On May 17, on the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, the Renewal League of Ukraine team, as a partner, participated in the conference "Sustainability and Digital Innovations: Present and Future," organized by the State University of Intellectual Technologies and Communications.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), celebrated annually on May 17, aims to raise awareness about the potential of the Internet and ICT for society and the economy, as well as to bridge the digital divide. The initiator of WTISD is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations.

With an opening speech and wishes for success to the conference participants, the Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Tomas Lamanauskas, addressed the audience. In his address, Mr. Lamanauskas noted:

“The ITU, as the UN agency for digital technologies, is at the forefront of leveraging digital innovations to promote sustainable development. I want to take this opportunity to emphasize our support and cooperation with Ukraine. Ukraine is an example of how rapid digital development and innovation can serve as the foundation for societal resilience. The ITU supports Ukraine in rebuilding its telecommunications sector, and since September 2023, the ITU has been striving to provide technical assistance for restoring broadcasting infrastructure in Ukraine with the active involvement of the ITU’s European office. To facilitate technical assistance to the country, the ITU continues to encourage member states and partners to provide commitments and financial resources to meet Ukraine’s needs.”

The chief coordinator of the ONOVA League and chairman of the board of the PU “Ukrainian Fund of Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving” (PU UFEE), Yehor Stefanovych, spoke at the plenary session of the conference with a presentation titled "Energy Efficiency - The Driving Force of Renewal and Sustainable Development." He focused the attendees' attention on the necessity of accelerating digitalization in communities to improve living standards and ensure sustainable development in regions. As an effective innovative tool, Mr. Stefanovych presented the ONOVA GIS HUB, demonstrating its capabilities in planning and implementing reconstruction projects using examples from communities in the Kyiv region.

Yehor Stefanovych also emphasized that energy efficiency is one of the most crucial factors for sustainable development. Implementing energy-efficient measures can become a driving force for renewal at the local level. The savings from these measures, which can amount to around 40%, can be redirected by communities towards their development.

"We at the PU UFEES are confident that energy efficiency is the wind that will fill the sails of Ukraine's development. We urge all parties involved in the reconstruction process of our country to join the initiative of widespread implementation of energy-efficient measures," Yehor Stefanovych stressed at the end of his speech.

 The conference gathered many speakers dedicated to the themes of development and digital innovations. 

Important topics discussed included:

• Sustainable Development Projects in the Activities of the UN Global Compact Network in Ukraine: Tetiana Sakharuk, Director of the UN Global Compact Network in Ukraine and PhD in Law, presented projects aimed at supporting sustainable development in Ukraine, emphasizing the integration of sustainable development principles into business processes.
• Current Issues of Implementing Modern Digital Technologies in an Open Educational Environment: Tetiana Dalevska, Acting Director General of the Directorate of Digital Transformation, discussed innovative approaches to integrating digital technologies into the education system, ensuring access to quality education for all segments of the population.
• The Concept of Self-Governance and the Participation of the Scientific Community: Oleksandr Slobozhan, Executive Director of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, talked about the implementation of digital solutions in self-governance, especially under wartime conditions when physical access to people is limited.
• Development of Innovative Clusters in Regions: Oleksandr Yurchak, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance, presented strategies for developing innovative clusters that will promote regional economic growth.

• Digital Innovations in Economic Development Management: Oleksandr Laiko, Deputy Director of the State Institution "Institute of Market and Economic and Environmental Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine," presented the strategy for implementing digital innovations in managing the economic development of cities and communities in the context of achieving sustainable development goals and post-war recovery, developed by the Institute's team.

  The discussed topics highlighted the importance of digital technologies and innovations for sustainable development, economic growth, and social progress in Ukraine. The conference strengthened cooperation between different sectors of society to achieve common goals of sustainable development and innovative prosperity. The Renewal League of Ukraine sincerely thanks the event organizers for the opportunity to participate in this important discussion and contribute to the future of the country.

The recording of the plenary session of the conference "Sustainable Development and Digital Innovations: Present and Future" is available.