On May 5, 2026, Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTED) and the International Research and Training Centre for Science and Technology Strategy (CISTRAT) participated as co-organizers in the side event of the 11th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum), themed "AI for 2030 Agenda and Beyond: Inclusion, Accessibility and Equity". This side event was jointly hosted by Chinese Association for Science of Science and S&T Policy Research (CASSSP) and Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) UN Consultative Committee on Science Diplomacy (CCSD). It was co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), CISTRAT, CASTED, Tsinghua University, and Triple Helix Association (THA).

During the keynote session, Prof. Dr. Liu Dongmei, Director of CISTRAT, delivered a report titled "AI and the Productivity Puzzle: A Preliminary Inquiry into Gender Differences in AI-Assisted Research". Based on the survey data on Chinese researchers, she analyzed the current state and challenges faced by female researchers in using AI to assist their research. She recommended targeted capacity-building training, the establishment of clear governance norms, and the cultivation of a gender-equitable culture to practically make AI a tool for promoting equity in research.

In the panel discussion on "Promoting AI for the SDGs", Research Fellow He Guangxi participated as a panelist. Drawing on his practical experience in recent years leading the China-US S&T Think Tank Track II Dialogues, he discussed the current challenges facing international cooperation in AI. He called on all parties to strengthen communication, foster mutual respect, and work together to promote a more inclusive global AI governance framework.

The UN STI Forum is a key component of the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism under the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Convened by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forum has been held annually in May since 2016, with this year marking the 11th session. Coinciding with the mid-point of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, AI has become one of the most transformative forces for sustainable development. Choosing this topic for the side event holds significant practical relevance. Looking ahead, CASTED and CISTRAT will continue to collaborate with domestic and international partners on key issues such as AI governance, capacity building, gender equality, and sustainable development, contributing wisdom and solutions to building a fair, inclusive, and accessible new landscape for AI development.