The United Nations has urged countries in the Global South to invest more in science, technology and innovation, warning that stronger national systems are needed to help developing countries keep pace with rapid technological change and achieve sustainable development.
The call was made as the world marks the International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South on September 16, an observance aimed at highlighting the role of technology and innovation in supporting developing countries.
The UN says science and technology are now shaping nearly every part of human life and have created opportunities for some developing countries to move faster in their development by adopting new technologies.
“Science, Technology, and Innovation are increasingly important in all spheres of human life,” the UN says.
However, the organisation says the benefits of rapid technological change are not being shared equally, with many countries in the Global South facing challenges in building the systems and structures needed to innovate and adapt.
“Yet, for many others, this swiftly changing landscape presents significant challenges, particularly in the Global South, where governance issues and the struggle to effectively innovate and adapt are prominent.”
The UN points to unequal access to technology as one of the main barriers holding back developing countries.
It says the technology gap between industrialised and developing nations is partly caused by differences in technological capacity, as well as weak governance systems that limit the wider spread and use of new technologies.
Africa remains one of the clearest examples of the digital divide.
Data from the International Telecommunication Union shows that only 38% of Africa's population used the internet in 2024, compared with a global average of 68%. The gap was also clear between urban and rural areas, where internet use stood at 57% and 23%, respectively.
The latest ITU figures show that the difference has remained wide. In 2025, internet use in Africa was about 36%, against 74% globally.
Although mobile broadband coverage has grown across the continent, access remains uneven. The ITU reported that mobile broadband covered 86% of Africa's population in 2024, leaving 14% without coverage.
The situation was worse in rural areas, where 25% of the population remained outside mobile broadband coverage.
The UN says countries need to create conditions that allow them to build their own capacity in science, technology and innovation instead of remaining dependent on advances made elsewhere.
“It is essential to foster an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory environment that supports the Global South in developing and strengthening its national science, technology, and innovation systems.”
Education and research, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, are also central to Africa's ability to take advantage of technological progress, according to the UN.
The organisation says Africa missed the first three Industrial Revolutions and could also be left behind during the Fourth Industrial Revolution unless countries take firm steps to strengthen education, research and innovation.
“To benefit from the digital revolution, Africa must invest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and research to foster innovation,” the UN said.
The International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South was established following an agreement by leaders of the Group of 77 and China at the Summit on Science, Technology and Innovation held in Havana, Cuba, in September 2023.
They agreed to designate September 16 as the day for the annual observance.
The UN General Assembly later formally proclaimed the day on January 9, 2024, through Resolution A/RES/78/259.
The resolution calls on member states, international organisations, academic institutions, civil society and the private sector to support initiatives and cooperation projects that promote science, technology and innovation in developing countries.
The UN says strengthening these areas is important not only for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals but also for building societies where more people can take part in economic and social progress.
The September 16 observance therefore puts technology access, research, education and innovation at the centre of efforts to help developing countries take a bigger role in the increasingly digital global economy.