Inter-sessional Panel of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), 2025–2026
The United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will convene its 2025–2026 inter-sessional panel on 17 November 2025 in Room XVI at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The gathering will bring together government delegations, international organisations, technical experts, and other stakeholders to examine this year’s priority theme: how science, technology, and innovation are evolving in the era of AI.
The morning sessions will focus on the theme ‘Science, Technology and Innovation in the age of AI,’ beginning with an introductory briefing from UNCTAD and a keynote address by Prof. Ritu Agarwal of Johns Hopkins University. Additional insights on the intersection of STI and AI will come from discussants representing the International Labour Organization, Beijing Normal University, and ETH Zurich, followed by an open question-and-answer session.
A reception hosted by Okayama University will take place at lunchtime, together with a UNCTAD side event exploring the contribution of science and technology parks to national innovation systems, entrepreneurship, and cluster development.
In the afternoon, the session will shift to the implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) outcomes, with a focus on the upcoming WSIS+20 review at the UN General Assembly. Delegations and stakeholders will exchange views with the WSIS+20 co-facilitator and receive updates on the Secretary-General’s Implementation Map for the Global Digital Compact, as well as the CSTD’s ongoing work on data governance.
The session will close with remarks from the Interim Chair.
The findings and recommendations of the panel will be considered at the twenty-ninth session of the Commission in 2026.
