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Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development

The SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development (WG on ITSD) is a subsidiary body within the governing structure of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA). It was created by decision of the SPECA Governing Council taken at its 14th session (Ashgabat, 21 November 2019), following a proposal by the SPECA Working Group on Knowledge-based Development (WG on KBD) to update its name and terms of reference to better reflect the priorities of the SPECA countries under the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The SPECA WG on KBD was first established following the decision by the SPECA Governing Council taken at its second session (Berlin, 14 November 2007)  to broaden the mandate of the previous Project Working Group on ICT for Development (PWG on ICT) and to form it into the Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development.   

Document Title ENG  RUS
Terms of Reference PDF  PDF
Working Group Activities
Fourth Session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development and Subregional workshop
18-19 October 2023 (Tashkent Uzbekistan)
Meeting page
Working with venture funds and business angels: UNECE practical online training for staff of business incubators and accelerators in the SPECA sub-region
16 March 2023, Virtual mode: online platform, (Geneva, Switzerland)
Meeting page
Online training for SPECA countries “Development of business incubators and start-up accelerators: training for university management”
21 February 2023, Virtual mode: online platform, (Geneva, Switzerland)
Meeting page
Online training for SPECA countries "Effective management and development of business incubators and accelerators"
27-29 September 2022, Virtual mode: online platform, (Geneva, Switzerland)
Meeting page
Third Session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development 
20 July 2022, Hybrid mode, (Almaty, Kazakhstan)
Meeting page News item
Expert Group Meeting on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development
19-20 July 2022, Hybrid mode, (Almaty, Kazakhstan)
Meeting page News item
Webinar “New approaches to innovation policy in the transition economies of the SPECA sub-region”
19 May 2022, Virtual mode: online platform, (Geneva, Switzerland)
Documents
Training for SPECA policymakers on supporting innovative high-growth enterprises in the SPECA sub-region
15 February and 17 February 2022, Virtual mode: online platform, (Geneva, Switzerland)
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Webinar: Challenges and opportunities for supporting innovative, high-growth enterprises in the SPECA countries
23 December 2021, Virtual mode: online platform , (Geneva, Switzerland)
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Second Session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development and Sub-regional SPECA workshop on Innovation for Sustainable Development
20-21 October 2021, Hybrid mode: online platform, (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)
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Supporting Innovation Policy for Sustainable Development in SPECA: The second meeting of the Task Force on the Roadmap for the Development of the Innovation Ecosystem of Kyrgyzstan until 2025 
8 September 2021, virtual modality
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Supporting Innovation Policy for Sustainable Development in SPECA: The first meeting of the Task Force on the Roadmap for the Development of Innovation Support Infrastructure in the Kyrgyzstan until 2025 
9 June 2021, virtual modality
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Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) gap assessment of SPECA countries 
26 November 2020, virtual modality
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First Session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development 
30 July 2020, virtual modality (Country chair - Kazakhstan)
Documents
From ideas to applications: Sharing best practices on incubators, science parks and technology transfer
21-23 October 2019, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Eleventh Session of the SPECA Working Group on Knowledge-based Development and Regional Workshop on Innovation and Technology Applications for Sustainable Development
26-27 June 2019, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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Tenth Session of the SPECA Working Group on Knowledge-based Development and Regional Workshop “Innovation Strategy, Technology Applications and Infrastructure for the SDGs”
4-5 July 2018, Baku, Azerbaijan
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Ninth Session of the SPECA Working Group on Knowledge-based Development and Regional Workshop “Making innovation work for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”
22-23 June 2017, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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Eighth Session of the SPECA Working Group on Knowledge-based Development and Regional Workshop "Resilient ICT Connectivity for the Knowledge Economy, SDGs and the WSIS goals"
20-22 September 2016, Almaty, Kazakhstan
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Seventh Session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development and International Conference "Practical Steps Towards a Knowledge-based Economy"
16-17 June 2015, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
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Sixth Session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development and "Science, technology and innovation for sustainable development in SPECA countries"
11-12 June 2014, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
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Fifth Session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development 
4 December 2013, Baku, Azerbaijan
Prior to the session, ESCAP organized an expert consultation on the Asia-Pacific information superhighway on 3-4 December 2013.
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Regional Meeting on the Promotion and Financing of Innovative Green Technologies
19-20 November 2013, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Expert Segment of the 2013 SPECA Economic Forum
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Joint National Seminar and Stakeholder Meeting on Promotion and Financing of Innovative Green Technologies
23-25 October 2013, Astana, Kazakhstan
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National Seminar and Stakeholder Meeting on Promotion and Financing of Innovative Green Technologies
15-17 May 2013, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
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Joint National Seminar and Stakeholder Meeting on Promotion and Financing of Innovative Green Technologies
7-9 November 2012, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Documents
Seminar on Information and Communication Technology Policy and Legal Issues for the Heads of Ministries and Agencies of Turkmenistan 
13-14 June 2012, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Documents
Fourth Session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development 
25 November 2011, Baku, Azerbaijan
The Session will discuss the revised terms of reference of the Group,  review implementation of its programme of work for 2011 and adopt the draft programme of work of the PWG for 2012-2013.  
Documents  
International Conference on Knowledge-based Development and Innovative Entrepreneurship
24-25 November 2011, Baku, Azerbaijan
Documents
Third Session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development and
Related Capacity-building Workshop

28-30 September 2010, Astana, Kazakhstan
Documents
Seminar on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
11 November 2009, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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Regional Capacity-Building Seminar in the Area of Financing of Innovative Enterprises, Commercialization of Intellectual Property and Public-Private Partnerships
10-11 November 2009, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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Second Session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development
9 November 2009, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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Inauguration Session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development
12 November 2008, Baku, Azerbaijan
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Regional Capacity-building Seminar on Information and Communication Technology Policy and
Legal Issues with Special Reference to eCommerce Development

13-14 November 2008, Baku, Azerbaijan
Documents
National Capacity-building Seminar on Information and Communication Technology Policy and Legal Issues
1-2 July 2008, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
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Past Activities

Project Working Group on ICT for Development

Terms of Reference:  ENG RUS

National Capacity-building Seminar on Information and Communication Technology Policy and Legal Issues
30-31 October 2007, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Documents
Workshop on Broadband and ICT Development for Improved Communications in Central Asia
21-22 June 2007 , Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Documents
Regional Seminar on Capacity-Building for ICT Policymaking in Central Asia
11-14 July 2006, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Documents
Inaugural Session
5-6 December 2005, Baku, Azerbaijan
Documents