1. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development Towards A Shared Future: On Knowledge, Innovation and Sustainable Development Hans van Ginkel Rector of United Nations University, Tokyo Under-Secretary-General of United Nations World Information Forum Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 10 August 2007

2. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 2 Our Shared Future

3. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 3 Our Shared Future Shortening “Business Cost Distance” in Asia

4. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 4 Knowledge, Innovation and Sustainable Development (1)

5. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 5 Knowledge, Innovation and Sustainable Development (2)

6. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 6 Dimensions of Disaster

7. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 7 Knowledge, Innovation and Sustainable Development (3)

8. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 8 Land Degradation (1) Affects 23% of the landscape under human use, including about 60% of the area of Africa and Asia Each year an additional 20 million hectares of agricultural land becomes too degraded for crop production or is lost to other uses

9. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 9 Land Degradation (2) Human-induced land degradation adversely affects the livelihoods of close to one billion of the poorest people and disrupts the structural and functional integrity of ecosystems; leading to loss of bio-diversity and carbon sinks of global value

10. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 10 Land Degradation (3)  Prevention and reversal of land degradation fosters the achievement of UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the objectives of major global environment conventions

11. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 11 The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ Knowledge EducationInnovation N.B. ‘Knowledge’ = all scientific knowledge, incl. from social sciences and humanities ‘Innovation’ includes technological and social innovations

12. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 12 In general: Development, transfer and preservation of knowledge In particular: Training teachers/developing curricula Training doctors, etc/provision of health care Training experts/support of: the legal system/the administration, business, industry, etc Crucial role Sustaining and developing the intellectual and cultural base of society; Promoting knowledge, innovation and sustainable development Giving inspiration and justified pride to citizens in the achievements over time of their own society and helping to preserve cultural identity; Promoting dialogue to appreciate and respect cultural diversity! Roles of Higher Education

13. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 13 Dimensions of Sustainable Development Environmental / ecological Economic Social, incl. Cultural and political  Scientific knowledge includes knowledge from social sciences and humanities  Innovation includes technological and social innovations

14. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 14 The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and Sustainable Development All education (formal and non-formal) at all levels and all sectors must be reconsidered and transformed as to prepare the next generations to better contribute to the sustainable development of their societies: EfA and EfSD are two sides of the same coin; EfSD cannot just be a different subject next to all already existing subjects, but all existing subjects must be transformed to reflect EfSD.

15. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 15 The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and Sustainable Development EfA can only be achieved when all levels and all sectors of education are developed in a balanced way: education is a pyramid and when only the base is broadened continuously, without paying attention to the other levels, ultimately the top will fall flat on the bottom, harming everyone.

16. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 16 The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and Sustainable Development When we want to focus successfully on the ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and their mutual relations, with particular attention to developing countries and sustainable development, we must understand both knowledge and innovation in a broad sense, including economic, social, cultural and political aspects, not in a narrow technological sense.

17. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 17 The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and Sustainable Development All three elements of the ‘Knowledge Triangle’ must be developed in harmony with each other and the specific natural/social/political/ economic/cultural environment in question.

18. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 18 The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and Sustainable Development The development of the ‘Knowledge Triangle’ is an inseparable part of sustainable development and therefore all Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and other plans focusing on sustainable development, which try to promote ‘self help’ solutions, should include proposals to strengthen education, knowledge and innovation capacities in the region in question.

19. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 19 The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and Sustainable Development It is recommendable to create a kind of “home- grown” human and institutional capacities for education, knowledge development, preservation and transfer as well as the strengthening of specific innovation systems; ‘twining’ with relevant institutions abroad and targeted ‘sandwich’ programmes should be fostered in order to increase the pace of development and in some cases open-up the opportunities for ‘leap-frogging.’

20. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 20 The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and Sustainable Development It is crucial to incorporate all stakeholders, including government/political leaders, business and other representatives of civil society in an early stage in the planning and implementation of programmes and projects aiming to strengthen the ‘Knowledge Triangle’ in the country to promote its sustainable development.

21. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 21

22. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 22 On Innovation, the University and Society Our Society Needs Technological innovations Economic/financial innovations Social innovations Observations  The three types are related.  There may be more social innovations than technological or economic/financial.

23. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 23 On Innovation, the University and Society What to do in universities? Strengthen fundamental research Strengthen links with society in all its aspects Prepare students in more entrepreneurial ways: in theory and practice Create a holding in and of the university Reward creativity and innovation

24. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 24 Regional Centres of Expertise on EfSD RCEs provide an excellent opportunity to stimulate a sense of: Respect for diversity and complexity Engagement in society Practical issues at stake Creativity and innovation How to improve our situation from where we are, here and now

25. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 25 Primary Schools Secondary Schools Universities Primary Schools Secondary Schools Universities Community leaders Local Governments Botanical gardens Zoos (Science) museums (Research centers) Lateral links Horizontal links Vertical links Regional Centres of Expertise on EfSD Formal educationNon-formal education Local businesses Knowledge-related institutions Local NGOs Natural parks Media Local NGOs

26. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 35 RCEs in 2007 Toronto Pacific Island Countries Greater Sendai Yokohama Okayama Tongyeong Cebu Penang Jordan Ghana Barcelona Rhine-Meuse Greater Sudbury Grand Rapids Curitiba-Parana Saskatchewan Greater Nairobi Kwa-Zuku Natal Makana & Rural Eastern Cape

27. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 27 + RCEs RCE Pacific RCE Toronto RCE Barcelona RCE Greater Sendai RCE Okayama RCE Rhine Meuse RCE Penang RCE Jordan RCE Tongyeong Water Virtual Learning Centre REDMESO Biological Conservation + Online Learning Projects Global Virtual University Asia Pacific Initiative

28. UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Advancing Knowledge for Human Security, Peace and Development 28 Thank you very much