United Nations Global Pulse is pleased to be attending the 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals and warmly welcomes our network to join us for a range of exciting side events.
From the launch of our 2025 Accelerator Programme, to a roundtable discussion on private sector engagement with the UN to a deep dive into innovation, we hope to connect with lots of you in person in New York in May.
Please find below a list of UN Global Pulse’s side events:
Scaling Innovations for People and the Planet: Navigating uncertainties and building partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
When: Tuesday, 6th May at 10.00am – 11.15am EST
Location: Conference Room 6, UNHQ, 405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, USA
The world is not on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Recent geopolitical events and changes in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) landscape have introduced new challenges that impact the UN and the world. There is an urgent need to accelerate the UN’s transformation to become more effective and accountable, to urgently build the digital and data capabilities of the UN, as well as, to build shared value partnerships.
This side event, hosted by the Government of Finland and UN Global Pulse, launches the 2025 edition of the UN Global Pulse Accelerator, focusing on innovation scaling for impact – a central aspect of the UN 2.0 transformation. Building on insights from the “Scaling the Summit” report and previous editions, the Accelerator has guided 14 teams from 23 UN entities, of 164 applications, helping them craft scaling strategies to address urgent global challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, gender inequality, and healthcare access. The UN Global Pulse Accelerator marks the only UN System-wide initiative that supports innovation teams from any UN entity.
Speakers:
H.E. Elina Kalkku, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN
Ayaka Suzuki, Director, Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit, Executive Office of the Secretary-General
Gayan Peiris, Head of Data and Technology, UNDP
Sara Monteabaro, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Philanthropy, MIT Solve
Nina Smidt, CEO, Siemens Stiftung
Aki Enkenberg, Chief Senior Specialist, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Register: Registration for this event is now closed. If you will be in New York and would like to attend, please get in touch with us at events@unglobalpulse.org to check availability.
Powering Progress: Unlocking UN Impact through Private Sector Partnerships
When: Tuesday, 6th May at 1.15pm – 2.45pm EST
Location: Conference Rm D, UNHQ, 405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, USA
Join UN Global Pulse and partners—including Hellon—for a 90-minute session focused on unlocking private sector partnerships to drive innovation across the UN System. Discover how cutting-edge collaboration is accelerating progress toward the SDGs and explore UNGP’s revised Strategic Plan, which highlights new avenues for co-creation. As the UN’s innovation lab, Global Pulse, leverages the Quintet of Change to transform how the UN works—inviting private sector partners to play a key role in shaping bold, scalable solutions for global impact.
Moderator:
Timo Patiala, Hellon Group Co-Founder
Speakers:
Kersten Jauer, Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit, Executive Office of the Secretary-General
Aki Enkenberg, Chief Senior Specialist, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Sabina Carli Sitar, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations
Carlo Bertelli, Founder, Wolico
Subho Mukherjee, Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability, Nokia
Register: Registration for this event is now closed. If you will be in New York and would like to attend, please get in touch with us at events@unglobalpulse.org to check availability.
If you would like to find out more about how to partner with UN Global Pulse, or you would like to support our work through a philanthropic donation, please reach out to Emma Jennings, Partnerships Lead (emma.jennings@un.org)
What’s Next After AI? Preparing for the Next Tech Frontier, with UN Global Pulse and Apolitical
When: Tuesday, 6th May at 3.00pm – 4.15pm EST
Location: Conference Rm C, UNHQ, 405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, USA
AI may dominate headlines, but it’s just the beginning. Join UN Global Pulse and partner Apolitical to explore how UN agencies and governments can prepare for the next wave of tech—quantum, neurotech, biotech, and beyond. Learn how to shift from reactive to future-ready with expert insights, global case studies, and practical strategies. This session will unpack the leadership, mindsets, and cross-sector partnerships needed to drive innovation, break silos, and deliver lasting public value in an increasingly complex and fast-evolving world.
Speakers:
Cori Zarek, VP North America, Apolitical
Lucia Velasco, Head AI Policy, ODET
Clare Martorana, Former Federal CIO of the United States
Marko Grobelnik, Co-Lead of the Artificial Intelligence Lab at the Jožef Stefan Institute and co-founder of IRCAI
Aki Enkenberg, Chief Senior Specialist, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland
Dave Cole, Chief Innovation Officer, State of New Jersey
Gabe Paley, Assistant Secretary for Technology, State of New York
Subho Mukherjee, Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability, Nokia
Rohan Bhobe, CEO and co-founder, Nava PBC
John Paul Farmer, President, Smart City Expo; Former CTO, City of New York
Meredith Broussard, Professor and author
Dr. Stefaan Verhulst, Co-Founder, The GovLab and The DataTank | Research Professor, the Tandon School of Engineering, NYU
Nabiha Syed, Executive Director, Mozilla Foundation
Serena Oduro, Policy Manager, Data & Society
Carlo Bertelli, Founder, Wolico
Haifa Badi Uz Zaman, Manager of AI Partnerships, Rockefeller Foundation
Register: Registration for this event is now closed. If you will be in New York and would like to attend, please get in touch with us at events@unglobalpulse.org to check availability.
Harnessing bioeconomy, science, technology and innovation for a sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems transformation
When: Wednesday, 7th May or Thursday, 8th May (to be confirmed) at 8.00am – 10.00am EST
Location: Online – registration link will come soon
Agrifood systems are central to the bioeconomy, providing renewable biological resources. The bioeconomy enhances agrifood systems sustainability and productivity through science, technology and innovation, allowing agrifood systems to sustainably supply resources needed to green other sectors. This side event will highlight the risks of inaction, including food insecurity and environmental degradation, while showcasing the advantages of global cooperation in science, technology, and innovation (STI). It will gather insights from UN agencies, governments, and regional experts to showcase transformative bioeconomy innovations within agrifood systems, supporting multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The discussion will culminate by highlighting the importance of global cooperation, focusing on the development of a Global Multistakeholder Bioeconomy Partnership (SDG 17) to scale these innovations and drive impactful, sustainable change.
Register: Register here to attend virtually on Zoom
More details to come.