Regional Launch of the Capacity Building Programme on frontier ICTs for Sustainable Development for Digital Leaders

 5-7 September 2022, Incheon, Republic of Korea

 

BACKGROUND

The innovativeness of frontier ICTs can provide developing countries with leapfrogging opportunities to achieve the SDGs. The lower maturity of existing ICTs in developing countries can be used as an “advantage” for these countries to avoid or circumvent less efficient technologies. When combined with other innovative technologies such as energy and material technologies, frontier ICTs can play an important role in enabling developing countries to accelerate their technological pursuit without following the development stage of existing ICTs under appropriate policy measures and strategies.

The Asian and Pacific Training Centre for ICT for Development, a regional institute of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (APCICT/ ESCAP) developed an Academy module on “Frontier ICTs for sustainable development for digital leaders” with a focus on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Internet of Things. The module is designed to enhance digital leaders, in particular government leaders and policymakers’ knowledge on best practices, challenges and policy considerations pertaining to the use and application of Frontier ICTs for sustainable development. It specifically focuses on policy and regulatory implications and highlights takeaways and recommendations drawn from case studies in both developed and developing countries.

APCICT/ESCAP and the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea will launch and organize the Capacity Building Programme on “frontier ICTs for Sustainable Development for digital leaders” on 5-7 September 2022. The event aims to:

·         Introduce the definition, scope, and features of frontier ICTs.

·         Examine the role and importance of frontier ICTs in achieving the SDGs.

·         Provide major challenges, barriers, and risks to be considered in developing and introducing frontier ICTs.

·         Present the current status of policies related to each of the three technologies and global cases applied in the public sector.

·         Suggest policy recommendations and international cooperation measures for effective and efficient development and application of frontier ICTs. This promotes a better understanding of the goals and direction for government policymakers to pursue. 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

At the end of the programme, participants are expected to:

·         Promote a better understanding of overall frontier ICTs, particularly Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and the Internet of Things, as well as their areas of application.

·         Provide a rationale for the use of frontier ICTs to achieve the SDGs.

·         Understand challenges and risks linked to the effective and efficient application of frontier ICTs for sustainable development, and the measures to address them.

·         Identify key directions and considerations in the development, application, and deployment of frontier ICTs for sustainable development.

·         Provide ideas for international/regional cooperation to accelerate the application of frontier ICTs within their respective countries.

 

TARGET PARTICIPANTS

·         ICT policymakers, managers and officers in the public sector (including those working in information and knowledge management).

 

STRUCTURE

The 3-day event will be held in Incheon from 5 to 7 September 2022 with hybrid mode.

A regional launch event will take place in the morning on 5 September, Incheon (UTC+9), and will be followed by a training programme from 5 to 7 September, consisting of lectures, group discussions, and expert presentations.

 

CONTACTS

Ms. Hyangsuk Seong, ICT Policy and Programme Officer, APCICT/ESCAP, hyangsuk.seong@un.org

Ms. Sara Bennouna, Team Assistant, APCICT/ESCAP, sara.bennouna@un.org

 

DRAFT PROGRAMME AGENDA

 

Time*		5 September 2022 (Monday)
10:00 – 10:30		Registration
10:30-11:30		Regional launch ceremony ·         Welcome remarks by Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP ·         Congratulatory remarks o    TBD o    Vice minister of Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea o    Vice mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea o    Her Excellency Maria Theresa B. DIZON-DE VEGA, Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea   ·         Presentation and Q&A o    High-level briefing on the frontier ICTs for Sustainable Development for Digital Leaders by prof. Suk Kyung Kim (KAIST) Photo
12:00-13:30		Welcome lunch
13:30 - 18:00		Introduction to generic frontier ICTs   The session introduces the definitions and types of Frontier ICTs, the trends and emerging directions of frontier ICTs adoption in the public sector, and the roles and importance of frontier ICTs for sustainable development; provides major challenges, barriers, and risks to be considered in developing and introducing frontier ICTs; provides the current status of policies related to each of the major technologies and global cases applied in the public sector.   -       Presentation of Incheon Metropolitan City
Time*	6 September 2022 (Tuesday)
9:00 - 12:00	Artificial Intelligence (I)   The session introduces the definition, scope, and features of AI.; examines the role and importance of AI in achieving the SDGs; provides major challenges, barriers, and risks to be considered in developing and introducing AI; provides the current status of policies related to AI and global cases applied in the public sector.
13:30 - 15:30	Artificial Intelligence (II)   The session suggests and discusses policy recommendations and international cooperation measures for effective and efficient development and application of AI.
15:30 - 18:00	Blockchain (I)   The sessions introduces the definition, scope, and features of blockchain; examines the role and importance of blockchain in achieving the SDGs; provides major challenges, barriers, and risks to be considered in developing and introducing blockchain; provides the current status of policies related to blockchain and global cases applied in the public sector.
Time*	7 September 2022 (Wednesday)
9:00 - 11:00	Blockchain (II)   The session suggests and discusses policy recommendations and international cooperation measures for effective and efficient development and application of blockchain.
11:00 - 12:00	Internet of Things (I)   The session introduces the definition, scope, and features of Internet of Things (IoT); examines the role and importance of IoT in achieving the SDGs.
13:30 - 16:00	Internet of Things (II)   The session provides major challenges, barriers, and risks to be considered in developing and introducing IoT; provides the current status of policies related to IoT and global cases applied in the public sector; suggests and discusses policy recommendations and international cooperation measures for effective and efficient development and application of IoT.
16:00 - 17:00	Summary
17:00 - 18:00	Evaluation and Closing

*Seoul time (UTC+9)

[Registration Link]

https://indico.un.org/event/1002180/registrations/