How do we coordinate international initiatives with local activities? What are the specific policies and measures required to accelerate transformative innovation and entrepreneurial experimentation across geographical and institutional boundaries?

These questions are fundamental to achieve the sustainable transformation of our societies. On the one hand, they substantiate the link between transformative innovation and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 on “Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure”. At the same time, they pinpoint an international dimension that has been conspicuously absent in the debate on transformative innovation so far. Is there something like an emerging international transformative innovation system?

With the theme of “International concerns and local entrepreneurship - exploring the links for seamless interaction for transformative innovation”, the UN-ECE Transformative Innovation Network (ETIN) Innovation Days provide a unique opportunity to explore this interaction in real-time together with colleagues and peers. During these two days, we will participate in the UNECE Regional Forum for Sustainable Development (RFSD) and organized bilateral meetings with relevant stakeholders from the Swiss innovation system. Through a specifically designed agenda, and a process of mutual peer learning, we will advance on the topic of strengthening the links between international and local transformative innovation stakeholders. In addition to the ETIN Innovation Days, members will have an opportunity to attend the RFSD and the Peer-learning roundtable “Transformative innovation to accelerate sustainable development”. By summarizing our impressions and identifying next steps and follow-up actions, we jointly shape the way forward for UNECE’s work on transformative innovation.