There is innovation all around the world, but it does not always achieve impact on sustainability. Innovation is found not only in large industrial economies but also in smaller economies and even in local indigenous communities, often in response to local challenges in wellbeing, environment and social equity. Like a seed needs soil in which to germinate, however, innovation needs a market in which to take root, grow, and realize impact. Multiple surveys of failed technology startups have shown that, in the vast majority of cases, failure was not a fault of the technology but rather an inability to create or connect to a market.

WAITRO’s structure as an association of organizations gives it access to a granularity of insight on local research needs and market conditions that is unavailable to UN organizations at the country level. The WAITRO Summit 2024 will consider how to convert innovations into impact. How can ideas that may reach a natural limit in their local market find opportunities to scale throughout the Global Innovation Family? What can local innovators, separated by distance and cultures, learn from one another?

Just like a grain of dirt in an oyster stimulates the creation of a pearl, a local pain point of need often gives rise to a pearl of innovation. WAITRO is the string that connects such pearls into something of beauty and value. Join us to build it!

The Convergence of Digital and Green Transformations Through digital platforms, we can enhance education, foster inclusivity, and promote economic opportunities, thereby contributing to SDGs related to poverty eradication, quality education, and decent work. From smart cities employing data analytics to enhance urban living to precision agriculture minimizing resource wastage, technology becomes a tool for environmental stewardship.

Enabling Local Solutions, Achieving Global Impact Recent WAITRO events have highlighted the relevance of this focus even at the level of indigenous cultures. For example, last year’s agriculture webinar explored the impact of indigenous knowledge in agriculture on sustainability. All around WAITRO, members are using local resources to solve problems that could be generalizable to solve global challenges. What can they learn from one another?

Incubators, Accelerators, and Entrepreneurship Since the establishment of WAITRO’s Associate Member category, a number of incubators and accelerators have joined the Global Innovation Family. What can different styles of supportive ecosystems rooted in distinct cultures teach and learn from one another? How can they effectively work across borders?

WAITRO Working Groups Working Group kickoff sessions were held at the WAITRO Summit 2022 in Cape Town. The 90-minute workshop sessions were intended to be just the beginning of the Working Group process. We hope the Working Group will become a member-driven force within WAITRO that will increase its impact on SDGs and guide the Secretariat on how best it can help WAITRO members achieve their goals. Regular meetings, either online or in person, will help define their vision.