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Dr. Nanda Kumar Janardhanan Adjunct Fellow of IAIE has presented on the importance of ‘Co-innovation’ in furthering Sustainable Development Goals and Carbon Neutrality target, at the ‘Stakeholders Thematic Debate’ organised by the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
The event held on 3rd June is part of the upcoming High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE), to be organised by UN in September 2021. The HLDE represents the first global gathering on energy under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly since 1981. The debate has been arranged to promote an exchange of views and inputs/contributions from stakeholders on the five overarching themes of the United Nations High Level Dialogue on Energy.

Dr. Janardhanan’s recommendations focused on the need for a fundamental change in the way technology transfer has been happening. He argued instead of conventional technology transfer, countries must promote co-innovation, which is an iterative and mutually beneficial approach to jointly conceiving, manufacturing and scaling up sustainable technologies between countries that have advanced technologies and countries that are in need of the same.
This participatory approach helps in better dissemination and fine-tuning of technology. By focusing on co-innovation, there can be a greater emphasis on benefits, including local jobs, reduced pollution, shared capacities, and possibly carbon credits. Through co-innovation and learning in the recipient country, hardware and software can be adapted to local contexts and needs.