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Acknowledging the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Global South and the central role of climate justice; the global Sustainable Development Initiative seeks to promote: (a) Science, Technology and Innovation-driven sustainable development in member institutes' constituent regions and (b) South-South and South-North cooperation in the development and application of science, technology and innovation.
The objectives of Initiative is to:
  • ​Encourage and develop means to collaboratively enable member institutes of the Global South to develop their sustainable development scientific enterprise;
  • Promote the integration of sustainable development science, technology and innovation (STI) into the member institutes' development plans with a view to developing solutions to sustainable development challenges;
  • ​Further member institutes' contribution to, and involvement in, frontier sustainable development STI programmes, which are most likely to have a strong impact upon the economic and social development of member institutes' constituent regions;
  • Further the contribution to, and involvement in, global STI projects;
  • Support the establishment of new centers of excellence for sustainable development in the Global South, and enhance cooperation among member institutes' existing ones;
  • Promote the development of collaborative programmes between and among members of the University for Sustainability and scientific institutions and organizations of the Global South in areas of science, technology and the environment that are of critical importance to the sustainable development of constituent regions;
  • Advance relations between scientific institutions and organizations in the South and their counterparts in the North through the development of bilateral links and cooperative programmes; and,
  • Promote the sharing of experiences and best practices in harnessing STI for the sustainable development for and in the Global South with the Sustainable Development Research Network (SDRNet). Connecting South-South and South-North STI as well as traditional and indigenous knowledge, SDRNet enables researchers to follow a research interest, connect with colleagues and seek new collaborations. Researcher's profiles may be used to suggest funding opportunities, to connect members with others who have similar interests, and provide a global community of practice for sustainable development research and practice.
The US Office for Research shall support and sponsor the Global Sustainable Development Science, Technology and Innovation Initiative. Through its Research Development Fund the University for Sustainability shall make available and advise members of funding opportunities and programme development related to global sustainable development research efforts, including advising on appropriateness, funding levels, and program development and design to successfully secure grant opportunities available through agencies funding global sustainable development research. Actively recruiting high-level expertise, the office shall bring together critical stakeholders to identify opportunities, develop proposal strategies, and implement programs.
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