Exploring Youth Innovation in Higher Education
the case of SDG 13 and SDG 17 in Italy

Concept Note
Youth-Led Innovation as a "Vital Catalyst for SDG progress"

The Side Event seeks to highlight the interconnected nature of emerging best practices in Climate Action (SDG13) and the role of Partnership for the Goals (SDG17) through the presentation of a peculiar case study: Innovation in Italian Higher Education.

Within the context of a continued commitment to quality education recognized in the 2023 SDG Summit political declaration, youth-led innovation can be a vital catalyst of SDG progress and materially contribute to the outcomes of the upcoming Summit of the Future. In the pursuit of innovation to fight climate change and mitigate its impacts, multi-stakeholder partnerships can amplify youth-led mobilization of knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to generate co-benefit from shared experiences and strategic cooperation with a cross-sector approach.

The Side Event on ‘Exploring Youth Innovation in Higher Education’ will showcase best practices of multi-stakeholder as well as local innovation in Italian higher education institutions across academia, non-profit and private sectors. Featuring the first edition of the “Italian Youth for Innovation” (IYI) Challenge, the event will further showcase two concrete examples of student-led innovation and give young innovators a stage to present their own transformative projects. The recommendations for youth-led innovation for climate action through multi- stakeholder partnerships can illuminate change pathways and inform STI Forum’s decisions on the related SDGs (13, 17) under review.