Visit Report: UN STI Forum May 2026

​Visit Report: UN STI Forum May 2026
Professor Dawn Bonfield MBE FREng, WFEO Executive Council and Commonwealth Engineers’ Council
On 6-7 May 2026 I (Dawn Bonfield) attended the United Nations Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Forum in New York as a representative of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) Executive Council and the Commonwealth Engineers’ Council (CEC), along with a number of other WFEO colleagues. My motivation for participating was closely linked to my ongoing work on engineering capacity building, and deepening my understanding of how science, technology and innovation continues to contribute to the development of the SDGs, and in particular to sustainable, rapidly urbanising cities.
Being present as part of a coordinated engineering delegation strengthened both our visibility and our collective voice as engineers at the Forum. Engineering is central to delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yet it is not always sufficiently visible in global policy discussions. Our presence enabled us to demonstrate the breadth of the profession, engage with stakeholders across sectors, and reinforce the importance of engineering in turning innovation into real‑world solutions. Informal discussions between WFEO colleagues throughout the day were also valuable, allowing us to compare perspectives, identify common priorities and align our messaging with colleagues and other stakeholders, as well as with UN representatives.
The formal sessions on Day 1 provided a powerful overview of the global landscape. A central message was that science, technology and innovation are essential to achieving the SDGs, but are insufficient on their own. While technological solutions exist across sectors such as water, energy and infrastructure, the key challenge lies in implementation. There was a strong call to move from innovation to impact, and from pilot projects to scaling solutions. The overall message was that the world is not short of ideas, but lacks the systems, governance and capacity to deploy them effectively.
This emphasis on implementation resonated with the work we are doing at WFEO on capacity building, and this recurring theme showed the importance of engineering capacity as a foundational enabler. Engineering capacity was framed as the combination of skills, institutions and systems needed to design, implement and maintain solutions. Without this capacity, some countries remain dependent on external expertise and struggle to scale innovations, which reinforced the importance of the need to strengthen education systems, continuing professional development, and collaboration between universities, industry and government.
Governance and systems thinking were also highlighted as critical. Effective delivery requires predictable regulatory frameworks, strong institutions and coordination across different levels. There was a clear recognition that infrastructure systems are interconnected, and that siloed approaches undermine impact. This has direct relevance for the CEC work on urbanisation, where water, energy, transport and housing systems must be planned and managed as integrated systems.
Side Events
A particularly important aspect of the Forum experience was participation in a range of side events, which complemented the main programme and provided opportunities for more focused engagement. One of the most valuable of these was a session on engineering entrepreneurship which brought together practitioners and organisations working at the interface of engineering and business, highlighting the role of entrepreneurship in scaling innovation and creating impact. Contributions from colleagues, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), provided useful insights into how professional institutions are supporting engineers to develop entrepreneurial skills and bring solutions to market. This theme of moving from technical innovation to viable, scalable enterprises was strongly aligned with the wider Forum discussions. Further information can be found here https://sdgs.un.org/tfm/STIForum2026/Solutionsbook.
Building on this, it was particularly valuable to continue these conversations in a more informal setting at a follow‑up meeting hosted by Guna and his company, which provided an excellent opportunity to deepen relationships with partners such as ASME and explore potential areas for collaboration.
Another important element of the visit was participation, alongside WFEO colleagues, in a meeting with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). This provided an opportunity for us to share our longer‑term priorities as WFEO, particularly in relation to engineering capacity, infrastructure and sustainable development. It was equally valuable to hear about the evolving UN agenda, including early thinking on the post‑2030 landscape following the current SDG timeline.
Across both formal sessions and side events, there was a strong emphasis on inclusive and community‑centred approaches to innovation. The narrative has shifted from delivering technology for communities to working with and through them. This includes recognising communities as co‑designers and contributors, and ensuring that solutions are context‑specific and socially acceptable. At the same time, there were clear warnings about the risks of exclusion and inequity, particularly in relation to AI, data and digital technologies, which formed a central theme of the event. While digital technologies offer significant opportunities in areas such as infrastructure planning and service delivery, there is a risk that they could reinforce existing inequalities if not designed inclusively, highlighting the importance of governance, ethics and capacity alongside technological development.
There was also a strong sense of urgency. With less than five years remaining to achieve the SDGs, progress is uneven and, in some cases, reversing. The clear message was that acceleration is needed across all areas, supported by stronger partnerships and collaboration.
Engineering Benchmarking Project
Attendance at the United Nations (UN) Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Forum also provided a strategic opportunity to advance the Engineering Capacity and Capability Benchmarking Project funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation. A key objective of participation was to engage with senior representatives of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and its executive leadership in order to build support for the benchmarking methodology and proposed indicators. Discussions during the forum enabled direct engagement with WFEO members, facilitating alignment between the project’s aims and existing global engineering priorities, and reinforcing the value of a coordinated international approach to assessing engineering capacity.
The STI Forum itself offered a clear demonstration of the increasing emphasis placed by the United Nations system on evidence-based policy and data-driven decision-making in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contributions from multiple stakeholders highlighted gaps in current datasets, particularly in relation to engineering skills, workforce distribution, and institutional capacity, which are essential components in delivering infrastructure, climate resilience, and sustainable urban development.
Professor Dawn Bonfield MBE FREng, Member of WFEO Executive Council on behalf of Commonwealth Engineers’ Council.
Photographs

Photographs from the STI Forum 2026