ANSO Engages at the 27th Session of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development

07 05, 2024

From 15 to 19 April, the twenty-seventh session of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) was held in Geneva, Switzerland. The year’s session focused on two priority themes: Data for Development, and Global Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation for Development. Over 200 member states, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations participated in the session to discuss these themes.

To facilitate the sharing of knowledge about experiences in promoting collaboration among different parties, the CSTD Secretariat organized an exhibition for the members, international organizations and other partners active in science, technology and innovation international cooperation to present their works. ANSO was honored to showcase its initiatives at the exhibition, which was the first time for ANSO to set up a booth at an event of the United Nations.

ANSO, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and CropWatch Innovative Cooperation Programme for Agricultural Monitoring (CropWatch-ICP), a project supported by ANSO, demonstrates its dedication to enhancing international STI cooperation and related achievements. The ANSO Secretariat also took the opportunities to introduce some new projects to be released this year for the global good.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Ana Cristina Amoroso das Neves, Chair of CSTD on 15 April. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, delivered opening remarks, Leah J. Buendia, Undersecretary for Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology of the Republic of the Philippines, and HONSEI Kozo, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, gave a special address. They all emphasized the necessity in strengthening international cooperation to tackle common challenges faced by humanity, and expressed the hope that institutions and international organizations can establish more connections in this exhibition to promote technological innovation, gender equality, talent cultivation, and facilitate sustainable development.

The exhibition attracted delegates from various fields worldwide. The ANSO Secretariat invited Rebeca Grynspan and Shamika N. Sirimanne, Director of the Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD, to visit ANSO’s booth after the opening ceremony. They acknowledged the contribution of CropWatch-ICP to capacity building in agriculture and highly praised the active role that ANSO has been playing in propelling science and technology cooperation.