On April 8, Prof. Atsufumi Yokoi, Vice President for Global Engagement and UNESCO Chairholder at Okayama University, participated as a representative of higher education institutions in the main session titled “Report on Technical Cooperation Activities in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)” during the 28th annual session of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from April 7 to 11.
Vice President Prof. Yokoi delivered a co-presentation on behalf of Dr. Julie Newman, Founder and Director of the MIT Office of Sustainability (MITOS).

During the session, UN ambassadors and government representatives from Ghana, Mozambique, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan presented specific initiatives related to STI parks. Vice President Prof. Yokoi, the only invited participant from higher education in the main session, introduced initiatives of MITOS, where he previously served as a Visiting Scholar. MITOS utilizes the entire campus as a test-bed environment for implementing sustainability research in society. He also discussed sustainability management and sustainable campus initiatives that incorporate advanced AI and data science.

In addition, Vice President Prof. Yokoi introduced Japan’s national strategic “Digital Rural Health Special Zone,” highlighting the case of Kibichuo Town, where Okayama University serves as a leading partner. He emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships involving universities, local governments, and industry, as well as the potential to achieve sustainability and well-being across multiple scales, from local to global, to representatives of UNCTAD member States.
The session generated numerous questions and comments from participants, and several government representatives expressed strong interest in further dialogue with Vice President Prof. Yokoi following the session. He subsequently held discussions with Ángel González-Sanz, Head of Technology, Innovation and Knowledge Development at UNCTAD’s Division on Technology and Logistics, regarding prospects for strengthening collaboration and developing new initiatives.

Okayama University will continue to enhance direct collaboration with UNCTAD—the United Nations’ focal point for STI for the SDGs—while promoting human resource development initiatives that contribute to co-creating a desirable future for the region and the world, and actively disseminating these efforts both domestically and internationally.

○ United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Established in 1964 and headquartered in Geneva, UNCTAD is the United Nations body responsible for trade, development, finance, investment, technology, and sustainable development issues. It works to maximize trade, investment, and development opportunities for developing countries and supports their integration into the global economy in an equitable manner.