Valletta: The Global Innovation Forum held by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) between 28 and 30 October has identified key ways to help close the ‘digital innovation gap.’ The suggested approaches, focusing on critical factors from expanding collaboration to attracting investment, are meant to spur sustainable economic growth and find solutions to pressing societal challenges through accelerated, localised technology innovation.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the event, hosted in Valletta, Malta, emphasised the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building to bridge the innovation gap and advance socio-economic development. ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, highlighted that digital innovation is crucial for economic progress and sustainable development, stressing the transformative power of technology in solving societal challenges.
The Forum brought together nearly 500 participants, including 27 Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and other high-level official
s from government, the private sector, and the United Nations system. Participants from 64 countries identified several key drivers to promote digital innovation. These include projects that attract investment, leverage cross-sector collaboration, and foster youth resilience. Additionally, South-South and triangular cooperation in open technology innovation, building community innovation capabilities, and creating supportive ecosystems for entrepreneurship were highlighted.
Other drivers discussed include the need for agile, anticipatory policies aligned with the evolving digital landscape and the availability of entrepreneurship networking opportunities. The establishment of an Expert Network by the Digital Innovation Board of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development was also endorsed, along with strengthening global and regional partnerships.
Organised by the ITU, the UN agency for digital technologies, the Forum strengthened global and regional partnerships for inclusive and s
ustainable digital development. Malta’s Ministry for Economy, Enterprise, and Strategic Projects hosted the discussions. Malta’s Minister for Economy, Enterprise, and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri, expressed pride in hosting the Forum, noting Malta’s commitment to digital innovation and fostering an inclusive digital future.
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, noted that the Forum served as a platform to shape transformative policy ideas and support startups and small business growth. He thanked the Government of Malta for hosting the event and announced consultations on developing a report on Malta’s innovation landscape.
The Digital Innovation Board endorsed the establishment of an Expert Network during its second meeting at the Forum. This community will conduct foresight studies on trends, research readiness, open technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and SME growth. The studies will contribute to the next ITU World Telecommunication Development C
onference in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2025.
Additionally, three digital startups were recognized with the Global Innovation Forum Award for advancing digital innovation. Mais Taha from MTiPX (Malta) was awarded in the Digital Changemaker category, MACRA from Malawi in the Ecosystem Practice category, and Dr. Teddy Nalwanji from Uganda in the OpenTech4Impact category. CAICT from China received special recognition for their contributions.