Building Forward Better: Innovation and Infrastructure for an Inclusive Future
March 2025
Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9): Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure emphasizes the importance of resilient infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. In 2025, as the world confronts economic, environmental, and technological challenges, SDG 9 stands at the crossroads of recovery and long-term resilience.
The Backbone of Sustainable Development
Infrastructure is the foundation of progress—connecting people to schools, hospitals, markets, and clean energy. Industry powers economies, creates jobs, and drives value. Innovation opens doors to solutions for climate change, health, education, and inclusive growth.
Yet, according to the 2025 UN SDG Progress Report, over 1 billion people still lack access to all-weather roads, and only 37% of small-scale industries in developing countries have access to loans or credit. Many regions remain digitally disconnected, limiting access to the knowledge economy and global opportunities.
"Infrastructure is more than roads and bridges. It’s a lifeline for opportunity and equality," said UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller. "Without it, the potential of billions remains untapped."
Industrialization in a Climate-Conscious World
Industry has historically driven economic growth, but often at the expense of the environment. Today, there is a global push toward sustainable industrialization—where growth is decoupled from carbon emissions and resource depletion.
From green manufacturing to zero-waste production lines, companies are rethinking how things are made. Countries like Germany, South Korea, and Kenya are investing in eco-industrial parks, where industries share resources, reduce waste, and operate in synergy with their environment.
Clean technology and circular economy models are also reshaping how raw materials are used, reused, and recycled—reducing pressure on ecosystems while fueling innovation and entrepreneurship.
Innovation as an Equalizer
Innovation is not just for high-tech labs—it can be grassroots, frugal, and deeply transformative. In India, mobile medical vans powered by solar energy are reaching rural communities. In South America, 3D printing is being used to construct affordable homes. In Africa, mobile payment platforms have revolutionized banking access.
However, there is still a significant innovation gap. Low-income countries contribute less than 2% of global research and development (R&D) spending. Bridging this gap means investing in education, STEM training, digital access, and support for local entrepreneurs—especially women and youth.
To this end, international collaboration through innovation hubs, tech incubators, and open-source platforms is accelerating inclusive problem-solving on a global scale.
Digital Infrastructure: Closing the Connectivity Divide
Digital transformation is a major driver of innovation—but only if it's inclusive. As of 2025, nearly 2.6 billion people still lack internet access, limiting their ability to learn, work, and participate in modern economies.
Efforts to expand affordable broadband, public Wi-Fi zones, and digital literacy programs are underway, particularly in underserved regions. Countries like Estonia, Rwanda, and Colombia are emerging as digital infrastructure leaders, integrating tech into governance, healthcare, and education.
But digital inclusion also requires data privacy, cybersecurity, and ethical AI policies to ensure trust and equity in the digital future.
Resilience and Future-Readiness
Whether it's rebuilding after a natural disaster or preparing for future pandemics, infrastructure must now be resilient and adaptive. Climate-resilient roads, disaster-proof hospitals, and smart urban planning are essential to protect communities and ensure continuity of services.
Sustainable infrastructure financing, public-private partnerships, and inclusive design principles are key to building systems that serve all—especially the most vulnerable.
Conclusion: Innovation with Impact
SDG 9 is more than a development goal—it’s an invitation to reimagine how we build, produce, and create. When infrastructure is inclusive, industry is sustainable, and innovation is accessible, the result is not just growth—it’s transformation.
As UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated:
"To recover better, we must recover smarter—through innovation, sustainable industry, and resilient infrastructure that works for people and planet alike."
