We’re witnessing a global surge in innovation. This is how we sustain it

January 21th, 2021 – From a foot-operated handwashing machine invented by a nine-year old boy in Kenya, to a new “sky park” opened in Bangkok on an disused railway line that could serve as a model for greening abandoned spaces, to the roll-out of robots in health centres in Rwanda, the pandemic has unleashed an unprecedented wave of home-grown innovation. Communities are adapting, improvising and looking beyond this unparalleled challenge. The question now is how we can support this momentum to foster the conditions to create much-needed jobs and new opportunities as the recovery begins.

With small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) representing about 90% of businesses and more than 50% of employment worldwide, supporting SMEs to innovate is crucial not just to keep their shutters open – but to power to the global recovery. As part of our role in leading the UN’s socio-economic response to the pandemic, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting the entrepreneurs, small businesses and workers of the world.

More…https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/covid-pandemic-jobs-innovation-recovery/

Written by World Economic Forum

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