The realization of AI governance principles, laws and policies, the promotion of digital transformation in Asia, and the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals all require cross-border and cross-industry cooperation and co-innovation. In this context, the Computational Law and AI Ethics Research Center of Shanghai Jiaotong University, together with the Sustainable Development Council of the International Financial Forum, SenseTime, Terminus, Kobe University Social System Innovation Center, and Artificial Intelligence International Institute (AAAI) jointly initiated Technology for Sustainable Development Goals Alliance for Asia (Tech4SDG). Since the preparatory work of Tech4SDG commenced in March 2022, more than 40 think tanks, universities and enterprises have joined, covering 9 countries and regions in Asia.

On the afternoon of August 31, 2022, the Computational Law and AI Ethics Research Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, as one of the co-founders, hosted the inaugural meeting at the Shanghai Crowne Plaza Hotel. The meeting discussed the purpose, goals and working mechanism, passed the 2030 Initiative and announced the election results of the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen, the LOGO and the official establishment of the Secretariat of the Tech4SDG.

The meeting was chaired by Tian Feng, Dean of SenseTime Intelligent Industry Research Institute. Gu Qingyang, Associate Professor with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) at the National University of Singapore, Ji Weidong, Distinguished Chair Professor and Director of the Research Center for Computational Law and AI Ethics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Hiromi Komuro, Director-General of the Japan International Metaverse Association (on behalf of Oussouby Sako, President of the Japan International Metaverse Association and former President of Kyoto Seika University, Japan), Song Min, Dean of the International Financial Forum (IFF) Research Institute, James Ong, Managing Director of the Artificial Intelligence International Institute, Zhang Wang, Vice President of SenseTime, Cao Xiaobing, Vice President of Terminus, Wang Tianyi, Director of Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, Zheng Yongqiang, Deputy General Manager and Chief Financial Officer of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (China), and about 20 representatives from China, Japan and Singapore attended the meeting and participated in the discussion.

Figure: The members of the Executive Committee of the International Financial Forum announced the establishment of the Council.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Chi Ji, the representative of the co-founders of the Tech4SDG and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Financial Forum (IFF), announced the official establishment of the Council, and announced that Professor Gu Qingyan was elected as the Chairman, Professor Ji Weidong and Mr. Oussouby Sako were elected as the Vice-Chairmen. Mr. Chi Ji also announced the establishment of the China Secretariat and Singapore Secretariat, respectively led by Mr. Tian Feng and Dr. James Ong, and Mr. Gong Chao, director of technology policy and ethics research at SenseTime Intelligent Industry Research Institute, was appointed as Executive Secretary.

Figure: group photo of online representatives

During the speech and advocacy session, Chairman Gu Qingyang sorted out the challenges faced by developing countries in Asia, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflict and middle-income trap, and emphasized the need to promote the realization of sustainable development goals through science and technology as well as addressing the challenges of the digital economy, supply chain and ESG, to achieve full cooperation, inclusiveness and mutual assistance in the construction of digital infrastructure, digital public services, digital trust and ethical security.

Figure: Chairman Gu Qingyang delivering a speech

Vice-Chairman Ji Weidong expressed the importance of scientific and technological innovation and exchanges and cooperation in promoting the sustainable development of Asia. He analyzed the reasons for the rapid development of Asian countries and the difficulties Asia will face in the future.

He pointed out that the Tech4SDG should adhere to scientific and technological cooperation so that all countries' advantages and governance concepts in the development of science and technology can be shared and fully reflect the diversity of Asia's development.

Adhere to scientific and technological development, especially digital technological innovation, maintain a sustainable development mechanism, promote the further development of the alliance, and respond to the United Nations sustainable development goals. He also emphasized that when faced with conflicts in the digitalization process, all parties need to reach a consensus through consultation and communication.

Figure: Chairman Ji Weidong delivering a speech

Ms. Hiromi Komuro, on behalf of Vice Chairman Oussouby Sako, mentioned the key technologies to promote the development of the metaverse industry, pointed out that international exchanges should be promoted through alliances, the development strengths of countries should be integrated, and the deep integration of digital economy and real economy should be promoted. 

Figure: Ms. Hiromi Komuro delivering a speech

During the report session of the Secretariat of the Alliance, Mr. Tian Feng, as the Secretary General of China, reported the latest progress of the "Asian Science and Technology for Sustainable Development White Paper (2022-2023)" and supporting case awards. Dr. James Ong, as the Secretary General of Singapore, reported on the "2022-2023 Singapore Alliance Work Plan".

Figure: Tian Feng, Secretary General of China reporting

During the annual work planning session, the directors/deputy directors of the Asian Technology Ethics Governance Working Committee, the Asian ESG Working Committee, the Asian Digital Economy Working Committee, and the Asian Metaverse Working Committee shared their annual work plans.

Vice-Chairman Ji Weidong, who is also the deputy director of the Asian ESG Working Committee, put forward prospects for the achievements that can be made by the Asian ESG Working Committee from the three perspectives of the corporate social responsibility index system in the digital economy era, social governance methods, governance systems, institutional innovation, and the formation of a people-oriented human environment, so as to achieve the sustainable development task of natural harmony in Asia, and proposed the design of public philosophy and social systems in Asia to the world.

Figure: Chairman Gu Qingyang, Vice Chairman Ji Weidong and Secretary General Tian Feng concluded the meeting

At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Gu Qingyang, Vice Chairman Ji Weidong and Secretary General Tian Feng delivered speeches respectively, hoping that the members of the  Tech4SDG will adhere to the purpose of the alliance, actively carry out visits and exchanges at different levels and forms, formulate scientific and technological standards, and conduct case studies on scientific and technological industries, and release public research results and relevant indexes to promote sustainable development in Asia.

Figure: Technology for Sustainable Development Goals Alliance for Asia officially launched at the 2022 World Conference on Artificial Intelligence (WAIC).

On September 2, the Technology for Sustainable Development Goals Alliance for Asia was officially announced at the 2022 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC).

Ji Weidong, Senior Professor of Liberal Arts at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dean of the China Institute for Socio-Legal Studies, and Director of the Computational Law and AI Ethics Research Center, as the Vice Chairman of the alliance, attended the inauguration ceremony.

He joined hands with Zhang Wang, Vice President of SenseTime, Chairman of SenseTime AI Ethics and Governance Committee, Song Min, Director of the International Financial Forum (IFF) Research Institute, Cao Xiaobing, Vice President of Terminus, and Zheng Yongqiang, Deputy General Manager and Chief Financial Officer of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (China), and Wang Zikai, Chief Technology Officer of Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, jointly unveiled the plaque.

Other members of the alliance and special guests attended and delivered speeches online.

With the purpose of "to envision the digital technologies advance the state of the world economy and society and create a better future for humanity", the alliance is committed to mobilizing social forces to actively and extensively participate, linking industry, academia and research to carry out scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, scientific and technological ethics research, scientific and technological standard formulation, and scientific and technological industry case research, as well as publishing public research results to promote sustainable development in Asia.

At the event, the alliance also shared the "Digital Transformation Helps Asia's Balanced Development - Asia Science and Technology Promote Sustainable Development (2022-2023)", which focused on mutual understanding and excellent practice cases for Asia's technology to promote sustainable development, as well as Asia's science and technology to promote sustainable development and Asia Science and Technology for Sustainable Development Goals - Shanghai Initiative.

Introduction to the Technology for Sustainable Development Goals Alliance for Asia

The Tech4SDG Alliance is a non-profit, non-government international organization.

The Alliance mobilizes social forces to actively and extensively participate in industry-university-research linkages to carry out scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, scientific and technological ethics research, scientific and technological standard formulation, scientific and technological industry case studies, and release of public research results, to promote sustainable development in Asia.

The members of the Tech4SDG mainly include technology companies, scientific research institutions, think tanks, universities, experts and scholars in Asia, and there are currently more than 40 members.

The official website of the Technology for Sustainable Development Goals Alliance for Asia has also been launched simultaneously: http://www.tech4sdgaa.org.