UNIDO Innovation Lab

Overview

In response to the transformative shift brought by the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNIDO Innovation Lab was set up to address the need for innovation to tackle complex global challenges. The Lab aligns with the broader UN 2.0 vision, which emphasizes modernization through innovative approaches.

It aims to realign technical cooperation projects under strategic innovation frameworks, fostering collaboration and open-innovation partnerships. By embedding innovation into its operations, UNIDO enhances the impact and scalability of its projects, contributing to sustainable industrial development and ensuring alignment with the interconnected goals of business, society, and the environment.

Approach

At the UNIDO Innovation Lab, our commitment to driving positive change is reflected in our interdisciplinary methodologies, collaborative efforts, and human-centered design approach

We work at the intersection of data analytics, design, technology, entrepreneurship, and social impact to drive positive change and create a better future for all.

We believe in co-creation, collaboration, and inclusivity, working closely with stakeholders from diverse sectors, including academia, industry, government, civil society, and local communities.

The UNIDO Innovation Lab follows a human-centered approach to innovation, putting people and communities that we serve at the heart of our initiatives.

Estimated implementation duration

continous

Potential locations for implementation:

Global

Solution Partner(s)

United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Impact

Scouting and scaling innovative solutions through open-innovation partnerships: Establishing new delivery models for technical cooperation that foster open-innovation partnerships, enhancing implementation efficiency and effectiveness.

Promoting co-creation and collaboration: Deploying new design approaches to foster a culture of innovation and partnership across internal and external teams, enhancing the overall size, quality and scope of technical cooperation projects.

SDGs:

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

SDG 1: No Poverty

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 6: Clean water and Sanitation

SDG 8: Decent work and Economic Growth

SDG 13: Climate action

UNIDO Priorities:

Ending hunger

Clean energy and climate action

Sustainable supply chains

Thematic Area(s):

Sustainable agribusiness

Digital transformation

Skill development

Investment promotion

Technology Used

n/a

Catalytic Outlook

The Innovation Lab aims to strengthen UNIDO’s innovation capacity through collaboration and co-creation, facilitate strategic partnerships via open innovation approaches, and ultimately contribute to advancing the SDGs.

Unique Solution Characteristics

UNIDO Innovation Lab operates at the nexus of UNIDO technical teams and external innovation ecosystems, including industry, government, civil society, academia and local communities. This unique positioning allows the Lab to foster a collaborative network of innovators, thought leaders and entrepreneurs to create meaningful impact.

Previous Funding Source(s)

N/A

Dedicated Resources

The Innovation Lab operates on Lab-as-a-Service (LaaS) model – providing end-to-end innovation advisory services, including human-centered design, incubation, prototyping and acceleration.

Links

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Thank you for your interest in the UNIDO Solutions Platform (USP).