Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

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Sustainable development cannot be achieved without acting on the processes and regulations of infrastructure, industrialization, and innovation. To be well equipped to handle future challenges, industries and infrastructure are required for improvement. This requires innovation in sustainable technologies and ensuring equal access to information and financial markets. Industrialization develops economic growth and job creation, which lessens income inequality. Innovation improves technical capabilities, which leads to advancements in sustainable development. Lastly, infrastructure provides people with the facilities that are essential to business and societies. All three aspects are consequential players in improving economic growth and opportunities for poor countries and vulnerable people.

The achievement of this goal is essential for businesses and societies to globally drive growth in the right direction. This will require a commitment to sustainable industrialization through innovation across business operations, contributing to development efforts in areas by restoring their infrastructure. The promotion of inclusive infrastructure development will consequently provide more employment opportunities to vulnerable and marginalized groups. Infrastructure, industrialization, and innovation are all driving forces in the improvement of sustainable development, making this goal a critical one.

Targets & Indicators

When the UN General Assembly introduced the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, they listed the targets that needed to meet for each goal. These targets break down what needs to be achieved to consider the goal completed. The UN Statistical Commission created the IAEG (International Agency and Expert Group) in 2017, which was tasked with creating the “indicators” for each target. These indicators were created to put measures in place to track the process being made on each target.

Targets and indicators were developed by the UN as a working blueprint for nations, organizations, and people to use when implementing SDGs in their everyday actions. Looking to the targets for the respected goal is the best way to execute the use of them in your work.

9.1

Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

Indicators

9.1.1 Proportion of the Rural Population Who Live Within Two Kilometers of an All-Season Road
9.1.2 Passenger and Freight Volumes by Mode of Transport

9.2

Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product in line with national circumstances (and double its share in least developed countries).

Indicators

9.2.1 Manufacturing Value Added as a Proportion of GDP and per Capita
9.2.2 Manufacturing Employment as a Proportion of Total Employment

9.3

Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, especially in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit and their integration into value chains and markets.

Indicators

9.3.1 Proportion of Small-Scale Industries in Total Industry Value Added
9.3.2 Proportion of Small-Scale Industries with a Loan or Line of Credit

9.4

By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.

Indicators

9.4.1 CO2 Emissions per Unit of Value Added

9.5

Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per one million people and public and private research and development spending.

Indicators

9.5.1 Research and Development Expenditure as a Proportion of GDP
9.5.2 Researchers (in Full-TIme Equivalent) per Million Inhabitants

9.a

Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological, and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states.

Indicators

9.a.1 Total Official International Support (Official Development Assistance Plus Other Official Flows) to Infrastructure

9.b

Support domestic technology development, research, and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities.

Indicators

9.b.1 Proportion of Medium and High-Tech Industry Value Added

9.c

Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.