5 Advantages of Mapping Patents to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
During a conference in Berlin, we discussed how mapping of patents to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can help companies achieve more. We also discussed how to align your business model with the SDGs and how to predict and measure progress towards the SDGs.
Mapping patents to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) has several advantages:
- Aligning business strategy with global priorities: By aligning patents with the UN SDGs, companies can ensure their innovation and intellectual property efforts are aligned with global sustainability objectives.
- Better understanding of the impact of patents: Mapping patents to the UN SDGs allows companies to understand the impact of their intellectual property on sustainability, and identify areas where they can contribute more.
- Improved stakeholder engagement: Companies that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability through their patent portfolio are likely to attract and retain more sustainable-minded stakeholders.
- Enhanced reputation and brand image: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability through patent mapping can enhance a company’s reputation and brand image, as well as attract more sustainable-minded customers and partners.
- Increased transparency and accountability: Patent mapping can increase transparency and accountability in the intellectual property landscape, and help companies identify and address sustainability challenges in their supply chains.
Measure progress
Considering the fact that there are many businesses and institutions that have been using the UN Sustainable Development Goals to their advantage, it is not surprising that the measurement of the relative success of these goals is a topic of interest to anyone who wishes to do business in a greener, more socially and environmentally responsible manner. Fortunately, there is a comprehensive, well-documented and freely available database of relevant statistics to choose from.
One of the best places to start when it comes to figuring out how to map the UN SDGs to your advantage is the SDG Indicator Database (SDGID) which is maintained by the United Nations (UN) Statistics Division. The SGDID is the repository of all the official SDGs and includes detailed and up to date frameworks and indicators. The database also includes metadata and the SDG Indicator Calculator to help users measure their progress and see what is working and what is not.
Mapping patents to the UN SDGs is an interesting exercise that entails a good deal of nuance. There is no universal or standard methodology for determining the appropriate measures. This entails a bit of trial and error, but it should be possible to identify those that best suit a given business’s needs. This, in turn, helps a company to improve employee retention, identify licensing opportunities, and strengthen their position with shareholders. The process can be done in a relatively short time, and the results are typically impressive.
The most important question to ask is: What can a business do to achieve the SDGs? The answer is: there is no magic formula to do this, but a number of companies are on a quest to improve their sustainability credentials. The answer can be found by understanding the relevant metrics, implementing the right measures, and using the right tools. It all boils down to identifying and mitigating risks and assessing your competitor’s strategies.
The SDGs have been incorporated into national and global policy making initiatives and this is a promising direction to take. However, the implementation of SDGs will require unprecedented effort from all sectors and regions.
Predict future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems
Despite the vast potential of robotics and autonomous systems, many issues remain unaddressed. These include the ethics and safety of robots and the ramifications for older people. Moreover, there are challenges in obtaining unbiased, informed consent from older people, especially those with dementia. These concerns have led to numerous proposals for a new governance regime for robotics in long-term care.
A systematic review of robotics in long-term care identifies five ethical and technological risks: objectification and infantilisation, deception, adverse employment consequences, loss of autonomy, and liability. The study found that social justice raises ethical concerns about the distribution of robotics, especially with regard to access and autonomy.
A focus group discussion involving informal carers and older adults highlighted concerns about the impact of robotics on humans. In addition to concerns about human interaction, older people also expressed fears that robotics may be used to coerce them. They argued that the use of robotics in long-term care could lead to a decline in meaningful human relationships.
In addition to reshaping global supply chains, the adoption of robotics could increase productivity. However, it could also be detrimental to the employment of existing workers. In the long run, automation will impact men more than women. In the first wave, job displacement will be relatively low, but it could increase in the later waves as technologies become more sophisticated.
Similarly, the use of robots could reduce the availability of employment opportunities for those who have previously worked in health care. In some cases, the increased automation of production work could result in the reshoring of manufacturing to core areas. In such a scenario, distributive justice will be important.
Whether robotics and autonomous systems are used in long-term care settings, older people need to be informed about their rights, including their physical privacy. Legislation on the use of robots in long-term care will take some time to firm up. Several proposals for a governance regime have been made, but no concrete action has been taken.
The authors recommend that the robots and autonomous systems used in long-term care should be properly categorized. A proper categorization will need to take into account legal compliance, and will protect users.
Align business models with the SDGs
Identifying and aligning business models with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can help companies take action on some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The SDGs address poverty, inequality, and climate change. They also foster innovation, and open new markets. Achieving the SDGs will require cooperation among all sectors of society.
The SDGs provide a roadmap for companies to engage with stakeholders. They also present companies with an opportunity to transform their business model. They are a framework for generating revenue, opening new markets, and creating sustainable communities. Achieving the SDGs will also reduce risk in many areas of operations.
The SDGs are intended to make the world a better place by 2030. The SDGs are a set of 17 interconnected goals that address the world’s most important issues. They are universal, meaning that businesses can contribute to them. The SDGs can be used to solve problems at a local, national, or global level. They can be integrated into an organization’s core business to create shared value. Getting the SDGs right is a long-term investment.
The SDGs are a good way to address the growing problem of scarce natural resources. As climate change depletes our planet’s resources, it can limit future growth prospects. Developing SDG-aligned products can boost the impact of your business by expanding into new markets.
A recent study shows that businesses that take a responsible approach to sustainability stand to gain a number of business benefits. One such benefit is an enhanced license to operate. This may be in the form of a stronger social license to do business, or the ability to secure capital and shareholder value.
The SDGs can help you measure the impact of your efforts and identify the key SDG touch points in your own business. A comprehensive guide, produced by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), helps you to do just that. It includes a constantly updated inventory of business tools and indicators. It provides a step-by-step guide to aligning your business with the SDGs.
Aligning business models with the SDGs isn’t as difficult as it might seem. However, it will require an organizational shift. To start, your company will need to define its purpose.
Predict future impacts of space-based technologies
Using space-based technologies for sustainable development holds many potential benefits for the world. Among them are climate mitigation, disaster relief, and Earth observation. A new era of modernization may soon emerge.
Almost all countries should be provided with access to space-based technologies. This would allow them to improve their supply-chains, provide better capabilities, and offer lower costs. This is particularly true for developing countries. The use of space-based technology could also help prevent pandemics and ensure a healthy and safe environment.
For instance, the European Space Agency has deployed an autonomous laboratory called the Biological Light Fieldable Laboratory for Emergencies, which can serve as a mobile lab for emergency preparedness and response. Its data can identify where vaccines should be distributed and can help plan infection transmission. It can also be used to monitor healthcare personnel.
Other applications include protecting wildlife and protecting communities. For instance, the Cube4EnvSec project integrates large amounts of Earth observation data and artificial intelligence to develop a military-recognized environmental picture. This helps to raise awareness about deforestation and contributes to preserving natural habitats.
The use of space-based technologies for sustainability is a growing concern. The International Space University (ISU) has recently hosted an Interactive Space Program, which involved experts from over 30 nations. This event was designed to reveal the potential uses of space-based technology and identify the best ways to utilize it.
The UN is taking measures to enhance the use of space technology for disaster risk reduction. These efforts are part of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management (UN-SPIDER).
The global space industry is currently generating $350 billion. The value is expected to grow to $1.1 trillion to $2.7 trillion in the next thirty years. In the most bullish scenario, satellite broadband will account for over half of that growth. This is due to the rise of the Internet of Things and other technologies that rely on satellites.
The growing role of private space exploration firms in space has created a competitive landscape. In addition to Russia and the US, China will be competing on both the civil and military fronts. The Chinese space sector is planning to launch commercially viable solar space stations by 2050.
