Challenges facing cooperation in science and technology in the next decade

Science and technology have driven huge leaps in knowledge, powering economic and social development around the world. As a result, the last decades have witnessed the fast and profound transformation of our natural, social and productive environments. However, the benefits of such profound changes have been unevenly distributed. Uneven development is manifest in unequal access to knowledge, resources, energy, markets, health and education. Growing interdependence between countries encourages the free flow of people and capital but also facilitates the spread of disease vectors and financial instability. Human and socio-economic progress is leading to increased instabilities in many ecological systems. Confronting these challenges requires multilateral cooperation to rethink and strengthen international alliances in science, technology and innovation (STI).