Executive Summary: The Innovation Imperative
Under the banner of “Diplomacy, Dialogue, and Diversity,” the Doha Forum has promoted for more than two decades a spirited and open interchange of ideas to innovate and improve international policy-making that drives action-oriented networks. Through this Future of International Cooperation 2024 report, the Doha Forum, Stimson Center, and Global Institute for Strategic Research explore ways to fully maximize the generational opportunities provided by the convening and follow-through to the back-to-back, closely intertwined 2023 SDG Summit, 2024 Summit of the Future, and 2025 World Social Summit. For these global diplomatic gatherings to maximize their full potential, action-oriented networks of governments, civil society, religious leaders, the media, the business community, and international organizations—both global and regional—are necessary for success.
With this year’s thematic focus on “The Innovation Imperative: Tech-Governance, Development & Security at a Crossroads,” the report gives special attention to how technology and its governance can best advance and safeguard (or, inversely, hinder and endanger) fundamental global development and security goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the quest for sustainable peace. The need for effective “tech-governance”—including through innovative global and regional governance tools and approaches—has never been more urgent, given the accelerating pace of disruptive global forces that create new challenges, risks, and opportunities for development, security, the climate, human rights, and the global order itself.
Fundamental principles are essential for effective tech-governance. Applied to governing artificial intelligence (AI) and broader cybertech, greentech, and biotech, among other technologies in the global development space, they include: safety, sustainability, transparency and inclusion, and just and human rights-centered. In the peace and security domain, where the report examines the governance of AI and broader cybertech, weapons of mass destruction, and minerals for advanced (military and civilian) technologies, five closely related conceptual clusters are introduced: safety, transparency, and risk mitigation, responsibility and accountability, inclusion and participation, territorial integrity and sovereignty, and environmental protection.
With the goal of making tech-governance in both the development and security spaces beneficial to present and future generations in all countries by reflecting these core principles, among the report’s chief recommendations are:
Governing Technology for Global Development
Assemble an International Scientific Panel on AI and Frontier Collaborative
In support of the proposed International Artificial Intelligence Agency (IA2; see below), while extending beyond the Global Digital Compact’s current description, an International Scientific Panel on AI (ISPAI) would be tasked with producing knowledge products and increasing awareness of AI risk, principles, and regulations for policy-makers. Modeled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the ISPAI’s ultimate objective could be to understand and address the impact of emerging digital information technologies on the world’s social, economic, political, and natural systems. A community of practice through an AI Frontier Collaborative would further assist the IA2 with a new international public-private partnership for expanding access to or funding innovation in AI technology from leading private sector AI developers, where much of the innovation happens outside the public realm.
Establish a Greentech Licensing Facility within the Global Climate Fund
By harnessing private sector innovation for climate mitigation and adaptation, a Greentech Licensing Facility (GtLF) would help vulnerable populations in developing countries overcome major barriers to green technology transfer. Participation from both public and private actors should be encouraged through, for example, tax breaks, subsidies, and global recognition programs for companies contributing to climate-friendly technology transfers. This could motivate Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) holders to transfer licenses to the Green Climate Fund, which would act as an intermediary through the GtLF, facilitating access to these licenses for developing countries at subsidized rates.
Enable Biotech Capacity by Expanding Technical Transfers in the WHO Pandemic Agreement
The WHO Pandemic Agreement, now in its final stage of negotiations, should decisively expand the reach of transfers across biotech beyond—“pandemic-related”— products in its final form, by avoiding a siloed definition of what should be transferred to developing countries. Many IPRs for more generic products and processes are currently acting as a roadblock to developing domestic biotech capabilities, such as with long established monoclonal antibodies and their associated therapeutic uses. Nations may be unable to develop pandemic prevention and response capabilities, even with pandemic-related Intellectual Property Rights, if they do not possess IPRs for the generic processes that underpin such capabilities.
Governing Technology for Global Peace and Security
Create an International Artificial Intelligence Agency (IA2)
The agency would serve to: i) improve visibility, advocacy, and resource mobilization for global AI regulatory efforts; ii) provide thought leadership on General Assembly and Security Council AI and cyber technology-related initiatives and agreements; iii) monitor, evaluate, and report on AI industry safeguards in compliance with an agreed international regulatory framework; iv) enhance coordination across Member States and regional bodies to leverage AI’s positive development applications; and v) coordinate transnationally across initiatives and frameworks on AI governance to support knowledge-sharing of best practices and lessons learned. While beneficial to advancing global development too, in the peace and security domain the IA2 would help countries combat AI-enabled mis- and disinformation that can fuel violence and aid terrorist and criminal organizations.
Strengthen Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Global Regulatory Frameworks and Tech-Gov Collaboration
Emerging technologies can enhance detection and defense capabilities against the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Blockchain, for example, can create immutable, transparent records of transactions and the movement of sensitive materials, thereby enhancing the monitoring and control capacities of WMD governance. Its integration into existing multilateral regulatory systems, such as those for nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, can further help to harden WMD global governance, by ensuring that hazardous materials are safely and responsibly managed and tracked—to prevent these devastating weapons from falling into the wrong hands.
Launch a Global Initiative for Fair and Transparent Military Mineral Practices
Designed as a comprehensive international framework for governments, multinational corporations, and other stakeholders, a Global Initiative for Fair and Transparent Military Mineral Practices (“MMPs Initiative”) is urgently needed to promote transparency, environmental protection, and accountability in the management of mineral resources for military purposes. Operating as a specialized entity inside the United Nations with active multistakeholder engagement, while drawing important lessons and insights from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the MMPs Initiative would facilitate implementation and monitor compliance of a global benchmark for transparency and accountability in the military-related mineral sector.
From the SDG Summit and Summit of the Future to the World Social Summit & Beyond
Building on the SDG Summit (which reinvigorated recovery post-COVID-19) and Summit of the Future (which addressed global governance gaps identified by the SDG Summit), next year’s World Social Summit will advance efforts to eradicate poverty, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, and promote social integration. The three summits manifest many “win-win” linkages; in many ways, their respective success depends on pursuit of the deep and varied connections between them. Together, they are poised to take forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, and wider UN agenda, including in the areas of economic governance and debt relief, science and technology, peace and security, human rights, and the needs of younger and future generations.
Several of the tech-governance innovations introduced in this report offer novel entry points for deepening the multiple, mutually reinforcing action agendas of the three successive summits culminating, in November 2025, in Doha. With courage, foresight, and creativity, leaders can seize the opportunity to equip their citizens to not only cope with disruptive global forces, but to thrive in today’s hyperconnected world economy. Embracing the innovation imperative has become our generation’s moral and practical imperative for achieving a more safe, just, and prosperous future for all.
