As part of Frontier 2030: Fourth Industrial Revolution for Global Goals Platform

Unlocking Technology
for the Global Goals

In collaboration with PwC

January 2020
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2 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Contents

About Frontier 2030: Fourth Industrial Revolution for Global Goals Platform 4

Foreword5

Executive summary 7

Chapter 1: A decade to act: the challenge and the opportunity 8

Chapter 2: State of play: technology and the Global Goals 12

Chapter 3: Barriers to scaling and the risks of getting it wrong 23

Chapter 4: Enabling Tech for Good 29

Chapter 5: A call to action 36

Chapter 6: Conclusion 38

Annex39

Contributors42

Endnotes43

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 3

About Frontier 2030: Fourth Industrial
Revolution for Global Goals Platform

The potential of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to facilitator of networks of providers and users of technology
tackle major global challenges – such as poverty, climate solutions for sustainable development; on the other, it will
change, nature loss and inequality – is immense, yet this advance intentional curated efforts, partnership building,
potential is far from being reached. To this end, the Forum’s government capacity development and finance to fast track
Centre for Global Public Goods is scaling up efforts to new technology solutions for the Global Goals. The effort
proactively engage stakeholders to channel Fourth Industrial will be organized and delivered in cooperation with partner
Revolution innovations towards positive social, economic institutions, including leading international organizations.
and environmental outcomes through a series of initiatives.
As a complementary initiative, UpLink is also being
Frontier 2030 – a new Fourth Industrial Revolution for launched – a new digital platform to crowdsource ideas
Global Goals Platform, which this report supports, aims at and solutions from younger generations and entrepreneurs
facilitating the application of advanced technologies to help to progress the Global Goals. Together with the Forum’s
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (herein referred Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network – a hub
to as the Global Goals). It builds on calls from the United that works with governments around the world to shape
Nations (UN) High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation for a policy frameworks – these initiatives form vital building
multistakeholder approach that brings together technology blocks of the Forum’s efforts to accelerate the benefits of
companies, government, civil society and international the Fourth Industrial Revolution for inclusive, sustainable
organization leaders to collaborate and unlock broader and human-centred development.
barriers to responsible deployment of new technologies to
deliver positive societal impact. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been at the heart of
the Forum’s Fourth Industrial Revolution for Public Goods
Frontier 2030, launched at the World Economic Forum journey; it is a key knowledge partner for Frontier 2030 and
Annual Meeting in January 2020, will provide a focal point for has led this new report to coincide with the platform launch.
the mobilization of a more concerted and cooperative effort The World Economic Forum, PwC and other partners
to apply advanced technologies to the achievement of the will work with a community of influence to mobilize new
Global Goals. It will serve, on one hand, as a global node and technologies for the benefit of the Global Goals.

4 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

 Foreword

Fourth Industrial Revolution innovations, including AI, blockchain and the

internet of things (IoT), are having an increasing impact on economies and
societies. Distinctions between the physical, digital and biological realms are
becoming increasingly blurred, and cyber physical systems are emerging.
It is rapidly transforming business models and industries globally, with
huge advances at the cutting edge of many sectors, including healthcare,
agriculture, energy, education and transport. The speed and scale of advances
in the past few years alone has been immense: The global big data market
almost doubled in market size in three years with a total revenue of $49 billion
in 2019;1 worldwide spending on artificial intelligence (AI) was approximately
$35.8 billion in 2019, with a 44% increase from 2018,2 and for blockchain
solutions nearly $2.9 billion was spent in 2019, an increase of 88.7% from
2018.3 The first fully electric aeroplane made a successful virgin voyage in
November 20194 and 5G is no longer a potential future but the reality in more
than 13 countries.5 Meanwhile, the risks associated with technologies went
Antonia Gawel from theoretical to real as a research centre used CRISPR gene editing for the
Head, Innovation & Circular birth of two babies,6 democratic elections were influenced through the misuse
Economy, Centre for Global of technologies7,8 and, as self-driving cars were increasingly introduced in cities
Public Goods, World around the world, so were the first casualties.9
Economic Forum
As such technological advances bring us daily benefits, they also raise a
host of complex questions and broad concerns about how technology will
affect society and our planet. Previous industrial revolutions have radically
improved the standards of living for human beings, but not only are these gains
unevenly distributed across geographies and demographics, they have come
with the degradation of our planet’s health.10 Today’s technological revolution
must break this pattern and, for the first time, deliver sustainable, inclusive
economic growth. In 2015, United Nations member states agreed on the
Global Goals for a better world by 2030; 17 Goals that provide a framing for
society’s grand challenges. Progress towards delivering upon many of these
goals is far off track, from eliminating extreme poverty11 to combating climate
change and rapid nature loss. These Goals could not provide a clearer framing
for where we need to assertively point the power of new technologies to deliver
for humanity.

Ensuring that we harness the Fourth Industrial Revolution responsibly to

Celine Herweijer accelerate progress to the Global Goals is a huge opportunity for the 2020s.
PwC Global Innovation and As this report shows, although the landscape of opportunity is significant and
Sustainability Leader, and new technologies could support progress across the Goals, substantial barriers
Partner, PwC United Kingdom and risks exist. Multiple challenges can prevent scaling of new solutions,
whether from lack of basic infrastructure, expertise, data and adequate market
incentives, or through to trust, performance and security concerns. Moreover,
if these technologies are not scaled in a smart and sustainable way, they could
exacerbate problems for people and the planet, putting further strains on our
society and environment. Well-known examples include how to use data while
ensuring people’s right to privacy, protecting against the misuse of AI for crime
or warfare, or to influence democracy, job displacement from automation and
the energy consumption challenges of new technologies such as blockchain.

For the Fourth Industrial Revolution to be successful, it will need to work

for the economy, society and environment, and for the benefit of everyone.
Fortunately, many of the innovations and applications we have identified
could be used across a much broader range of Global Goals, geographies
and demographics. It is time to get the enabling environment right to deliver
on this enormous promise, including through leadership and new forms of

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 5

 multi stakeholder collaboration, targeted R&D, more active and intelligent
policies and regulation, rapid upskilling and reskilling, and the right incentives to
stimulate market solutions.

This report is an initial step in building the case for how advanced technologies
could do more to accelerate progress towards the Global Goals. Covering
17 Goals and more than 10 vital Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies
presents a monumental task to convey the landscape, barriers and potential in
a single report. Not just because of the breadth and depth of the Goals but also
because of their interconnectedness as economic, social and environmental
systems; combined with widely different starting points, for example on digital
readiness, across countries and global regions. There are, of course, many
different aspects to examine and areas to explore, but we know there is very
limited time. Here, we hope these insights, examples and our recommended
call to action will spark a sense of urgency and increased interest, investment
and efforts to ensure that these technologies are fully harnessed to enable our
Global Goals to become a reality by 2030.

6 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Executive summary

Through an analysis of over 300 Fourth Industrial Revolution 3. Partnerships for collaboration and collective action: cross-
technology applications, this report maps the breadth of sector and within-sector collaboration and coalitions to
the opportunity for new technologies to make a significant drive impact and systemic change at scale.
contribution to the achievement of the Global Goals.
Through this analysis, this report will explore: 1) the extent 4. Public policy and regulation for the Fourth Industrial
to which this opportunity is being realized; 2) the barriers Revolution: priority-targeted policy and regulatory
and risks to scaling these applications; and 3) the enabling approaches to safeguard risks from the Fourth Industrial
framework for unlocking this opportunity. Revolution and scale solutions for positive societal impacts.

Our analysis showed that based on current applications, 5. Finance mechanisms to stimulate market solutions:
Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies could have targeted public finance and blended finance approaches
a high impact in particular across 10 of the goals, and to scale Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions where
that 70% of the 169 targets underpinning the goals there have been market failures or where the benefits are
could be enabled by existing Fourth Industrial Revolution largely for public goods.
technology applications. Analysis of the applications
database highlights that there are a number of common 6. Breakthrough innovation: collaborative R&D agendas
transformative characteristics enabled by these to outline priority problems to direct public and private
innovations. These include: increasing the productivity innovation finance, talent and collaboration.
of systems; enabling transparency and stakeholder
accountability; aiding the shift to decentralized systems; 7. Data and tools: new models for democratization of
supporting new models to unlock finance; and accelerating data, APIs and tools to spur scaling of Fourth Industrial
discovery from new insights to new materials. Revolution applications for the benefit of everyone

While there is an enormous opportunity, some important 8. Capacity development and skills: active and
barriers will need to be overcome. These include poor collaborative agenda on upskilling and reskilling, and
data access and quality, a lack of basic infrastructure, an interdisciplinary talent to maximize value from the Fourth
inadequate governance and policy environment, upskilling Industrial Revolution.
and reskilling needs and – in particular for public goods-
focused solutions – a lack of viable business models and In line with these enablers, we have outlined what a
commercial incentives for scaling. In addition, the scaling leadership-level “call to action” could look like for technology
of new technology applications creates new risks – from executives and government leaders in order to deliver
security and control risks to socioeconomic risks including ambition and investment around technology opportunities
job displacement or even unintended environmental risks – for the Global Goals. This includes commitments to
that also need to be actively and assertively managed by the implementing strong, responsible technology frameworks
tech sector, industry and governments alike. to drive fit-for-purpose policy and regulation, upskilling and
reskilling, financing, data commons efforts, directed R&D
A set of enablers is needed to continually accelerate and even driving labour-market reforms.
innovation and investment into new solutions that help
tackle our grandest challenges, and to create viable markets It is crucial to find new ways of leading, working and
for those solutions in the long term. These include: innovating to unlock and scale the promise of the Fourth
Industrial Revolution for people and the planet. For many
1. Responsible technology governance: development, of the challenges faced, from climate change to nature
alignment and uptake of responsible technology principles loss, there is no longer the luxury of time. It is vital to move
by tech firms and broader stakeholders. quickly beyond celebrating a promising set of “for good”
use cases, to leadership ambition in investing money, time
2. Leadership to mobilize commitment and standards: and expertise, and fully embracing this agenda. Harnessing
agendas to set ambitions and enable action and technology is no silver bullet, but these developments could
investment in the use of technology aligned to be an essential building block in the ability to achieve the
progressing the Global Goals. Global Goals this decade.

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 7

Chapter 1: A decade to act:
the challenge and the opportunity
Accelerating action to achieve the water; and we are not on track in terms of economic and
inclusive growth targets for developing countries and
Global Goals industrialization in these countries is too slow to meet
the 2030 agenda target, not least in technology-related
Progress to reach the UN Global Goals for sustainable sectors. Meanwhile, the report showed that the global
development by 2030 is not on track (for definitions of the material footprint is growing, outpacing population and
17 Goals, see Annex 1). Despite progress in a number economic growth, and that we are far from being on
of areas on some of the Goals since 2015, the global track in our efforts to combat climate change and protect
response has not been ambitious enough: on some of biodiversity. Performance across targets and within targets
the Goals, progress has been slow or even reversed.12 is also uneven. In OECD countries, Goal 5 on gender
The recent Sustainable Development Progress Report equality sees countries being close to the target of women
showed that: the world is not on track to end poverty by using the internet, but the same countries are far behind
2030; 785 million people still remain without basic drinking when it comes to the gender gap in unpaid work.

Figure 1: Key facts from the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2019

SDG 1: No Poverty SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The world is not on track to More than

1/3 2/3
end poverty in all forms by

2030 when
of employed workers
in sub-Saharan Africa

6%
live on less than of undernourished people

$
1.90
worldwide live in sub-Saharan
Africa and Southern Asia

of the population is predicted

to be in extreme poverty a day

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy SDG 14: Life Below Water SDG 15: Life on Land

Ocean activity has increased by Land degradation is affecting

3 billion
people worldwide lack 26% 1/5 Of the Earth’s land
clean cooking fuels and since pre-industrial levels and is area, and the lives of

1 billion
technology and only expected to increase by a further

17.5 %
125%
by
while the risk of species extinction
has worsened by almost

10%
of the total final energy

2100
consumption comes from
renewable sources
in the past 25 years

8 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Many of the efforts to date have concentrated on areas yet there is still a long way to go. Getting to the “net zero
in which progress is more readily achieved. For example, emissions” economy that governments around the world
massive and persistent investments in primary health and have signed up to, and that scientists say must happen by
education globally over the past decades has resulted in 2050,16 requires radical transformation of every sector of the
change in life expectancy at birth and access to primary economy. Heavy industry, our energy grids, transport, food
education. The real challenge lies where progress is not and agriculture, buildings and cities, and production and
so easily achievable, including complex systemic global consumption will need to undergo rapid decarbonization.
issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and ocean
health, all areas in which planetary boundaries have been Transformative change and innovation across all sectors
crossed13 and where we are running out of time to address of our economy is needed to unlock the environmental,
major problems. Likewise, progress is lagging in parts of the economic and social transformation required to tackle climate
world where it is hardest to drive structural socioeconomic change, and achieve the Global Goals by 2030. We need to
change. The recent Human Development Report from the embrace innovation not only to change how we do things but
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) showed also to broaden the set of tools we use to solve problems,
countries with a low human development index (HDI) are including new models of collaboration, new business models
catching up in basic capabilities, with a 5.3% change in (platforms and ecosystems, marketplaces, digital commons)
primary education between 2007 and 2017 and a 49.3% and the powerful new technologies of the digital age.
change in mobile-cellular subscriptions in the same time
period. However, these same countries are falling behind
in some of the most defining areas for an inclusive Fourth Steering the Fourth Industrial
Industrial Revolution. Between 2007 and 2017, the change
in tertiary education was only 1.1% for countries with a Revolution to realize the
low HDI while it was 7.1% for countries with a high HDI. Global Goals
Similarly, less than 1% of countries with a low HDI have
broadband access compared to 28.3% of countries with
high HDIs.14 Against the backdrop of these global challenges, the Fourth
Industrial Revolution is reshaping industries and value
Business as usual is not an option: Choosing to “wait and chains, scientific discovery, human engagement and even
see” will put impossible environmental and social strains national economic power at unprecedented speed and
on people and our planet. The years 2020 to 2030 mark scale. AI, robotics, blockchain, IoT and 5G connectivity,
the so-called “decade of action”, in which ambitions must advanced materials and biotechnology are already reshaping
intensify and plans must turn into reality. Performance to society (for Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, see
date on the Global Goals suggests that traditional policy Annex 2). Today Facebook users collectively have a larger
and market responses will not get us there fast enough, population than China or India,17 and Apple is worth more
particularly at a time when society is increasingly fractured. than the entire US energy sector.18 In the less than three
For instance, on Climate Action (Goal 13), it has been four years since the first drone pilots delivered blood in Rwanda
years since the global Paris Agreement, but national pledges in late 2016, drone operations are now being scaled and
still take us to a dangerous world of 3ºC global warming by even standardized in mining, agriculture and healthcare in
the end of this century15 . Business action is accelerating more than 23 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.19 In 2019,

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 9

two-thirds of customers globally interacted with a chatbot to accelerate progress to the Global Goals is only just
rather than a human.20 More broadly across the economy, an beginning to be realized. Our analysis suggests that
estimated 70% of new value created over the next decade is adoption of these technologies is patchy and tends to be
being based on digitally enabled platforms. Taking AI alone, focused on areas that maximize private-sector commercial
estimates by PwC suggest that AI could increase global benefits, including energy, industry and healthcare, rather
GDP by $15.7 trillion by 2030.21 Companies are reimagining than those areas of the Goals that might largely benefit
how we innovate, create, distribute and capture value in this wider society.
new environment, and in many cases to build or be part of
ecosystems that will transcend industry boundaries. A lack of social acceptance can also affect adoption rates
of technology solutions. Trust and acceptance both of new
On the flipside, market disruptions and a rapidly evolving technologies and tech service providers is a prerequisite
competitive landscape are raising existential questions on for their success, and a major barrier to entry for many
the future strategy and operating model for companies. technology offerings. This is particularly apparent for
The life expectancy of a Fortune 500 firm has fallen sectors in which industry is largely not yet digitally native.
from 75 years in the early 20th century to only 15 today. This barrier raises a specific challenge for engaging
Companies are responding – in 2018 an estimated $1.2 entrepreneurs, and investors for the Global Goals. As an
trillion was spent by companies on digital transformation example, more than a third (35%) of business leaders
efforts22 – but most efforts fail to deliver sustainable digital believe drones are not being adopted in their industry
transformation23 and most companies do not feel equipped because of negative public perceptions.24
to embrace technological shifts. Just looking at AI, 85%
of chief executive officers surveyed globally say AI will There is a huge untapped opportunity to harness new
significantly affect the way they do business in the next technologies to accelerate progress on the Global Goals,
five years. This leaves business and industry with a dual both broadening and deepening current action. Through
challenge: staying ahead in a rapidly disrupted world while this study, we have found that Fourth Industrial Revolution
repurposing their business model – whether technology- technologies could have a “high” impact across more
driven or technology-creating – towards faster and better than half of the Goals, and just over two-thirds of the 169
realization of the Global Goals. targets underpinning the Goals could be bolstered by
technological innovation. Perhaps more strikingly, big data
Despite a rapid rise in Fourth Industrial Revolution platforms and AI have the potential to support progress
technologies being applied across many aspects of towards each and every one of the Global Goals (the full
industry and commerce, the potential of new technologies analysis is presented in Chapter 2).

10 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

 At a country level, we see a strong relationship between Industrial Revolution technologies offers, technology also
countries’ ability to innovate and their progress on the poses risks that can affect individuals, organizations, the
Global Goals. Technology adoption and economic environment and society. These risks tend to fall into two
development is inherently linked. Countries that have a categories, those in design and development, and those in
strong digital readiness and innovation capacity have often deployment. We explore barriers to scaling technology and
made most progress on the Global Goals whereas countries risks of deployment in Chapter 3.
with less innovation have generally fared less well (see
Figure 2). Research from PwC and Microsoft shows that the Given the risks, and barriers to scale, harnessing Fourth
economic and environmental gains of applying AI to tackle Industrial Revolution technologies successfully to meet
environmental challenges would predominantly be captured the Global Goals will require multiple stakeholders working
by Europe, East Asia and North America due in large part collaboratively. These actors include governments
to each region’s current digital readiness and levels of tech and regulators, the tech sector, industry, investors,
adoption.25 There is an opportunity to build and strengthen academia and civil society organizations. Some actors
innovation capacity nationally and regionally to accelerate and organizations are starting to do this, but many more
Global Goal progress, bolster sustainable development and are not. The flow of finance, technology transfer, capacity
unlock huge potential. There is also a market opportunity, building and trade, particularly between the Global North
which has been estimated at more than $12 trillion annually and the Global South, all need to be rapidly strengthened
by 2030 from achieving the Global Goals in the areas of in the 2020s.30
food and agriculture, cities, energy and materials, and health
and well-being systems alone.26 Society stands to benefit In Chapter 4 we lay out how to develop a comprehensive
hugely in parallel, too. enabling environment to support a more long-sighted
and principled approach that actively manages the role
It is fair to ask why there has been such limited progress to technology can play for society and the environment through
date.29 The reason why Fourth Industrial Revolution tech is a set of proactive steps (or so-called “enablers”). Chapter 5
not fully deployed in support of the Global Goals is a result sets out conclusions, including how to align a public-private
of various barriers, most notably governance and policy, response through a clear and succinct “blueprint for action”
funding and resources for R&D and deployment, insufficient for leaders. Finally, chapter 6 outlines our conclusions
collaboration, as well as the maturity of data, technology including the importance of a public-private platform for
and infrastructure. For all of the potential that scaling Fourth sustained action and collaboration.

Figure 2: Capacity and success in Innovation vs. Global Goal progress, by country

85
Denmark Sweden
Austria Netherlands
80 France Germany
Kenya
Slovenia Japan United Kingdom
Poland Canada Switzerland
Chile Spain
75 Italy
Argentina Bulgaria United States
China
Ecuador Peru Brazil
70
SDG Progress

Colombia
Nicaragua Mexico
65 Egypt
Indonesia

60 South India
Zimbabwe Botswana Africa

Kenya
55
Zambia
Ethiopia Uganda
Guinea
50 Mali
Niger

45 Nigeria

15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70
Innovation Score

Innovation Score vs. SDG Progress. The marks are labelled by Country. The data is filtered on country as an attribute, which keeps no members. The view
is filtered on Innovagtion Score, which keeps non-Null vallues only.

Source: 2019 Sustainable Development Report (https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2019/2019_sustainable_development_report.

pdf),27 the Global Innovation Index 2019 (https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_gii_2019.pdf)28 and PwC analysis.

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 11

Chapter 2: State of play: technology
and the Global Goals
Mapping Fourth Industrial by Fourth Industrial Revolution technology applications
already in deployment. The applications were found to
Revolution technology applications be playing an important role in 10 of the Global Goals in
particular, with Health (Goal 3), Clean Energy (Goal 7) and
across the Global Goals Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal 9) as those
with the highest number of Fourth Industrial Revolution
New technologies have the potential to contribute applications already in use. This result is not surprising
significantly towards achieving the Global Goals. Through from a financial standpoint, given that these goals are
research, analysis and interviews with a range of strongly tied to private-sector markets. For example, the
stakeholders at the forefront of applying Fourth Industrial healthcare market is one of the biggest industries in most
Revolution technologies in industry, technology firms countries, bringing in more than $2.8 trillion annually in
and research, we have mapped over 300 applications to the United States alone.31 Health and energy are also
the Goals (omitting Goal 17 on Partnerships). For each sectors in which investment in digital innovation is rife,
application, we have captured metadata on geography, from big tech companies expanding into these industries
technologies harnessed, specific goal affected, priority – public- and private-sector investment in healthcare AI is
challenge areas addressed for each goal (e.g. for Climate expected to reach $6.6 billion by 2021.32 In contrast, the
Action, this includes clean transport and sustainable land lowest number of present-day Fourth Industrial Revolution
use), maturity of deployment, important partnerships and applications were found to occur across No Poverty (Goal
enablers, and barriers to scale. 1), Gender (Goal 5) and Life Below Water (Goal 14). These
Goals are, in the broadest sense, either recognized as
Our research found that across the Global Goals and being linked with market failures (1 and 5) or considered
their 169 targets, 70% of the targets could be enabled a public good (14).

Figure 3: Summary of Fourth Industrial Revolution for Global Goal applications database

Which goals have the most Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) applications today?

70 169 %
1 Technology could have
2 3 4 5 high impact across

10 17
6 7 8 9 of the
10

14
11

15
12

16
13

17
of the SDGs SDG targets can be directly supported
by technology innovation

Global Goals with the highest number Global Goals with the lowest number
of present-day 4IR applications: of present-day 4IR applications:

Big data platforms AI is central to Blockchain plays a IoT plays a role in Advanced materials are
support progression of over 50% of role in 25% of the 33% of top involved in over 10% of
100% of the SDGs applications mapped mapped applications applications mapped the mapped applications

Source: PwC Research

12 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Prominent Fourth Industrial – Adoption potential (i.e. the potential population size
is large)
Revolution technology applications
– Technology centrality (i.e. Fourth Industrial Revolution
for the Global Goals technology is a vital cog in the solution)

In Table 1, we identify some of the most prominent Fourth – Realizable enabling environment (i.e. policy and
Industrial Revolution applications from our research that governance requirements can be identified and
are being implemented in practice today for each of the supported)
Goals. These are not meant to be exhaustive, but to be
representative of the most prominent innovations selected While all of the applications in Table 1 are “in vivo” in
on the basis of satisfying five main features: society today, they are at varying levels of maturity, which
for simplicity of illustration have been classified into low
– Feasibility proven (i.e. the application is being deployed (emerging), medium (improving) and high (mature). In practice,
and creating impact today) emerging solutions (low maturity) may be more nascent,
but over the coming decade leading to 2030 they could
– Transformational impact (i.e. the solution directly still outperform mature solutions (high maturity) in terms of
addresses the priority challenge areas underlying the impact, if the enabling environment is supportive and/or the
goal(s) and could disrupt current approaches) solution itself has a large market and high disruptive capability
(e.g. low-cost low-greenhouse gas (GHG) synthetic proteins
for achieving Climate Action impact).

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 13

Table 1 (pt1 of 6): Prominent Fourth Industrial Revolution-enabled applications for Global Goals 1–16, and their maturity

High maturity High maturity High maturity

AI-enabled digital footprint for credit/ AI, satellite and drone-enabled disaster Smart homecare, smart wearables and
mobile money access risk insurance products (incl.parametric virtual healthcare assistants
bonds) and microfinance
AI, satellite and drone-enabled Monitoring and predicting health
disaster risk insurance products (incl. Precision agriculture to optimize inputs metrics and disease, including smart
parametric bonds) and microfinance and returns and early detection of implants, wearables
diseases and issues
Advanced demographic data analytics Smart hospital management to
Agricultural robotics for harvest and improve communication, collaboration
Blockchain-enabled crowd-finance process automation and input-output and performance
for development projects and optimization
charitable organizations Drones for remote delivery of medicines,
AI- and sensor-enabled prediction to medical equipment and samples
Inclusion-orientated and community- optimize agricultural and food supply
focused crypto solutions Medium maturity
and demand prediction
Smart pay-as-you-go utilities and AI-prediction of spread of epidemics/
Low-emission minimum-waste indoor/
shared services pandemics
urbanized farming solutions, including
hydroponics and vertical farming AI-enabled analysis of microbial
Medium maturity
resistance to antibiotics to aid patient
AI-enabled hyperlocal weather
AI-enabled financial market early- care and new antibiotic development
forecasting for agricultural
warning system
management and prediction AI- and sensor-enabled remote
Transparent and trustworthy land- monitoring and diagnostics for hard-to-
Low-cost, low-GHG emissions
registry platforms and smallholder reach communities
synthetic proteins
identity systems harnessing blockchain
Advanced healthcare learning, e.g.
Medium maturity
Transparent and immutable records VR/simulations for virtual patient
of workers’ rights and compensation Blockchain-based food supply chain encounters, AI to form training based
harnessing blockchain traceability and management system on patient results

Community-distributed marketplaces Crop biotech solutions to improve Blockchain-powered digital identity for
for goods and services, incl. peer-to- resilience, productivity and nutritional citizens enabling healthcare access
peer (P2P) trading and smart contracts content
Secure blockchain-based patient data
AI- and blockchain-enabled skills Community-distributed marketplaces for storage to streamline records
matching, access and contracting food and agriculture, incl. peer-to-peer
across global markets Smart medical robotics and nanobots
(P2P) trading and smart contracts
to improve surgical performance and
Blockchain digital identity solutions AI-enabled extension services for access
to enable economic identities, incl. smallholders to increase productivity
for refugees AI and digital twins to optimize large-
Low-GHG emissions synthetic fertilizers, scale, high-speed drug trial simulation
incl. green ammonia and derivative
Emotion recognition for diagnosis
green fertilizers
and treatment, e.g. diagnose
AI, sensors and blockchain to eliminate neurodevelopmental disorders and
spoilage/loss in food value chain, mental health issues
including smart food storage
Low maturity
Precision nutrition optimized for
3D printing of medicines and body
individuals and livestock
parts, and lab-grown synthetic organs
Low maturity
Low-cost personalized medicine
Highly customized, 3D-printed food (synthetic biology, AI)
Source: PwC Research

14 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Table 1 (cont. p2 of 6): Prominent Fourth Industrial Revolution-enabled applications for Global Goals 1–16, and their maturity

High maturity High maturity High maturity

Smart open educational resources to AI-enabled digital footprint for mobile Precision and autonomous irrigation
increase affordability and accessibility money access targeted at women and nutrient prescription systems
consumers and entrepreneurs enabled by AI, robotics, sensors,
AR/VR training, information and remote drones and satellite technologies
learning experiences 4IR digital applications supporting
women and girls, e.g. SafePal app, Farming technology that minimises
Automating and speeding up users can report instances of sexual water, land and nutrient use, e.g.
teachers’ tasks violence confidentially vertical farming, automated irrigation,
aeroponics
4IR-enabled personalized and adaptive 4IR-enabled educational platforms
learning, including AI personalized targeted at girls and women Smart water-infrastructure predictive
mass online open courses maintenance
AI-enabled remote work platforms to
AI-driven assessments to enable the mobilize contingent workforce AI-enhanced scenario modelling
delivery of continuous feedback for water infrastructure risks and
Medium maturity performance
AI-designed digital curriculums,
teaching plans and content across Community-distributed marketplaces Medium maturity
devices for goods and services, incl. peer-to-
peer (P2P) trading and smart contracts 4IR-enabled traceability to provide
Smart tools for school and teacher to facilitate inclusion consumer transparency on water
resource management source
AI to identify unbiased selection to
Natural language processing (NLP)- support inclusivity AI- and IoT-enabled real-time water
enabled voice assistants and speech system insights for water suppliers
to text for inclusive learning support AI-enabled real-time gender data and users incl. water quality and water
analytics availability, and prediction tools
AI-based plagiarism detection, e.g.
document scans, tests Inclusion-orientated and community- Blockchain platform to cost-
for plagiarism focused cryptocurrency solutions (e.g. effectively crowd-finance clean water
Brixton pound) infrastructure development
Medium maturity
Drones for remote delivery of goods, Decentralized water systems with
Algorithms to make informed decisions which frees up especially women’s smart contract-enabled peer-to-peer
on student learning and deficit time in rural communities water rights trading and dynamic
Low maturity pricing
AI-enabled cyber abuse detection of
sexual and gender harassment Low maturity
Interactive and multisensory
assistive learning to increase student Open-access gender-equality Advanced materials for desalination
engagement and interaction dashboard at country-wide level technology
Blockchain-powered digital identity to Smart nanotechnology and
enable access to services and finance biosynthetic solutions for water
desalination, purification and
reclamation

Source: PwC Research

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 15

Table 1 (cont. p3 of 6): Prominent Fourth Industrial Revolution-enabled applications for Global Goals 1–16, and their maturity

High maturity High maturity High maturity

4IR-enabled decentralized and AR/VR training, information and Robotics for manufacturing and
coordinated energy-grid management, remote-learning experiences construction process automation
incl. IoT, AI
Robotics for process automation for Smart IoT-enabled infrastructure for
Smart infrastructure for operational increased productivity efficiency and maintenance
efficiency and maintenance
AI and big data economic analytics Drones and robotics for remote goods
Optimized energy system demand to improve economic forecasting and delivery and remote infrastructure
and supply modelling and forecasting monetary and fiscal tools maintenance
harnessing AI and big data
AI-enabled digital footprint for mobile IoT-enabled tracking and optimization
Alternative energy asset financing money access of industrial machinery
mechanisms (e.g. blockchain finance
platforms and mobile money) AI-enabled transparent inventory Next-gen satellite, drone and AI-
management in supply chain for more enabled geospatial mapping and AR/
AI-enabled virtual power plants to efficient purchasing power VR visualization for infrastructure
integrate distributed renewable energy planning and development
sources AI-enabled digital support hubs
for workers Medium maturity
AI- and IoT-enabled predictive
maintenance of energy infrastructure AI-enabled remote work platforms Blockchain-enabled value chain
to mobilize contingent workforce monitoring and provenance tracking of
Medium maturity materials
AI, cloud, satellite and drone-enabled
Advanced energy storage (ultra-low disaster risk insurance products (incl. Automated, 3D-printed buildings and
cost and high performance) parametric bonds) and microfinance infrastructure

Printable renewable assets (e.g. solar Medium maturity 3D-printed optimized product design
coatings) and intelligent packaging
Community-distributed marketplaces
4IR-enabled peer-to-peer renewable for goods and services, incl. peer-to- AI and robotics for precision-strength
energy trading peer (P2P) trading and smart contracts capabilities and waste prevention

Blockchain platform to crowd- AI-enabled supply and demand Blockchain-enabled circularity and
finance clean energy infrastructure “matchmaking” for goods and workers sharing business model incentives, e.g.
development tokenization to encourage collection
Community-growth-focused and recycling of waste
Low maturity crypto solutions
4IR-enabled internet connectivity in
Advanced materials for bio-energy Transparent monitoring and rural locations (drones, satellites)
carbon capture and storage (BECCS) management of forced labour,
modern slavery and human trafficking Autonomous and connected mobility
Advanced materials and analytics for harnessing blockchain solutions for efficiency and systems
next-gen thermal storage (ultra-low optimization
cost and high performance) Transparent and immutable records of
workers’ rights and compensation Low maturity
Alternative biofuel production: e.g.
algae-derived biofuels Low maturity AI-enabled discovery fuelling industrial
R&D and innovation; quantum-enabled
Advanced waste heat capture and Robotic exoskeletons to assist in discovery
conversion manual/physically exhaustive tasks
Advanced materials for sustainable and
durable infrastructure

Source: PwC Research

16 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Table 1 (cont. p4 of 6): Prominent Fourth Industrial Revolution-enabled applications for Global Goals 1–16, and their maturity

High maturity High maturity High maturity

AI-enabled digital footprint for mobile Sensor-based grid and AI-based urban AI-enabled supply chain process
money access network management (pollution, waste, optimization and automation
water, energy)
AI and satellite/drone-enabled next-gen AI-optimized logistics and distribution
disaster risk insurance products (incl. Next-gen satellite, drone and IoT land- networks to minimize costs, emissions
parametric bonds) and microfinance use detection and management and waste

Next-gen demographics data analytics AI-, VR/AR-optimized city design and Digital twins for lifespan performance
planning optimization
AI-enabled platform collating
information on social services and 4IR-enabled building-management 4IR optimization of industrial
policies systems machinery, manufacturing and
recycling, incl. robotics for sorting
Medium maturity Medium maturity and recycling
AI for unbiased selection to support AI-enabled urban mobility AI- and IoT-enabled consumption and
inclusivity, e.g. for access to public management, including autonomous production data analytics
services EVs (e.g. traffic lights, optimal route
mapping to relieve congestion/ Medium maturity
Community-distributed marketplaces emissions)
for goods and services, incl. peer-to- Local 3D-printed products and
peer (P2P) trading and smart contracts Urban greening infrastructure (e.g. intelligent packing to minimize
to facilitate inclusion living buildings, pollution sequestration, distribution-related emissions
graphene-based self-cleaning
Inclusion-orientated and community- concrete) Community-distributed marketplaces
focused cryptocurrency solutions (e.g. for goods and services, incl. peer-to-
Brixton pound) 3D-printed buildings and infrastructure peer (P2P) trading and smart contracts

AI-enabled cyberabuse and diversity AI-enabled supply and demand Advanced biodegradability solutions for
and inclusion discrimination detection prediction with blockchain-powered products/materials
and mitigation purchasing for logistics
AI- and blockchain-enabled data
Blockchain-enabled digital voting 4IR-enabled decentralized, peer-to- platforms for monitoring and managing
peer community energy and water sustainable trade
Blockchain-powered digital identity grids incl. AI, IoT and blockchain
to enable access to services, incl. for 4IR-technology to eliminate waste in
refugees AI-led disaster prediction (automatic food and fibre value chains
thresholds enabling early evacuation
AI-based real-time tax structures and warning) Blockchain-enabled value chain
tax-recovery optimization monitoring and provenance tracking
Drones for remote community goods
Low maturity delivery including disaster relief AI- and blockchain-enabled life
supplies cycle traceability to aid responsible
4IR improved living conditions for purchasing decisions
disability groups, e.g. AI sensory Low maturity
augmentation, robotic exoskeletons Blockchain-enabled incentive schemes
Advanced construction materials for circular/recycling outcomes
Autonomous cars, built with universal (e.g. low/zero emissions steel and
design principles, for people unable aluminium, zero/negative emissions Advanced materials for low emissions
to drive concrete) chemicals, steel and aluminium

Building level electricity and thermal

storage and conversion via advanced
materials (e.g. graphene)

Source: PwC Research

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 17

Table 1 (cont. p5 of 6): Prominent Fourth Industrial Revolution-enabled applications for Global Goals 1–16, and their maturity

High maturity High maturity High maturity

Smart and transparent land-use Habitat monitoring and analytics (e.g. Real-time habitat and land-use
management monitoring pH and pollution) mapping, monitoring and detection of
illegal or adverse activities
Precision analytics for agricultural Marine pollution management
management technologies AI-/drone-enabled precision habitat
restoration and precision reforestation
Autonomous and connected electric AR/VR training, information for marine
vehicles industries (fishing, shipping) Autonomous vehicles and drones for
planting and feeding
Earth management big data platform Medium maturity
e.g. monitoring carbon emissions 4IR-enabled wildlife tracking,
AI-enabled data platforms to monitor monitoring, analytics and pattern
4IR-enabled building-management and manage fishing activity and forecasting and real-time detection,
systems compliance e.g. disease, animal capture
Smart and connected city planning and Robotics for fishery process Medium maturity
mobility systems automation
Earth management big data platform,
Large-scale AI-/drone-enabled Fishery stock forecasting (e.g. e.g. endangered species dashboard
precision reforestation automated fish catch thresholds) and rights codification
4IR-enabled decentralized clean Platform for managing biological assets AI simulation of animal, plant and
energy grids e.g. fishing and shipping, incl. IoT, AI habitat interaction
analytics and blockchain
Low-cost, low-GHG synthetic proteins AI-assisted plant and animal disease
Autonomous vessels and connected identification and detection
Medium maturity sensors for automated ocean health
mapping Alternative conservation financing
4IR technology to eliminate waste in
mechanisms, e.g. cryptocurrency,
food and fibre value chains Alternative financing mechanisms mobile money and microfinance
for sustainable fisheries and ocean
Advanced battery storage technologies
conservation (e.g. cryptocurrency, Low maturity
Advanced materials for clean energy mobile money, reward platforms,
and microfinance) AI-enabled genome sequencing to
generation and transmission (e.g.
optimize conservation efforts
semiconductors, solar coatings)
Low maturity
Genetic rescue for endangered and
4IR-enabled next-gen weather and
Coral genome modification to aid extinct species
climate prediction and response
resilience (synthetic biology)
analytics Robotics to control the spread of
Attracting and removing invasive species, e.g. identify and
Advanced materials for low/zero
micropollutants (synthetic biology) extract invasive species in a stream
emissions aluminium, steel and cement
3D-printed coral reef structure for
Tech solutions that reduce the need for
marine restoration
travel, e.g. 3D printing of goods and
(ultimately) AR/VR experiences

Low maturity

Advanced materials for bio-energy

carbon capture and storage (BECCS)

Advanced waste heat capture/

conversion

Source: PwC Research

18 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Table 1 (cont. p6 of 6): Prominent Fourth Industrial Revolution-enabled applications for Global Goals 1–16, and their maturity

High maturity

AI-enabled IoT devices for emergency

response

Low-cost biometric identification for

the last mile

AI-enabled digital passport and visas

for border security

AI-enabled identity tax fraud

identification (using browsing data,
retail data and payments history)

AI-enabled cybersecurity systems

Real-time natural language processing

to analyse public sentiment to inform
policy

Medium maturity

AI- and computer vision-enabled public

services (e.g. tracking and sentencing
of criminals and unbiased policing,
identification of missing persons)

AI-enabled corruption-reporting
platforms

Traceable and immutable record of

public spending and supply chains
harnessing blockchain

Blockchain-enabled crowd-finance
for litigation, including for SMEs and
marginalized groups

Blockchain and AI-enabled “fake-

news” verification

Blockchain-enabled digital voting

AI-enabled cyberabuse and

discrimination detection and mitigation

Blockchain-enabled citizen loyalty and

reward platforms

Source: PwC Research

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 19

Fourth Industrial Revolution- impact (i.e. the solution directly addresses the priority
challenge areas underlying the goal(s) and could disrupt
enabled moonshot innovations for current approaches); adoption potential (i.e. the potential
population size is large); and technology centrality (i.e.
the Global Goals Fourth Industrial Revolution technology is a vital cog
in the solution).
In addition to the prominent present-day Fourth Industrial
Revolution applications for the Global Goals identified in These moonshots are more aspirational and risky, and
Table 1, there are a number of Fourth Industrial Revolution- may only achieve scale of deployment post-2030 in some
enabled game changers “in vitro” (e.g. in R&D phase) that, cases. However, as they could have a material impact on
if cracked, could provide a step-change in achieving specific the challenges underpinning certain Goals if successfully
goals. These so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution-enabled deployed at scale. We highlight them here in an effort
Global Goal “moonshots” are presented in Table 2. both to focus entrepreneurs on “grand tech-challenges
for the Global Goals” and to focus public and private R&D
Each so-called “moonshot” has been highlighted here efforts over the coming decade. The list in Table 2 is not
on the basis that it represents a credible Fourth Industrial exhaustive, but rather illustrative of 20 critical moonshots
Revolution-enabled innovation at concept stage (or where scaled-up R&D effort and collaboration is needed.
prototype at most) that has the potential for considerable We also note that, practically, such R&D bets will require
impact on a specific Goal or Goals, and for which there an enabling infrastructure, including universities with
is hope that, with significant leadership and focused multidisciplinary talent across tech and sector/domain
investment, the solution could be achievable in the next areas, investment in and connection of entrepreneurial
five to 10 years (i.e. before 2030). The moonshots selected ecosystems and financing including innovation finance
must satisfy the characteristics of: transformational mechanisms (see Chapter 4).

Table 2: Fourth Industrial Revolution-enabled moonshots for the Global Goals

Quantum-computing- Ultra-high-speed, zero-emissions long-

determined optimal carbon haul transport, including underground,
capture material surface, aviation, shipping and drones

4IR-enabled deployable nuclear fusion Zero-waste advanced materials for

using AI to predict disruptions that halt clean energy and advanced waste
feasibility heat capture and conversion

Advanced materials for generation of Quantum-enabled extreme

low-cost and zero-emissions gaseous efficiency data centres and
M O O N S H O T S

fuels, incl. ammonia and hydrogen supercomputers

Genetic rescue and genome modification 4IR-enabled internet

for endangered and extinct species and connectivity for all
resilience (drones, satellites)

Attracting and removing Quantum cryptography for the

micropollutants prevention of cyberattacks on AI/
(synthetic biology) quantum computers

Low-zero emissions and ultra- AI-enabled privacy-protected, public good

low-cost desalination technology digital health platform collating healthcare
using advanced materials data, sensors, wearables and genomic data

End-to-end automated,connected and AI-enabled development of new

optimized food and fibre system, incl. antibiotics to address microbial
T H E

elimination of spoilage, loss and waste resistance to current antibiotics

Low-cost, low-GHG 4IR-enabled “access to care” digital

emissions synthetic proteins technologies, distribution and
(AI and synthetic biology) delivery systems

Advanced materials for Decoding well-being and longevity using AI

durability of energy-intensive and sensors for personalized health maps and
products and materials sequenced genomes and phenotypic data

Zero-emissions chemicals, steel, Gene editing (e.g. CRISPR) to

aluminium, cement using advanced tackle human diseases driven by
materials and/or biotech (e.g. biocement) gene mutation
Source: PwC Research

20 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Five transformative changes delivery and logistics services. However, the transition to
connected autonomous fleets in cities will be gradual, and it
enabled by the Fourth Industrial may be decades before fully autonomous urban fleets are the
norm. While full “Level 5” AVs (with no human intervention)
Revolution that are key to tackling may still be decades away, “Level 4” AVs (highly automated,
the Global Goals but with driver takeover when needed) prototypes are
beginning to be tested. At this level, once fully deployable
cars can drive in cities and provide mobility-on-demand
Transformative outcomes enabled services, more substantial emission-reduction benefits also
by the Fourth Industrial Revolution begin to appear. Estimates for the United States predict
efficiency increases will result in reduced emissions of CO2
Productivity of systems and harmful particulates by up to 60%.34

Transparency, traceability and accountability

2. Transparency, traceability and accountability
Decentralization and access There is currently growing pressure from citizens, investors,
Creation of, and access to, new financing models corporations and regulators for increased transparency and
accountability about environmental and social risks and/
Discovery, including new materials or impact, including corruption, human rights violations,
modern slavery, gender-based violence, water security,
GHG emissions and nature loss. Where regulations do
1. Productivity of systems exist, compliance is often limited by the availability of data,
AI, in particular, brings with it an ability to optimize systems as global supply chains in particular are often complex and
through automating, assisting, augmenting and ultimately opaque. Such provenance, traceability and transparency of
creating autonomous systems to execute decision- environmental and social impact is also critical to business
making without human intervention. In some cases, management in a broader sense – from improving enterprise-
productivity gains result from optimizing use of inputs as risk management practices to enabling corporate disclosure
new AI tools enable more precise monitoring and control and reporting. Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies are
of the production process, boosting output and creating rapidly enabling more accessible and close-to-real-time
opportunities for cost and raw material savings. For tracking and monitoring of global supply chains, and more
example, precision monitoring in agriculture can enable broadly of human activities on the Earth’s surface. Harnessing
savings of specific inputs such as fertilizers and water used AI, IoT, drones and advanced satellites, and blockchain, digital
for irrigation, and AI levers in the water sector alone could platforms enable transparency of systems, transforming the
also boost global GDP by $190 billion by 2030.33 Higher way they can be monitored and managed. This includes
output productivity can also arise from connected processes applications related to “see-through” supply chains (see
that produce greater output for a given set of inputs, for below), real-time transparent sustainability monitoring (Goal
example, AI-enabled smart grids that maximize operational 13), reporting and verification (Goals 16, 17), Earth and/
efficiency by optimizing distribution across multiple energy or resource-management platforms (Goals 2, 6, 7, 13, 14,
sources on localized grids. Finally, automation of manual 15), accountable carbon markets and traceable sources of
and routine tasks in given sectors can increase the efficiency sustainable finance to tackle climate change (Goal 13).
of the labour force. For instance, the use of autonomous
deliveries and agricultural robotics can boost labour Example: “See-through” supply chains
productivity in the sectors and free up workers to focus on Blockchain platforms are increasingly being used to record
more value-adding work that can boost higher household transactions using supply-chain data and enable full
incomes. Labour task-automation, in parallel, will require traceability of provenance (e.g. origin), offering the potential
reskilling and social safety nets to minimize the risk of for traceability from source to store. This can build confidence
widening inequality. in legitimate compliant operations, expose illegal or unethical
market trading or activities, mitigate quality or safety
Example: Connected, autonomous vehicles problems, reduce administrative costs, enable greater access
Autonomous vehicles (AVs), enabled by sensors, big data to finance, improve monitoring, verification and reporting, and
and AI, can operate and navigate with reduced or no human potentially help avoid litigation. As these solutions become
control and are rapidly moving from the R&D phase to trial more mainstream, they will likely push organizations to be
and deployment. These technologies are poised to transform accountable for their actions, and enable more informed
not just the future of short-haul transport but also agriculture responsible investing practices. As an example, in the
(e.g. autonomous tractors and harvesting), healthcare (e.g. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which produces
autonomous ambulances), mobility and the urban landscape around 58%35 of the world’s cobalt, human rights issues
and more broadly infrastructure and employment. Connected have been associated with cobalt mines and smelters, with
and autonomous mobility is expected to be particularly leading manufacturers sourcing the metal elsewhere. This
transformational in the urban environment. AI-enabled is damaging the DRC’s economy. Rather than withdrawing
automation of mobility will improve efficiency of transport from the DRC, Cobalt Blockchain36 is developing a blockchain
networks through route optimization, eco-driving algorithms platform that traces mineral provenance from its source. This
that prioritize energy efficiency and automation of ride sharing, allows for identification of malpractice within a supply chain,

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 21

and provides downstream manufacturers with confidence in products and services could potentially revolutionize
supply decisions, ensuring ethical sourcing. access to capital and insurance, and the ability of billions
of individuals in marginalized groups to transact payments
and participate in the digital economy (e.g. mobile money
3. Decentralization and access architecture currently processes more than $1.3 billion
Decentralized systems distribute information and authority a day.)40 Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies are
across a network. AI combined with technologies such as also emerging that democratize investment by enabling
the IoT, blockchain and sensors can offer smart monitoring crowdsourcing and new investors in projects that address
and active management of resources, including physical environmental and development challenges – from retail-
resources such as energy and water, financial resources and level investment in green infrastructure projects through to
data (e.g. health information). Decentralized systems can charitable donations for developing countries. As an example,
also provide a platform for peer-to-peer trading of resources the Sun Exchange launched a blockchain-based platform for
and services. Alongside these advances, 3D printing enables crowd-selling solar assets, connecting people who want to
localized production, facilitating decentralization, though it invest in solar with those who want access to it. This enables
requires a systemic shift from exchanging physical products financing of solar projects in sub-Saharan Africa, where high
to exchanging digital prints. Decentralization can help upfront costs and political barriers can prevent financing
progress the Global Goals, providing both environmental from traditional investment-capital sources, which inhibits
and social benefits – reducing GHG emissions from clean widespread deployment.
distributed energy sources (Goal 13), increasing resilience and
efficiency of resource distribution and management systems Example: AI-financial profiling and credit scoring
(Goals 12, 15) and promoting inclusivity (Goals 5, 10). One of the biggest barriers to financial inclusion for many
individuals and businesses in developing economies is their
Example: Decentralized and sustainable inability to demonstrate a formal credit history – 1.7 billion
resource management adults still lack access to financial services.41 Machine-
Centralized utility systems can often struggle to match learning algorithms that use non-traditional sources of data,
supply and demand optimally, are prone to single points of such as mobile phone activity and other digital footprints,
failure and suffer from distribution losses and leaks across to evaluate creditworthiness are starting to be used and
a network. For energy, decarbonization of the power sector have the potential to address mass exclusion from financial
also relies on the emergence of distributed renewable services. For example, Aire42 is using virtual interviews and
energy sources. Blockchain, combined with AI and IoT, machine learning to create personalized credit scores based
could initiate a fundamental transition to global decentralized on data such as financial maturity, career and lifestyle.
utility systems. Platforms could collate distributed data on
resources (e.g. household-level water and energy data from
smart sensors) to end the current asymmetry of information 5. Discovery, including new materials
that exists between stakeholders, peer-to-peer transactions, As well as advancing existing systems, achieving the scale
dynamic pricing and optimal demand-supply balancing. It of transformation needed for many of the Goals relies on
would reduce intermediaries, make systems more efficient, the discovery of new solutions – from new insight to new
cost-effective and resilient, and increase local sharing of materials – that fundamentally change the way we do things.
resources to bolster their efficient use, which in turn will make A vital characteristic of AI is that it automates and speeds
distributed models more attractive. up discovery, whether that is through unsupervised learning
techniques that develop an intelligence that humans don’t
Example: Peer-to-peer sharing platforms have yet (e.g. DeepMind’s AlphaGo Zero) or the ability of
The sharing economy has the potential to reach around machine learning to enable big data-driven discovery and
$335 billion of global revenues by 202537 – there had been speed up experimental validation. The implications of AI-
a particularly large increase in car, office and house sharing. enabled discovery, coupled with other new technologies such
AI, combined with online platforms, is accelerating the as advanced materials and biomaterials, can be profound.
potential of the sharing economy – for example, by optimizing They can, for example, accelerate the discovery of clean fuels
the matching of customers with listings, price setting and (Goals 7, 13), the discovery of new antibiotics (Goal 3) or
detecting and eliminating fraud and misinformation. A study biotechnology breakthroughs for clean water (Goal 6).
by the World Economic Forum and MIT revealed that during
the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Airbnb housed 85,000 of the Example: Synthetic and cultured proteins
city’s estimated 500,000 visitors.38 P2P platforms enable
anyone, even in the most remote locations with basic mobile Synthetic biology involves the chemical synthesis of DNA
infrastructure, to gain market access – this holds enormous to produce biological components that do not exist in the
potential for the advancement of social inclusion. natural world. These include advanced biofuels, renewable
chemicals and synthetic meat. Cell cultivation is the process
of cultivating cells in vitro – such as cultivated meats made
4. Creation of, and access to, new financing models from animal cells. Technology, including AI, is fundamental to
The UN estimates that there is a funding gap of $5 trillion improving the speed, precision and cost of these processes.
to $7 trillion per year to meet the Global Goals, with an The US-based firm Beyond Meat, for example, which makes
investment gap in developing countries of about $2.5 trillion. vegan “meat” out of pea protein isolate, floated in 2019 and
39
Fourth Industrial Revolution-enabled finance platforms, has been valued at around $3.8 billion.

22 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Chapter 3: Barriers to scaling and
the risks of getting it wrong
Barriers needed to unlock the full value these partnerships could
represent for society. In many cases, an important barrier to
The opportunities that new technologies bring in achieving scaling lies in the need to identify a sustainable economic
the Global Goals are both sizable and significant. For model to ensure the continued provision of data and insights
their full potential to be realized some important barriers because goodwill on “data philanthropy” often has a life
will need to be overcome. Scaling these new technology expectancy. Blended-finance, payment-by-outcome or
solutions will also create a range of risks that need to be freemium- business models are options.45
carefully managed.
Despite the volume of data globally increasing rapidly – 2.5
Through our analysis of over 300 existing and emerging quintillion bytes of data is produced per day and 90% of
Fourth Industrial Revolution applications relevant to all data was created in the past two years46 – data volume
advancing the Global Goals, we identified and uncovered a remains an important challenge across certain Goals, and
number of important barriers and risks. Understanding these across low-income geographies and among vulnerable
fundamental challenges and proactively addressing and demographics. These gaps are predominantly caused by
managing them will be essential to unlock the promise of the a lack of capacity to collect data, unclear data ownership
Fourth Industrial Revolution for the Global Goals. structures and a lack of commercial incentive to obtain or
share data. Data quality, for instance, related to incomplete
Overview of barriers or outdated data, often also inhibits value creation and
stems from inconsistent data governance and measurement
Data mechanisms across geographies and organizations. Finally,
Limited data volume quality, analysis and interoperability the integration and exchange of data sources across
systems and platforms is also a critical barrier. This typically
Technology relates to differing methodologies and data standards, which
Wide variation in maturity of emerging technologies,
affects and limits uptake.
insufficient infrastructure to support them and a lack of
relevance to certain contexts

People Case study: Diagnosis and treatment of skin

Unequal skills and capacity distribution and insufficient cancer – Goal 3
collaboration
About 70% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-
Process income countries. An AI-enabled smartphone application,
Rigid and insufficient regulatory frameworks and a lack of using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), has been
investment developed for skin cancer detection from images. This
could dramatically increase access to diagnosis of
skin lesions such as melanomas in the early stages of
Data development, particularly in underserved, rural areas.
Data is critical for the development and correct deployment Rather than the technology itself, a primary obstacle
of technology. Particularly with AI, we are doing more with to the development of this application is data volume,
data than ever before: unlocking insight that can optimize quality and interoperability. Large datasets are required
systems or generate breakthrough discoveries to help tackle to ensure accuracy of diagnosis and often this data
the Global Goals. Yet the true value of data is often unrealized is closed and restricted to a small number of players.
and data-access barriers are numerous, and were identified in There are also ethical implications that arise from this
our research as a significant bottleneck to scaling innovations.
lack of data – research has shown that there are fewer
As the Global Partnership on Sustainable Development Data
images of melanoma on darker skin, creating bias within
notes, “access to data remains a great challenge due to real
any AI that is trained due to a limited dataset potentially
or perceived barriers”.43
exacerbating racial disparities.47
Public-private business models for data collaboration From our assessment we have identified more than 10
remain a challenge. On the positive side, corporations other technology applications in development that use
are increasingly seeing the commercial benefits of data CNN for diagnosis. These include the diagnosis of other
collaborations: From 2017 to 2019, the number of diseases in humans, such as psoriasis and seborrhoeic
companies forming data-related partnerships rose from 21% keratosis, and also examples of automatic identification
to 40%.44 Data collaboratives across stakeholder groups are of crop disease – increasing food security and enabling
growing in the context of environmental and humanitarian more sustainable agricultural practices (Goal 2).
development challenges, but nowhere near the volume

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 23

Technology infrastructure – specifically cloud and internet access,
and electricity as the foundational infrastructure for the
Technology solution maturity digital age.
Technology maturity varies greatly between technologies,
across different Global Goals, from country to country and Cloud and internet access
even within borders. Across the database of applications
studied, there was a substantial deviation in maturity of the More than 80% of the technology applications
technology solutions being applied today, both across and identified across the Goals rely on internet access
within the Global Goals. Reasons included different levels
Electricity access
of investment in R&D and research infrastructure across
countries, digital-infrastructure readiness, the commerciality More than 90% of the technology applications
of the solution concerned, government incentives and the identified across the Goals rely on electricity access
maturity of the underlying core technologies.

Geographically, unsurprisingly, use cases dominate in Least-developed countries (LDCs) often lack access to
countries with high levels of innovation, R&D expenditure basic internet and electricity infrastructure. Africa has an
and government incentives. For example, China has one internet penetration rate of just under 40%,48 and 800 million
of the highest levels of patent applications in emerging people lack access to electricity.49 Broadband availability
technology, and is responsible for 73% of AI and 32% of in particular, and its ability to provide high-speed access
blockchain patent fillings. This level can be contributed to to the cloud, is critical to Fourth Industrial Revolution
government incentives that encourage emerging technology solutions that underpin the future of agriculture, medicine
patents. Across the Goals, the highest maturity of mapped and education, such as precision farming, telemedicine
technology applications is found in Goal 7 (Clean Energy). and online education respectively. This suggests that the
This is largely associated with the market and regulatory idea that the Fourth Industrial Revolution can support rapid
incentives to drive energy access, decarbonization and leapfrogging is highly dependent upon countries catching up
digitization of the energy sector. For example, AI- and IoT- on both digital and physical infrastructure. Even in a future
enabled predictive maintenance of energy infrastructure with more “at the edge” computing intelligence, high-speed
both drives optimization of power generation and reduces access to the cloud is essential to access and scale these
costs, creating a strong market incentive for investment. In Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions. It is therefore not
contrast, for Goal 14 (Life Below Water), the impact potential surprising that, since 2018, less than 1% of estimated global
of new technology applications is high, but a lower level public cloud services revenue was generated in Africa.50 The
of solution maturity was found. This is reflective of lower broadband gap is not only a developing world issue; roughly
investment in R&D and solution development, across a less 113 million Americans, many in rural communities, do not
commercialized challenge area. have broadband access at home.51

Technology infrastructure The public sector has an important role to play in closing
In areas where infrastructure to support digital and the broadband gap alongside, and in partnership with,
other Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies is either technology and telecommunications companies. This
underdeveloped or non-existent, implementation of new includes regulatory reforms to drive investment and
technological solutions is a lot more challenging. Our competition, and supporting new technology alternatives
analysis of Fourth Industrial Revolution applications for to expensive fibre-optic cables, including airband and
the Global Goals demonstrates the criticality of basic satellite-based Wi-Fi approaches to reduce initial capital and

24 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

operating costs that are particularly relevant to underserved People
rural communities. Matched capital investments by
companies and governments will be important, alongside The talent gap: upskilling and reskilling
private-led efforts such as Microsoft’s Airband programme Rapid advances in technology development and adoption
to bring broadband to 2 million people.52 requires significant human skills and institutional expertise.
The current pool of individuals with this expertise is too small
Technology relevance and unequal to develop the correct technology at scale. This
Technology advancement is currently driven by companies is driven by changing labour markets, evolving demands
headquartered predominantly in advanced economies. for reskilling and upskilling and a workforce undergoing
Deployment of technology solutions does not always structural change. A lack of access to education, insufficient
happen where the need is greatest, particularly across some funding for training and a paucity of available training and
of the social Goals. In global terms, 90% of AI start-ups are courses for digital skills further exacerbates this issue. It is
based in the United States53 and most AI-related patents are estimated that it will take an investment of $19.9 billion for
registered there.54 In addition, venture capital funds invest the US government to reskill 77% of workers expected to
in emerging, early-stage firms – typically start-ups that have be displaced by technology.59
developed innovative business models or technologies.
Between 2008 and 2017, most global VC investment flowed Figure 4: Top 50 computer science degrees globally60
into the United States ($694 billion); the total VC flows to
emerging markets (excluding China and India) was just
$24 billion.55 From a gender lens, globally only 22% of AI US23 Hong Kong3
professionals are women, compared to 78% who are men.56 Europe12 Singapore2

This evidence suggests that it is likely that a large proportion Canada4 South Korea2
of advanced technology applications are being developed
by men in advanced economies, which poses questions China4
as to the relevance of the technology for those using it,
particularly for women in LDCs. This insight was also Many new technologies, including AI, require significant
reflected in our assessment of advanced technology technology expertise and tools. An estimated 44% of
applications. We found only a few applications that directly companies lack access to skilled talent to adopt their AI
responded to Goal 5 (Gender Equality), and those that strategy fully.61 Furthermore, if citizens do not have access
were identified were of low maturity. Further analysis found to the correct expertise or to tools, then they will find it
that for Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), around 70% harder to create and scale their ideas into tech solutions
of applications found to respond to water scarcity were and scalable start-ups. Third-party AI software costs up to
developed in the United States – with only a handful in approximately $40,000 per year and custom AI solutions
sub-Saharan Africa, which suffers from the highest levels of cost anywhere from $6,000 to more than $300,000.
water stress globally.57 Complexity, cost and control of tools is a concern, which
currently limits citizen developer access. As a result,
powerful and transformative emerging technologies, such
Case study: Voice recognition – gender and race bias as AI, are not in the hands of many start-ups, academics,
NGOs, civil society and wider interested stakeholders.
More than 5% of the applications identified rely on voice-
recognition technology. Some applications include digital Collaboration and interdisciplinary working
assistance, advanced security, real-time translation, Tackling global challenges requires a pool of technical
efficient transport and disability support (including for and subject-matter expertise. As an example, cancer
visual impairment). research has become highly multidisciplinary – expanding
beyond the realms of clinicians and molecular biologists
Voice or speaker recognition relies on machine learning
to include computational biologists, chemical engineers
to receive and interpret dictation. The accuracy of voice
and ethicists. Yet silos are still prominent and fail to
recognition differs according to gender and dialect – it is
respond to the interconnected nature of the Global
13% more accurate for men, and certain dialects, such
Goals and emerging technologies – often requiring
as Indian English, have only a 78% accuracy rate.58 This
technologists, environmentalists, businesses, government
bias exists because of the way computer scientists have
and civil society to work together collaboratively as one
collected, prepared and programmed data.
multidisciplinary team. Historically, silos have often formed
Why does this matter? As voice recognition becomes and grown across business – as well as academia and
progressively more powerful, the potential for social government – due to distributed ownership of cross-
injustice could continue to grow – affecting the potential business processes, geographic dispersion and division
progress towards Global Goals – specifically Goal 5 within the knowledge economy. Such isolation has
(Gender Equality) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities). If typically become ingrained in working relationships and
harnessed in the right way, however, voice-recognition organizational cultures. Currently, more than 55% of
technology has significant potential to advance the companies work in silos and three-fifths of companies
Global Goals. say the solution to reaching their strategic goals is
collaborating more across functions.62

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 25

Process voluntary standards to open up testing. For instance, the
self-regulatory Subscription Video-on-Demand Industry
Regulatory environment Content Code in ASEAN was developed by subscription
Rapid technological advancements are regularly, and video-on-demand (SVOD) services operating in South-
increasingly, outpacing governance and regulation. A fragile East Asia.65
balance needs to be struck between ensuring that risks (and
unintended consequences) are properly managed and that 3. Enforcement potential: The decentralized and digitalized
innovations are not discouraged that could ultimately benefit nature of many emerging technology applications
our economy, environment and society. There are four increases the complexity of legal liability, making it a
pressing challenges that regulators now face: lot harder to attribute liability to a specific individual or
corporation. For example, with blockchain technology, it
1. Complexity of impact: Traditional governance struggles is often unclear who should be held accountable and this
to account for the complex nature of Fourth Industrial will depend on the nature of the blockchain’s use, who is
Revolution technological advancement, and its disruptive running it and how it functions (this is particularly the case
impacts across and within sectors and geographies.63 for decentralized autonomous organizations, or DAOs).66
For instance, digitalization creates a blurring of traditional Considering blockchain was identified as central to
distinctions between and within sectors. In terms of more than 25% of the top technology applications in our
energy, as decentralized energy production becomes analysis, this will be a critical consideration when looking
more dominant in the market, there are more and more to accelerate technology to tackle the Global Goals.
prosumers – obscuring the distinction between consumer
and producer that is typically set apart in regulation.64 4. Transboundary nature: The distributed and networked
nature of many Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies
2. Speed of change: The fast-paced advances in Fourth often falls outside specific jurisdictions. This means it
Industrial Revolution technologies and their related is unclear under which jurisdiction certain transactions
business models often clash with the more rigorous, fall – creating complex, duplicative and, at worst,
thorough and slow-paced nature of policy and regulation. conflicting regulatory and compliance demands for
This means that traditional regulatory frameworks and entities and individuals. Bitcoin is a good example of this
processes struggle to stay relevant, causing incidents of – its regulation differs widely between jurisdictions. For
slowing innovation or direct negative societal ramifications example, it is completely prohibited in Algeria and Bolivia,
(e.g. the WannaCry incident, the Cambridge Analytica partly restricted in China and completely unregulated by
controversy). There is a strong case for governments to most other financial authorities who do not consider it
develop an agility in the regulatory space in a way that a currency.67
mirrors the agility in innovation in the tech sector itself
– e.g. the adoption of limited rules akin to a “minimum Investment models and business incentives
viable product” and the incremental development of The UN estimates that there is a funding gap of $5 trillion
new regulatory provisions that learn from experience. to $7 trillion per year to meet the Global Goals, with an
Examples of iterative and agile approaches are emerging, annual investment gap in developing countries of about
including ASEAN governments moving away from red- $2.5 trillion.68 This investment gap and inadequate
taping industry with stringent regulations in favour of financing models across some of the global challenge areas

26 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

less directly linked to private-sector markets, or in more are public sector-led and/or regulated, and where
challenging geographies, prevents maturation and scaling of infrastructure considerations can be complex (e.g. within
solutions. Some significant barriers to investment include: primary sectors such as agriculture and water). Many
governments are not doing enough to lower the cost
1. Inadequate finance infrastructure: Traditional finance and de-risk capital investments into frontier technological
has a strong focus on centralized and often capital- innovations.
intensive infrastructure. Digital and decentralized
technologies, however, sometimes require a different 4. A lack of incentives: Our assessment identified
financing model. This is because typically the consumer that Goals 1, 5, 14 and 15 have the lowest number
can choose from multiple providers, which results in of applications identified. Further analysis of specific
uncertainty of payback. Digital assets also tend to be technology applications under these Global Goals
smaller and more geographically dispersed, making revealed that, for particular social ventures, particularly
asset management more complex. Financial tools those tied to public goods, there is only an embryonic
and structures have not fully adapted to the needs of market.
decentralized and distributed emerging technologies.
There is currently a lack of the innovative public, private
and blended investment arrangements that are often Risks of scaling technology
required to scale the right Fourth Industrial Revolution-
supportive digital infrastructure in order to scale these For all of the enormous potential that scaling Fourth Industrial
new technology solutions. Revolution technologies offer for accelerating action to
reach the Global Goals, these technologies also have the
2. Lack of a clear business case for investment: Across potential to exacerbate many existing societal challenges,
a number of the Global Goals, the short-term return on and to create new risks that could hinder the Global Goals.
investment is low where benefits are largely externalities There are two broad areas: first, risks that are inherent in
to current markets and/or considered more broadly as the characteristics of new technologies being designed and
public goods. developed and, second, risks in how those applications or
solutions are deployed.
3. Higher risk of investment: Many of the technology
solutions identified are high risk due to either being Here we highlight some of the prominent risks associated
unproven at scale or because the underlying technology with Fourth Industrial Revolution applications, specifically
is rapidly changing – assets can quickly become related to how they may hinder societal, developmental and
obsolete. This is particularly apparent where solutions environmental progress.

Table 3: Key risks of scaling technology

Performance design risks

Inherent bias in technology design and development may perpetuate and exacerbate
Bias existing racial and gender discrimination, cultural prejudices and inequalities.
Example: Racial and gender bias in AI-based social assessment tools.

Advanced systems are also prone to errors – for instance, where historic data trends are
used to make future predictions.
Uncertainty and errors
Example: Natural disaster early-warning systems that rely on historical data in a
changing climate.

Socioeconomic risks

Changing job requirements and potential job displacement across some sectors and
certain geographies, as well as the evolving demands for reskilling and upskilling a
workforce that is undergoing rapid structural change. Rapid shifts in the labour market
Job displacement
could exacerbate existing inequalities.
Example: Automation of processes and job loss/change in transportation, manufacturing
and agriculture.

Ubiquitous uptake of specific technologies, in combination with limited competition,

drives a risk of power and algorithms becoming concentrated in a small group of
individuals or within a small number of organizations. These tools and platforms are
Concentration of power
mostly in the advanced economies currently.
Example: Facebook’s system processes 2.5 billion pieces of content and 500+ terabytes
of data each day.69

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 27

 Environmental risks

Technology solutions, including AI, blockchain, the IoT, cloud services, 5G and quantum
computing can consume large amounts of energy due to the computer processing
power required and the number of operations or sensors feeding into the digital system
Greenhouse gas
or network. Ensuring data centres and tech solutions are 100% powered by renewable
emissions
energy will be crucial to minimize their environmental footprint.
Example: The environmental cost of a single bitcoin transaction is estimated to be 20,000
times greater than that of Visa.70

Left uncontrolled, technology could exacerbate resource exploitation and biodiversity loss.
For instance, using AI and computer vision to optimize discovery of scarce resources.
Biodiversity loss
Example: Open-source geospatial mapping used to aid targeted deforestation, identify
illegal mining spots or identify fishing spots in regulated environments.

Electronic waste, including computers, devices and sensors, has the potential to
exacerbate environmental pollution. Technology can also increase air and water pollution.
By contrast, many emerging technologies (e.g. electric autonomous vehicles and AI
Pollution
optimization of systems) have the potential to reduce noise and air pollution.
Example: In 2021, the amount of e-waste generated is predicted to grow to 52.2 million
tonnes,71 with just 20% formally recycled.

Security and control risks

Exploited data (e.g. personal data), including hacked, breached and misused data, can
cause extensive reputational, economic and security damage. Sensitive information such
as financial or health data could then be made accessible through porous technology
Privacy and data systems. Deep fakes, using machine learning and large amounts of training data, can
also be used to spawn misinformation.
Example: Cross-border blockchain platforms for energy or water grids stand to face
significant regulatory barriers associated with data protection.

Increasingly interconnected digital systems and devices, and the proliferation of “easy-to-
use” decentralized technologies (e.g. sensors, drones, blockchain), have led to a growing
number of cyberattacks on supposedly secure systems and decentralized terror attacks.
Compromised security
Example: A cyberattack on a single cloud provider could cause $50 billion to $120 billion
of economic damage – an economic loss comparable to somewhere between Hurricane
Sandy and Hurricane Katrina.72

28 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Chapter 4: Enabling Tech for Good

A gearshift is urgently needed, from the current race to environmental and societal technology applications and
deploy new technologies for short-term growth and private to create viable markets for the scaling of these solutions
gain to a more long-sighted and principled approach that over the longer term. The rapid pace of change is not
actively manages and harnesses the role technology can expected to slow, so we must do more to manage the
play for humanity and the environment. impact that technology has, and can have, on people
and the planet.
A plethora of use cases have demonstrated how
technologies can support progress on the Goals, yet In collaboration with the Global Future Council on Fourth
a set of underlying barriers prevent the promise of Industrial Revolution for Public Goods, we have identified a
“Fourth Industrial Revolution for Good” from truly being set of proactive steps or so-called key “enablers” that will
realized. A different approach is required to continually help to unlock the potential of technology for humankind in
accelerate innovation and investments into breakthrough an assertive and timely fashion:

Figure 5: Summary of key “enablers” to harness technology for the Global Goals

Responsible technology governance Leadership

Progress development, alignment and Leadership agenda in responsible use
uptake of responsible technology of technology for positive societal and
principles by tech firms and broader environmental outcomes. Mobilize bold
industry and a move towards adop- private- and public-sector commitments
tion of a code of conduct by industry and align action agenda and coalitions
and governments. of willing.

Partnerships and coalitions Skills

Cross-industry collaboration is needed Identification of priority skill needs

for all sectors by working together (education, upskilling and reskilling) to
through industry bodies to work enable 4IR for Good.
towards a harmonized set of standards.
Align and combine public and
corporate initiatives and commitments
Public policy
Identify priority targeted policies and
Scaling 4IR on skills and mobilize new commit-
ments and partnerships for skills and
regulation to safeguard risks from 4IR
and scale solutions for positive
for the talent sharing.

societal impacts. Global Goals Finance

Levers include technology policy and Governments and public-finance
integrating 4IR into national and institutions to back and scale
sectoral development plans and technological trends to “leapfrog”
policies, public finance mechanisms traditional systems.
to spur solutions, 4IR infrastructure
investment and public procurement
Levers include blended finance,
levers. Build capacity of policy-makers
government-backed incubators and
around 4IR.
accelerators and targeted patient capital.

Breakthrough innovation R&D Data and tools

Define a collaborative R&D agenda that Democratize data, algorithms, APIs to
outlines priority problems and domains spur scaling of 4IR applications for
where tech-based innovation can be public goods.
directed for maximum positive societal
and environmental outcomes. Mobilize commitments and scale
initiatives to democratize assets.
Serves as an investment framework Progress hybrid public-private data
across which R&D collaboration and agreements and vehicles for open
investment can align. data platforms.

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 29

1. Responsible technology 1. A robust foundation of end-to-end governance, including
board-level accountability
governance: From “do no harm”
2. Compliance with applicable regulations and laws that are
to “principled and positive impact” also ethically sound

Rapid prototyping and scaling continues to be the 3. Strong performance of technology in terms of robustness,
operational model for success in the technology world. bias and fairness, interoperability and interpretability
At the same time, given the increasing and pervasive role
that technology plays, and the speed and scale of impact 4. Security of technology in terms of privacy, cyberthreats
(e.g. AI’s $15.7 trillion contribution to the global economy and rogue technology
by 2030),73 guardrails for technology are becoming ever
more critical. Companies, governments and citizens alike 5. Management of broader impacts (positive and negative)
increasingly recognize the need for ethical and responsible of technology on society, including socioeconomic
technology practices to tackle the variety of risks outlined impacts (including human rights, jobs, education, digital
in Chapter 3, and to build trust among a broad set of divide) and environmental impacts (climate change, nature
stakeholders, including company employees and board loss, water scarcity)
members, regulators and customers. The emergence of
technology governance from industry and the public sector 6. Harnessing products and services to deliver positive
highlights a clear signal that the expectations for how Fourth social and environmental outcomes for customers
Industrial Revolution technology is managed and used have
quickly shifted. Recent examples include industry-led efforts 7. Purposefully creating, developing and democratizing
such as Global Digital Finance’s cryptocurrency code of technology applications that can address humanitarian
conduct, or the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, to government- challenges in collaboration with the public sector and
led multilateral efforts such as the EU’s General Data third sector
Protection Regulation (GDPR), the G20 AI Principles and the
creation of the public-private Global Partnership on AI. 8. Ensuring purposeful advocacy with policy-makers
and other leading stakeholders to achieve outcomes
The aim is not to slow down innovation - rather it is to consistent with the Global Goals
develop sound enterprise risk management and business
leadership. The opportunity is to move beyond a “do Such a principled approach enables business to anticipate
no harm” approach to one that demonstrates how this issues and drive more responsible innovation, from strategy
technology can actively contribute to positive social and design through to operations and monitoring. It
and environmental outcomes. Responsible technology needs to be led from the top, and embedded throughout
governance criteria, building on those developed for the organization, with employee training vital to make
responsible AI, might include:74 implementation effective. This also enables governments to

30 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

establish appropriate policies and regulations to ensure that stakeholder groups have a particularly important role to play
the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution can more in the current geopolitical environment, where multilateral
effectively support positive societal outcomes. This has been efforts that require consensus have been hampered by
seen in, for example, the case of the international standard growing populism and nationalism.
ISO/IEC JTC 1, which serves to deliver standardization on
development and implementation of AI.75 Example recommendation:
A coalition of the willing of private- and public-sector leaders
(chief executive officers and heads of state/ministers) who
2. Leadership: leadership to will champion bold and proactive commitments and action
to steer technology towards tackling the Global Goals and
mobilize commitments and enabling a sustainable Fourth Industrial Revolution. This
standards will be a core feature of Frontier 2030: Fourth Industrial
Revolution for Global Goals Platform.

Leadership has a critical role to play. In a sector such as

technology that has thrived through relatively unbridled 3. Partnerships: collective action
growth, leaders will need to step up to change the current
course of business and governance practices. Business is and collaboration
increasingly being asked to play a leadership role in tackling
societal challenges expressed through new expectations Individual leadership is necessary, but not sufficient.
from customers, employees and policy-makers. The Edelman Collective and collaborative action across the public,
2019 Trust Barometer highlights that 74% of people expect private and civil society sectors is required through large
their chief executive officer to explain what they have done to partnerships, networks and coalitions, in order to create
help society, and 64% of people want chief executive officers impact and systemic change at scale.80 The technology
to take the lead on change. The past year has also seen a sector is more fragmented than most when it comes to
growing role of employee activism in the technology sector, trade associations and collaborative initiatives.
including the need for large companies to take a more active
and principled role in addressing climate change76 concerns, There have been important recent efforts, such as the Step
to reconsider contracts with clients that result in ‘unethical’ Up Coalition for climate action, which includes 25 technology
application (e.g. autonomous weapons), and recognise the firms; the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, with more than 120
impact of platforms on democracy. companies that have committed to protecting customers and
users and helping them defend against malicious threats; and
The public visibility of global challenges, including the climate the Partnership on AI,81 with more than 90 multistakeholder
emergency, nature loss, inequality and the Global Goals, partners committed to advancing positive AI uptake.
presents an opportunity to galvanize leadership action around Initiatives are also emerging focused on tech and the Global
era-defining commitments – ones that employees, customers Goals more broadly, such as 2030Vision,82 which brings
and citizens are already demanding from the ground up, and together 18-plus companies and organizations to look at
which require a “new chief executive officer activism”. Recent how technology can help advance the Global Goals, and the
examples include Microsoft’s Brad Smith’s leadership on Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, which
AI for Good77 and the need for assertive tech regulation;78 includes hundreds of organizations, such as governments,
Salesforce’s chief executive officer Marc Benioff’s leadership companies and civil society groups.
on issues from climate change and achieving net zero, to
ocean health and privacy laws; or Amazon’s Jeff Bezos These initiatives don’t come close to the scale of
making a “Climate Pledge”,79 which came after Amazon collaboration that society needs. Public, private and
faced mounting pressure from employees to address the multistakeholder collaboration, with active leadership
company’s environmental impact. from the technology industry, is urgently required in
order to tackle the most systemic challenges in terms of
Leadership-led “coalitions of the willing” can help to rally opportunities. This applies to industry codes of conduct and
peers and build momentum around bold commitments to frameworks on responsible technology; R&D on deploying
direct tech towards global challenges as well as building technology to tackle the challenges underpinning the Global
consensus on frameworks and standards to inform norms Goals; digital infrastructure and upskilling in underserved
or change awareness and markets with scale and reach. regions; and advocacy with governments to shape new
However, too often collective leadership is inhibited when standards, policies and regulations for tech policy, sector-
leaders decide not to join an initiative if they don’t get to specific policy, environment policy and structural policy.
lead it, or they step away if they see another leader is in
the reputational spotlight. Positive examples around Goal Example recommendation:
13 on Climate Action include the Step Up Coalition of 25 Development of a multistakeholder platform, with the
firms with leadership commitments, Net Zero and RE100 aim of developing and facilitating action-oriented and
climate-related pledges made by multiple technology firms, pragmatic partnerships to tackle challenges that prevent
or the Breakthrough Energy Coalition of private investors, the scale-up of technology uptake and deployment for
tech firms, industry and financial institutions collaborating Global Goals, and driving the design, testing and scaling of
to invest in decarbonization. Such leadership-led multi innovative solutions.

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 31

4. Public policy: policies and meaningfully contribute to the Global Goals will also be vital
regulation for the Fourth Industrial – technologists need to sit down with governments and
competitors to find common ground.
Revolution Norms, rules and coherence across borders
Fourth Industrial Revolution technology-relevant regulation
There is a growing risk of politicizing new technologies, today is predominantly on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis
particularly as governments rush to win the race in powerful and firms operating platforms can, with relative ease, move
foundational technologies that are viewed as economic their offices, important officers and/or primary servers to
multipliers, such as AI, quantum and 5G. By contrast, the different jurisdictions. Policy differences across jurisdictions,
focus ought to be on balanced fit-for-purpose technology including, at worst, conflicting requirements, are challenging
policy and regulation that both safeguards society and given the distributed and transboundary nature of many
channels innovation towards positive economic, social and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
environmental outcomes. This is particularly pressing today Building a more coherent international solution to Fourth
as digital technology has progressed for several decades Industrial Revolution governance, or even a more globally
with remarkably little regulation, or even self-regulation. coordinated one – particularly for AI, blockchain, IoT and
Successful policy and regulation have been found to be 5G – is critical to managing the risks to society and the
one of the vital missing pillars for making tech work for environment. Governments will ultimately need to act
public goods. As an example, to support the deployment of together, which will require new international rules and
blockchain the law needs to include provisions for trading norms as guardrails of borderless technologies, in particular
tokens and digital assets.83 to protect against unintended consequences of technology
hindering the achievement of the Global Goals. Holding
A successful enabling policy environment is one that is agile, countries and companies accountable for non-compliance
coherent and cross-cutting across technology, sectoral, when negative impacts do occur will also be important.
social and environmental domains. Each of these areas is
discussed further in the box below on Policy principles for Multilateral examples through the G20 and Financial
Stability Board exist that could serve as a blueprint (e.g.
the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures
(TCFD) climate risks framework, and the Financial
Policy principles for the Fourth Stability Board (FSB) crypto-assets risk framework).87
However, not all jurisdictions may choose to implement
Industrial Revolution the recommendations. Other examples include the US-
EU Privacy Shield, the CLOUD Act’s authorization for
Assertive but agile governance and policy international agreements88 and the long-term vision for a
Digital Geneva Convention.89
Currently, regulators in many jurisdictions have been
playing an active role in monitoring developments and Integrate the Fourth Industrial Revolution across
reacting as and when they see potential harm. This sectoral, environmental and social policy
passive approach of waiting for an issue or risk to mature, Country leaders are looking for solutions to their most
however, leaves society exposed with substantial negative pressing development priorities and need to do more
societal and economic impacts already taking place (e.g. to harness the power of fast-advancing technologies to
digital identity theft, ransomware attacks, deep fakes, the achieve these goals. The Fourth Industrial Revolution
rise of weaponized AI propaganda and misuse of facial affects every sector of the economy, and thus policy-
recognition, to name but a few). making must extend well beyond technology policy. The
Given the nascency of industry applications of Fourth implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on policy-
Industrial Revolution technologies and the speed of their making, be they national and sectoral policies and plans,
evolution, governments and regulators could benefit from labour market reforms or environmental and social policy-
an agile and incremental approach, much as the tech making, is critical.
sector innovates itself.84 Step-by-step rules, responding In climate change, for example, where innovation and new
to change rather than following a plan, and learning from technologies will be critical to making a net zero carbon
experience, can help governments better keep pace with transition possible, many Fourth Industrial Revolution-related
technology.85 Input can also be sought on areas where decarbonization technologies can reach critical lift-off point,
societal and environmental implications are particularly scale and replace incumbent solutions only if supported
present and pervasive to help prioritize where regulation is with clear environmental policies including carbon pricing,
most critical. tax incentives, standards and subsidy reforms. Examples
An example of recent high-impact, technology-related of enabling technology-specific policy that could play
policy leadership includes the EU’s GDPR privacy an important role in accelerating cleaner norms include
protections under the Directive Right to Report Act, which standards for the energy efficiency of blockchain protocols,
has driven the technology industry to shift practices cloud servers and 5G networks, requiring electrification of all
on personal data management.86 Engagement with autonomous vehicles, mandatory environmental, social and
technologists and industry to establish a common voice governance (ESG) disclosure and environmental standards
on what’s needed to help technology positively and for digital assets procurement.

32 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

5. Finance mechanisms: to responsible technology through their own digital/
technology procurement policies, from requiring
stimulating the Fourth Industrial technology suppliers to adopt established targets
(e.g. in the “green” space – Science Based Targets,
Revolution for good market RE100, EP100 or EV100) and sustainability standards
solutions (ISO 14001), through to adopting wider responsible
technology procurement protocols, including integrating
Finance mechanisms, including blended finance or wider ESG assessment and ethics guidelines, and applying
public finance mechanisms, can be a positive critical force tools and principles (e.g. UN Global Pulse’s Risks,
to stimulate new market solutions. They are particularly Harms and Benefits Assessment Tool).90
critical to enable scaling of Fourth Industrial Revolution
solutions where market failures exist, there is a challenging 3. Infrastructure investment: includes Fourth Industrial
investment climate or the benefits are largely public goods. Revolution-appropriate infrastructure investment
More broadly, by staying on top of the latest technology decisions – for example, backing wireless over fibre
trends, governments, public finance institutions, companies optics or backing distributed renewables over traditional
and investors can back and scale new technology solutions transmission and distribution power grids. And broader
that help countries leapfrog traditional systems. Doing investments in electricity access, smart water and energy
this will enable collaboration between policy-makers, grids, earth observation and smart and connected urban
technologists, industry and finance to understand the areas. Blended finance, including innovative finance
future of technologies and the future of sectors in a world mechanisms such as price-support mechanisms, may
transformed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This can be well be needed to unlock the breadth and depth of
done through three main channels: infrastructure investment required.

1. Innovation finance: includes blended-finance support Example recommendation:

for early-stage commercialization and scaling of new Harness accelerator platform(s) to surface, support
technology solutions through government-backed and connect innovators, investors, domain experts and
innovation incubators, accelerators, funds and prizes; strategic partners to help scale tech for Global Goals
price-support mechanisms; and targeted patient and/ projects and ventures, both within and across markets.
or concessional capital to enable scaling of technological Examples to harness include the Forum’s Uplink platform,
solutions for the public (social and environmental) good. and the SCALE 360 Circular Economy Innovation
Accelerator, in addition to industry-led accelerators (e.g.
2. Public procurement: governments can play an TechStars Sustainability Accelerator, Microsoft’s AI for
important role in creating demand signals in relation Earth Accelerator, the XPrize community).

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 33

6. Breakthrough innovation: 7. Data and tools: new models
shaping an innovation agenda to for data collaboration for scaled
tackle the most pressing social and Global Goal impact
environmental challenges
While R&D and investment in specific applications is
With capital and leadership committed, a clear R&D agenda starting to progress, significant underlying barriers are
needs to be set out where breakthrough innovation is preventing these from achieving scale, or moving beyond
central to tackle the priority, and toughest, challenges grant-based or goodwill-based pilots. One reason for this
underlying the achievement of the Global Goals. These is the lack of business incentives or models that encourage
often require multi-country, multi-actor collaborations and the sharing of vast amounts of data, and the necessary
partnerships. Take the issues of oceans or climate change: investment to translate this data into usable insights that
They are transboundary in nature; they require globally guide decision-making or action. Today, only one-fifth of
aligned policies and commitments from public and private government datasets are open.91 Furthermore, many of
actors to make progress; and their better management can the most powerful datasets relevant to the Global Goals
benefit from global technology solutions. are held privately, and in many cases in data monopolies
held by a few large technology firms. Some of these
Technologists looking to deploy their data, tools, talent and private datasets will need to be accessed to realize the full
finance (commercial and philanthropic) towards societal potential of technology solutions for public goods.
grand challenges need to better understand the distinct
problem domains – both as an investment framework New models of data collaboration and/or democratization
to direct initial efforts and in order to build fit-for-purpose of data for public benefit are required to overcome these
solutions. There is a need for agreement and prioritization of fundamental roadblocks. While still in the early stages,
a global collaborative R&D agenda at all levels, from the R&D models include those based on data cooperatives, data
departments of technology companies, or industry, all the trusts and (blockchain-enabled) platform economics
way up to government agencies. Breakthrough innovation on (where a network of actors are collectively compensated
some transboundary public-good challenges, such as deep based upon their ability to deliver a measurable outcome
decarbonization technologies or oceans management, will or performance). To date, data collaboratives have
require a multi-country and multistakeholder approach. been particularly successful in agriculture, including the
engagement of community co-ops, and precision medicine
Example recommendation: domains. Data trusts in particular can not only build trust
Establish a global “breakthrough tech for Global Goals” on privacy, security and data reliability, but also offer
investment framework and encourage corporate and the means to (re)allocate the value of data products and
government R&D commitments to align around, and services to individuals and local data producers and help
collaborate within, the framework. address the fundamental issue of data ownership.92

34 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Technology platforms and tools are needed to enable
easier and more affordable data sharing, integration and
management, including cutting-edge tools for managing,
integrating and analysing diverse datasets in order to
facilitate intelligent big data applications for societal and
environmental benefits. This includes the creation of better
data environments, including for machine-readable and
structured data access, such as the Open Data Initiative
– a recent private sector-led example of a technology
platform and tools to help organizations federate data
while maintaining their ownership and control of the data
they share, and providing data formats suitable for sharing.
Government initiatives for open public data, industry-
government collaboration on data and code verification,
or audits and policy frameworks (or agreements) or
structures (e.g. data trusts and hybrid business models) to
make strategic data available to specific users with clear
safeguards and incentives will all be vital. IP and privacy
issues will also be important; any solutions need to build
an architecture to share data in privacy-protected ways
compliant with the evolution of privacy laws. Finally, data
quality and ethics will also be vital for open data platforms.
Analytics developed from crowd-sourced raw data typically
reflect the biases and prejudices inherent in broader
society; practical arrangements will be needed to address 8. Skills: upskilling, reskilling,
and identify unfairness and discrimination in publicly
sourced big data. interdisciplinary talent and
collaboration
Case studies: Current efforts include:

– The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development The new challenges presented by Fourth Industrial
Data, including the Data for Now initiative involving the Revolution technologies also require more active
collaboration across multiple disciplines and stakeholder
United Nations and the World Bank Group, as well as
groups. Within companies, part of the answer requires that
Google and the Alibaba Group
tech companies hire and/or work in partnership with broader
– Open data initiative and California data collaboration talent across disciplines. Understanding is needed about
that creates analytics for water shortages real-world scenarios, the environment and sustainability,
regulatory affairs and risk management, as well as public
and government technology expectations, including ethics
Example recommendation: and human rights. Likewise, industry and broader private
A public-private game-changing effort to build big data and public organizations require digital upskilling and data
and analytics capability on an “SDG mission control data science talent to maximize value from the Fourth Industrial
collaborative”. This global public goods data innovation Revolution. Finally, education is critical to ensure vocational
could be a (close to) real-time open API digital dashboard of school and university graduates are ready to enter the job
the Earth that would enable the monitoring, modelling and market with a view to being relevant in sectors in their local
management of environmental and human systems at a economies reshaped by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
scale and speed never before possible – from tackling illegal At a more granular level, partnerships between academia,
deforestation, water extraction, fishing and poaching to air governments and the private sector could support the
pollution, natural disaster response and smart agriculture. integration of environmental, societal and governance
This will require collaboration and coordination among themes into data and computer science degrees, and
entrepreneurs, industry, government and the non-profit vice versa (e.g. environmental and social science degrees
sector, and incentives for all prime actors involved. integrating technology skills).

Example recommendation:
A database that provides investment advice to investors and Case study: The Coalition for Digital Intelligence
developers alike: e.g. creating a municipal bond readiness The Coalition for Digital Intelligence is a multistakeholder
scorecard/best practices of tax incentives to encourage community that will coordinate the implementation of
certain technologies. the digital intelligence framework across both the
technology and education sectors and could work to
set general principles relating to digital basics, ethics
and technology requirements.

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 35

Chapter 5: A call to action

Different stakeholder groups will have specific, but related, helps different stakeholders recognize the respective and
roles to play within the collective effort to speed up complementary roles that each needs to play to change
innovation, minimize risks and maximize the potential of business as usual.
technological solutions to pressing social and environmental
challenges. As outlined in Chapter 4, the role, and ambition, While focused on two priority stakeholder groups,
of leaders – from companies and governments in particular the framing for technology executives is largely
– will be critical to help chart and manage the course of transferable to wider industry executives and investors.
technology’s broad societal and environmental impact. Likewise, wider stakeholder groups such as start-up
entrepreneurs, international organization and NGO
Below, we set out the underpinnings of what a “call to leaders or research leaders can also focus on specific
action” could look like for two fundamental leadership action areas of priority relevance.
groups (Table 4):
Mobilizing a leadership coalition to commit to a call to
1. Government leaders (national, subnational and regional) action, such as that outlined in Table 4 for tech and
government leaders, is critical to moving markets at scale
2. Tech sector executives to accelerate “technology for society” outcomes. Cohesive
ambition and action are needed, from committing to the
This call to action provides an organizing framework implementation of strong ethical frameworks to driving fit-
(or “blueprint”) for coordinating, mobilizing and tracking for-purpose policy and regulation, upskilling and reskilling,
commitments, and action, around a collective mission to financing, data commons, directed R&D and even driving
accelerate and realize technology’s potential to tackle the labour market reforms. It is necessary to move quickly
Global Goals. It can be viewed as a set of priority actions beyond celebrating a smattering of “for good” use cases
(or principles, in some cases) organized by vital pathways to leadership ambition in investing money, time and
that can drive change (e.g. operations, R&D, policy). It also expertise and fully embracing this agenda.

36 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Table 4: Action areas for leaders

Government leaders

Tech policy Innovation finance

– Develop responsible tech codes and standards – Provide commercialization support for early-stage social
(e.g. algorithmic accounting for AI) and environmental entrepreneurship (e.g. incubators,
– Develop data protocols and protocols for appropriate accelerators, prizes)
delimitation of private data use around public-good outcomes – Have price support mechanisms for tech for SDGs
– Support data security and identity enforcement Sectoral and environmental policy
Public procurement – Integrate 4IR impacts into sectoral development plans
and policies
– Adopt established sustainability targets and standards (e.g.
RE100, SBT, EV100) – Ensure robust carbon-pricing mechanisms and phase-out
of carbon-intensive power generation
– Adopt responsible technology protocols within
procurement policy – Introduce subsidy reforms
– Ensure environmental standards for digital assets procurement – Ensure legislation and legal enforcement of
environmental standards
Infrastructure investment – Have mandatory ESG disclosure
– Ensure 4IR-enabled infrastructure investment (connectivity,
EV charging networks, satellites, cloud infrastructure) Structural policy
– Reinforce social safety nets (incl. for AI economy)
R&D investment
– Introduce next-generation labour market reform
– Support open-data initiatives focused on public good outcomes
– Have policies to reskill and upskill workforce
– Ensure basic and applied R&D finance focused on the
intersection of tech and societal/environmental impact – Ensure education investment that deploys 4IR for impact

Tech executives

Operations Finance
– Adopt responsible technology guidelines – Use pricing models (e.g. carbon price) as financial
– Embed SDGs as a core operating principle incentives for SDG performance

– Set targets for sustainability in line with science and – Establish investment fund for SDG outcomes and explore
internationally agreed goals, and create incentives the use of corporate venture capital (CVC), treasury funds
for implementation and blended purchasing power parity (PPP) models

– Embed SDG performance into risk and compliance processes – Harness technology tools to enable sustainable
and inclusive finance
R&D
Skills and infrastructure
– Innovate new solutions through corporate research that is
focused on big societal challenges – Develop tech platforms for data sharing, integration
and analytics
– Establish R&D partnerships with multi stakeholders to tackle
public goods challenges – Set targets on upskilling in underserved communities
and regions
Policy – Provide skills support to policy-makers on technology
– Promote purposeful policy advocacy at local, national developments
and international levels, to create enabling regulations – Collaborate with educators
to achieve SDGs
Governance and coordination
– Collaborate with peers, across sectors, and with business
associations to coordinate advocacy – Set board-level accountability for SDGs, including
– Ensure lobbying in line with SDG outcomes risk compliance
– Have SDGs integrated into enterprise risk management
Philanthropy/pro bono (ERM) process, where appropriate
– Support partnerships with non-profit organizations and – Introduce cross-company governance models
academia to deploy technology for public-good challenges
(e.g. grants and tools) Products and services
– Democratize data, algorithms, APIs for delivering public – Develop products and services to accelerate customers’
good, and set targets and metrics around uptake ability to deliver SDG outcomes

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 37

Chapter 6: Conclusion

With only a decade left to meet the Global Goals, business For technology to make the Global Goals a reality, we also
as usual is not an option. We may still be in the early days have to manage the downsides of today’s tech revolution.
of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but we stand at a Emerging technologies are already creating an immensely
critical juncture to make decisions and put in place a policy uneven economic impact, a new landscape of warfare in
and governance architecture to enable the digital age to cyberspace, new threats to democracy and a polarization of
deliver its full potential for humankind, across all countries communities through big data and AI-informed propaganda,
of the world in the 2020s and beyond. The positive an erosion of privacy and an emerging capability for
scenario of a technology-enabled sustainable future for all unprecedented surveillance of citizens. As the power, scale
will not emerge unguided. Purposeful and decisive action, and impact of new technologies continues to accelerate, the
collaboration and coordination by organizations, investors hands-off approach to managing the impact of technology
and governments alike will be critical. that we have – by and large – had to date risks potentially
catastrophic consequences for society. Getting this right
As the multitude of applications set out in Chapter 2 means managing risks and unintended consequences with
highlights, the opportunity for Fourth Industrial Revolution- foresight and decisiveness.
enabled innovation to benefit humankind and our
environment is real and substantial. The reality is that Purposeful innovation and deployment of new technology
many of today’s applications are nascent, sub-scale and is a responsibility shared by all stakeholders – from the
cluster in areas with the clearest commercial market tech community (entrepreneurs and big tech alike) and
gains rather than for the public good. They also often industry sectors, through to governments and regulators,
depend on a wider supportive enabling environment, financiers and civil society organizations. The creation of a
and technology infrastructure, to outcompete incumbent new “responsible technology” platform, enabling a broader
solutions. In some cases, we see that even highly feasible ecosystem that focuses on harnessing technology to tackle
and technically scalable technology solutions are stuck at the Global Goals, would be a valuable and much-needed
the concept or demonstration stages, particularly where next step. It could support the development of effective
they lack a clear short-term commercial business case. coalitions of the willing, and a leadership “call to action”
A new enabling environment is urgently needed, one that in terms of breakthrough R&D investment priorities, policy
rewards and accelerates innovation that brings broader advocacy, responsible technology codes of conduct, data
environmental and social value to the fore. and tools sharing and co-development of upskilling and
infrastructure readiness efforts.

38 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Annex

Annex 1: Global Goal definitions

Poverty alleviation Facilitating equality and international

and social protection collaboration

Access to food, improved nutrition Building smart, inclusive, safe and

and food-production security resilient urban systems

Advancing global health for all ages, Supply-chain optimization and

and healthcare services sustainable consumption patterns

Inclusive access to education, quality Combating climate change

of education and learning facilities and its impacts

Facilitating gender equality, protecting Conserving and managing the use of

and empowering women and girls marine habitats and resources

Access to and sustainable management Protecting and restoring terrestrial

of water, and water sanitation ecosystems

Adopting sustainable energy, Promoting peaceful society,

and energy-system optimization building effective institutions

Sustained and inclusive job creation

and productivity, and improving Building sustainable global partnerships
workers’ rights

Building inclusive, resilient and

sustainable infrastructure and industry

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 39

Annex 2: The core Fourth Industrial Revolution
technologies considered in this report

Artificial intelligence Blockchain Internet of things Big data

Software algorithms capable of Distributed electronic ledger that Network of objects embedded Extremely large datasets
performing tasks that normally uses software algorithms to with sensors, software, network that may be analysed
require human intelligence, e.g. record and confirm transactions connectivity and computer computationally to reveal
visual perception, speech with reliability and anonymity capability that can collect and patterns, trends and
recognition and decision-making exchange data over the internet associations
and enable smart solutions

Advanced materials Robotics Augmented/virtual reality 3D printing

Materials with significantly Electro-mechanical machines or Computer-generated Additive manufacturing
improved functionality, including virtual agents that automate, simulation of a three-dimen- techniques used to create
lighter weight, stronger, more augment or assist human sional image overlaid on the three-dimensional objects
conductive materials, e.g. activities, autonomously or physical world (AR) or a based on “printing”
nanomaterials and high-energy according to set instructions complete environment (VR) successive layers of materials
density batteries

Drones 5G Synthetic biology

Enabled by robotics, vehicles Latest iteration of cellular Interdisciplinary branch of
that can operate and navigate network providing significantly biology applying engineering
with little or no human control. faster speeds and bandwidth principles to biological systems
Drones fly or move without a and shorter delays, as well
pilot and can also operate as improved battery life
autonomously and portability

40 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

Annex 3: Methodology

Overview of approach – Technology centrality (i.e. Fourth Industrial Revolution

The methodology used in this analysis moves beyond technology is a vital cog in the solution)
identification of discrete technologies and is designed
to develop a holistic snapshot of the extent to which – Realizable enabling environment (i.e. policy and
combinations of technologies are (or are not) driving governance requirements can be identified and supported)
progress towards the Global Goals.
These top technology applications were identified as having
Step 1: Problem analysis the potential to significantly help progress towards the
This methodology is problem-first rather than technology- Global Goals.
driven, focusing first on the large problems that need to
be solved and then looking at the technology applications Step 3: Innovation combinations
that can help solve these problems and create impact. To help us identify the cross-cutting solutions that can be
Our research and analysis, through desk-based research used to drive progress across one or more Global Goals,
and interviews with a range of stakeholders, identified the our analysis focuses on “innovation combinations”.
important areas in which progress is slow.
Examples of these innovation combinations:
Step 2: Global Goal-specific technology applications
Our analysis identified over 300 specific technology AI + sensors + big data + drones = precision monitoring
applications that have the potential to help progress
towards achieving the Global Goal. From these Sensors + robotics + AI + 5G = autonomous vehicles
applications, top technology applications for each Global
Goal were identified, based on the following KPIs: This data lens was used because most innovations in the
era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are combinations
– Feasibility proven (i.e. the application is being deployed of existing and new technology – combining not just
and creating impact today) fundamental technologies but entire fields of practice. We
identified cross-cutting Innovation Combinations and from
– Transformational impact (i.e. the solution directly this analysis we were able to analyse which innovation
addresses the priority challenge areas underlying the combinations were the most common across all 17 Global
goal(s) and could disrupt current approaches) Goals based on Global Goal technology application
occurrences, which core technologies were vital to the
– Adoption potential (i.e. the potential population size innovation combinations identified and which innovation
is large) combinations were underdeveloped in certain sectors.

Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 41

Contributors

We would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of Global Future Council on 4IR for Global Public Goods
the following people in the development of this document: Victoria Alonsoperez (Chipsafer), Thani Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi
(Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the United
Lead authors Arab Emirates), Ida Auken (Denmark), Cathleen Berger
Celine Herweijer (PwC UK), Benjamin Combes (PwC UK), (Mozilla Corporation), Juan Carlos Castilla-Rubio (Space
Antonia Gawel (World Economic Forum), Anne Marie Engtoft Time Ventures), Joseph D’Cruz (United Nations Development
Larsen (World Economic Forum), Mary Davies (PwC UK), Programme (UNDP)), Amandeep Singh Gill (International
Jessica Wrigley (PwC UK), Marisa Donnelly (PwC UK). Digital Health & AI Research Collaborative (I-DAIR)), Celine
Herweijer (PwC), Angel Hsu (Yale-NUS College), Marieme
Other contributors Eve Jamme (iamtheCODE), Lauren Kahn (Department for
Victoria Alonsoperez (Chipsafer), Solomon Assefa (IBM International Development of the United Kingdom (DFID)), Zoe
Africa), Azeem Azhar (Exponential View), Maggie Dennis Knight (HSBC Holdings Plc), Jim Leape (Stanford University),
(WRI), Josh Fettes (PwC UK), Alasdair Grant (DFID), Erin Rebecca Marmot (Unilever), Sudhir Rama Murthy (University
Gray (WRI), Sarah Hunter (X), Zoë Knight (HSBC Holdings of Oxford), Katherine Richardson (University of Copenhagen),
Plc), Victoria Lee (World Economic Forum), Serena Li (WRI), Santiago Siri (Democracy Earth Foundation), Dhananjayan
Sara Pantuliano (ODI), Philip Thigo (World Economic Forum), Sriskandarajah (Oxfam GB), Wendy Tan While (X), Philip Thigo
Dominic Vergine (2030 Vision). (Office of the Deputy President of Kenya).

42 Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals

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global recommendations on digital commons and shared principles. Private-led initiatives are focusing on
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Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals 47

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