Sustainable development is at the core of the Millennium Development Goals and the UN post-2015 development agenda under discussion. Science, technology and innovation are the driving forces for economic growth, social development and environmental protection, which are among the most important dimensions of sustainable development. In the Chair’s Statement of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM10) held on 16-17 October 2014, in Milan, Italy,leaders stressed the key role of science, technology and innovation in promoting inclusive socio-economic growth and job creation. They agreed to enhance cooperation in science, technology and innovation, and to promote the joint development and deployment of innovative solutions in order to address common societal challenges and to strengthen the trans-regional mobility of researchers and innovators.
Carrying out this acknowledgement, the Government of China proposed to hold the “ASEM Seminar on Cooperation in Science, Technology & Innovation for Sustainable Development” on 21-22 April, 2015. This seminar, organised with the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)’s support, provided a platform for policy dialogue, experience sharing and cooperation matchmaking in order to promote the awareness of sustainable development and to facilitate joint research, market-oriented transfer and application of science and technology in the field of sustainable development.
