developed and developing countries in terms of conditions, possibilities and capacities to produce new knowledge.
According to Cuban Ambassador Pedro Luis Pedroso, the date recognizes the necessary support from the international community, North-South cooperation and other complementary forms of cooperation such as triangular or South-South cooperation to increase capacities.
Science, technology and innovation are of growing importance in all areas of human life, the special representative of Cuba to coordinate the bloc's presidency emphasized to the forum.
These areas are only accessible to the Global South through the democratization of knowledge, the development of its own research capacities, access to financing and the transfer of technologies that accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he added.
In this regard, the text also promotes the need to create an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment that supports the efforts of disadvantaged nations to develop and strengthen their national scientific, technological and innovative systems.
On September 16, the first commemoration of the International Day will be a timely opportunity to present initiatives and cooperation projects that strengthen these aspects.
In addition, it will recall that development is also a fundamental lever for the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals and for building a more equitable and participatory world; a possible and necessary global order.
Before being submitted to the main deliberative body of the United Nations, Cuba's proposal was endorsed by the heads of state and government present at the Summit of the G77 Group and China held in Havana in September 2023.
The text recognizes the key role of scientific-technical advances in economic growth and sustainable development, the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the political declaration on the SDGs.
It also highlights the Havana Summit and its Political Declaration as an effort to promote cooperation in this field.