Discover our expert stories

Numerous experts from our community share their insights on how to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and its aspirational goals. Explore their innovative ideas, technological solutions and visionary perspectives that drive progress towards a sustainable future.

Visit also the online exhibition “Habitat: Embracing change in the post-2030 future”, which showcases the sustainability work of 17 multidisciplinary experts from 12 countries. This exhibition features regional stories with global insights on achieving the SDGs by 2030 and offers recommendations for a resilient future beyond. 

Why robots are good for the planet
Bram Vanderborght, Professor Robotics, FARI, VUB & Imec
Bram Vanderborght
Professor Robotics
FARI, VUB & Imec
Health as a central driver of sustainable development
Paulo Gadelha
Paulo Gadelha
Former President
Fiocruz Strategy for 2030 Agenda
The G-STIC Rio Communiqué: urgent call to recommit to the SDGs
Paulo Gadelha
Paulo Gadelha
Former President
Fiocruz Strategy for 2030 Agenda
What if the economy could run on green hydrogen
Gerrit Jan Schaeffer
Gerrit Jan Schaeffer
General Manager
EnergyVille
How fintech can help fight global warming
Peter Adriaens
Peter Adriaens
Professor of Engineering
University of Michigan
Global mechanisms for implementation of Agenda 2030 and beyond
Tomasz Chruszczow
Tomasz Chruszczow
Special Envoy for Climate Change
Ministry of Environment in Poland
The natural capital of the Amazonian rainforest
William Milliken
William Milliken
Research Leader
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London, UK
Urban inclusion in Middle Eastern cities
Nasser Golzari
Nasser Golzari
Researcher
University of Westminster, London, UK
New Orleans lessons for climate change
Jeffrey Soule
Jeffrey Soule
Former Director of Outreach and International
American Planning Association, USA
Livelihoods of small islands
Pesetã Fa'amatuãinu To'oto'ole'aava Lama Tone
Pesetã Fa'amatuãinu To'oto'ole'aava Lama Tone
Lecturer
The University of Auckland, New Zealand
Improving informal settlements using social technologies
Ronaldo Brilhante
Ronaldo Brilhante
Adjunct Professor
Federal Fluminense University, Brazil
Sustainable use of resources by Sami people
Kjell-Åke Aronsson
Kjell-Åke
Former Director
Ájtte Mountain and Sami Museum, Sweden
Reduction of inequality in the sub-Saharan region
Debbie Whelan
Debbie Whelan
Associate Professor
University of Lincoln
Macro and microeconomics potential of urban settlements
Jim Coleman
Jim Coleman
Director & Head of Economics
WSP, London
Prosperity and small business enterprises
Barbara J. Anello-Adnani
Barbara J. Anello-Adnani
Fellow
Angkor Training Center and APSARA National Authority
Affordable and clean energy in India
Karen Rizvi
Karen Rizvi
Architect and Capital Project Manager
Wildlife Conservation Society
Vernacular buildings and adaptation to floods
Iftehkhar Ahmed
Iftekhar Ahmed
PhD Associate Professor in Construction Management
University of Newcastle
Mongolian pastoral society and women
Ágnes Birtalan
Ágnes Birtalan
Professor
Eötvös Loránd University
Kam community and intergenerational education
Amy Eisenberg
Amy Eisenberg
PhD
Center for World Indigenous Studies and The University of Arizona
Health and wellbeing in African cities
Rexford Assasie Oppong
Rexford Assasie Oppong
Professor of Architecture and Dean of International Programmes Office
KNUST
Territorial integration and agricultural capacities of drylands
Sandra Piesik
Sandra Piesik
PhD Architect
3 Ideas B.V.
Sustainable livelihoods of the Chipaya people in Bolivia
Natalia J. Silva
Natalia J. Silva
PhD Researcher
Department of Architecture, University of Chile
The shift from sustainability to justainability
Frans Snijkers
Frans Snijkers
Programme Director
G-STIC
Sustainable healthcare technologies to fight COVID-19
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium
Digital circular economy: the cornerstone to sustainability
Karl Vrancken
Karl Vrancken
Research Manager Sustainable Materials
VITO
Technological innovations for sustainable food systems
Michiharu Nakamura
Michiharu Nakamura Agency
Former President
Japan Science and Technology Agency
Four drivers for the success of the energy transition
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium
Circular economy as a vaccine against pandemics like COVID-19
Karl Vrancken
Karl Vrancken
Research Manager Sustainable Materials
VITO
Health technologies are crucial for future pandemics
Paulo Gadelha
Paulo Gadelha
Former President
Fiocruz Strategy for 2030 Agenda
Need for effective international technology cooperation
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium
How to transition to a digital circular economy
Holger Berg
Holger Berg
Co-head research-unit digital transformation
Wuppertal Institute
How desalination can help address the freshwater challenge
Marjolein Vanoppen
Marjolein Vanoppen
Chair industrial and circular water technology
Ghent University
Long-term solutions for marine plastics pollution
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium
Building climate-positive and resilient global food systems
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland
former Prime Minister
Norway
How COVID-19 exposed challenges for technology in education
Luna Janssen
Luna Janssen
PhD Researcher
University of Antwerp
Managing Earth's finite resources with Copernicus Earth Observation data
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium
Advocating indigenous peoples’ knowledge in fighting climate change
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim
Hindou Ibrahim
President
AFPAT
Champions of change fighting for sustainable development
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium
Making digital transformation work for the benefit of all citizens
Eva Kaili
Eva Kaili
Chair of STOA panel
European Parliament
Ensuring sustainable drinking water supply in rural areas
Suil Kang
Suil Kang
Chief Supervisor
GIST
Pushing the boundaries of innovation to drive blue growth
Alain Bernard
Alain Bernard
Director
DEME
Building strong foundations for a globally connected circular economy
Karl Vrancken
Karl Vrancken
Research Manager Sustainable Materials
VITO
Nature-based solutions for climate-resilient societies
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium
How Circular Economy Hotspots contribute to a circular economy
Karl Vrancken
Karl Vrancken
Research Manager Sustainable Materials
VITO
How digital technologies help build resilience for smallholders
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium
How to enable technological innovations for the SGDs?
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium
Marine Spatial Planning to facilitate a sustainable economy
Marijn Rabaut
Marijn Rabaut
International Marine Policy Manager
Blue Cluster
Spearheading technological innovation for the SDGs
dietrich van der weken
Dietrich Van der Weken
General Manager G-STIC
VITO, Belgium

“Driving Change Through Innovation and Sustainability”