Objective 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructures

Objective 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructures
Above, train station Ghent (Belgium), 2017; below, car showroom in Tesla, New York (USA), 2018 © Francisco Sánchez Aguado

Objective 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructures

Infrastructures are essential for development, even more so in our hyper-connected world where interchange of people, goods and services is the order of the day. Thus, efficient transport systems generate employment and wealth, and foment economic development. Therefore, having a modern and secure transport network is a basic need for poorer countries to improve their situation, in particular, reliable railway networks such as that in the photo above.

However, such transport, and all industry, must progress to more efficient systems and a less intensive use of energy, in order to reduce carbon emissions per manufacturing unit of value added in absolute terms. In this sense, technologies for making zero emission vehicles (see photo) look promising, although currently they are unaffordable for most people. It is therefore essential to increase investment in research and development, and the Official Development Assistance for economic infrastructure in developing countries to reduce the gap which currently separates them from more developed countries.

Some of the goals of SDO 9 (Building resilient infrastructures, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fomenting innovation) for 2030 are: developing resilient, sustainable, reliable and quality infrastructures to support economic development and human wellbeing, with a special emphasis on affordable and equal access for everyone, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and reconverting existing industries to make them sustainable, or increasing scientific research.