STI in the age of AI – WDTA Participates in United Nations CSTD Inter-Sessional Panel

GENEVA - Nov. 20, 2025 - PRLog -- World Digital Technology Academy (WDTA) participated in the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) 2025–2026 inter-sessional panel meeting and the meeting of the Working Group on Data Governance, held from 17–19 November at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The panel convened global experts and government representatives to address the priority theme "Science, Technology and Innovation in the Age of AI."

The meeting was opened and chaired by H.E. Ambassador Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Chairman of the UN CSTD and Vice Chairman of WDTA. Ambassador Kah underscored the importance of equitable digital transformation, noting that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence must be aligned with development priorities, trust, and global inclusion to benefit all countries.

Representatives from CSTD member states, including delegates from Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, India, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Paraguay, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe, actively contributed to panel discussions on AI governance, STI for sustainable development, and data policy coherence.

Representing WDTA, Prof. Yale Li and Dr. Melan Xu focused on digital trust frameworks, cross-border data governance, and capacity-building strategies essential for responsibly deploying AI and emerging technologies in both developed and developing regions. WDTA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the CSTD mission through research contributions, global expert networks, and its flagship initiatives—the World Digital and Frontier Technologies Awards (WDFTA) and the Digital World Conference (DWC)—which aim to strengthen digital cooperation, innovation, governance, and skills development worldwide.

A progress report was also delivered by the Chair of the CSTD Working Group on Data Governance, outlining advancements and recommendations on cross-border data flows, interoperability, data sovereignty, and regulatory capacity—areas closely aligned with WDTA's ongoing work.

The findings of the inter-sessional panel will inform formal negotiations and the final set of recommendations at the twenty-ninth session of the CSTD, April 20-24, 2026. WDTA announced that the Digital World Conference (DWC) 2026 will be held during the same period as the twenty-ninth CSTD session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

WDTA continues to collaborate with United Nations bodies, governments, industry, and academia to advance secure, inclusive, and human-centered digital ecosystems for global development. A DWC event, AI for the Future Summit, will be scheduled in Seattle, USA on February 28, 2026.

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