UN Science Summit: Key Challenges & Objectives for Digital Cooperation, Governance and Regulation

The 9th edition of the Science Summit around the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) took place from September 12-29, 2023. The People-Centered Internet organized nine sessions in conjunction with the International Science Council from September 20-22, 2023 in a hybrid format to discuss the future of digital in achieving the SDGs.

The Datasphere Initiative team spoke at the following sessions:

• Lorrayne Porciuncula, Executive Director, Datasphere Initiative spoke at panel 4 titled “Digital Regulation Sandbox: Geographic Priorities and Perspectives“ on September 20, 2023, at 2:15 pm – 3:45 pm EDT. During this panel, participants delved into an analysis of the merits and potential drawbacks of sandboxes through the lens of examples drawn from the countries represented by discussants.

• Bertrand de la Chapelle, Chief Vision Officer, Datasphere Initiative participated in two sessions:
  • Panel 1 titled “People-Centered Health Data Collaboratives: How they work and how they can be improved for global use“ on September 20, 2023, at 9:00 am -10:30 am EDT. This session focused on the use of health data collaboratives to make this information accessible to scientists and practitioners, the regulatory issues that need to be considered and/or changed, and the promise and pitfalls of the use of personal data.

• • Panel 9 titled “Digital Cooperation, Governance, and Regulation – Stocktaking“ on September 21, 2023, at 2:30 pm – 4:15 pm EDT. This session emphasized the outcomes of the event, highlighted multi-stakeholder and geographic perspectives, and underscored tangible next steps, initiatives, and recommendations.