The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Innovation Pilot Project (Shenzhen Longhua) was officially launched at the Longhua International Cooperation Center in Longhua District on Aug. 13.

Jointly initiated by UNDP China, the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, the Longhua District Government, and the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation, the project is aligned with Shenzhen’s agenda as a National Innovation Demonstration Zone for Sustainable Development.

By leveraging UNDP’s innovation network in Longhua District, the project aims to explore innovative policies, pathways, and local solutions for the sustainable development of megacities. Furthermore, international seminars and exchange activities focused on best practices and experiences in sustainable development will be organized to help the district go global. The project will run from 2024 to 2029.

A salon session on "Innovative in Cities for Sustainable Development." Photos by Lin Songtao

The UNDP SDG Innovation Lab (Shenzhen Longhua), or HUA HUB, will be established as part of the project.

“The Longhua lab will act as a testing ground for cutting-edge solutions to advance sustainable development in a megacity context. The aim is to support Shenzhen’s role as one of 11 State Council-designated SDG Demonstration Zones — with the Longhua lab being the first of its kind. It will explore new ways of advancing the digital economy, managing natural resources for effective environmental protection, along with modernizing urban governance,” noted Beate Trankmann, UNDP resident representative for China, during her speech at the launch ceremony.

Beate Trankmann, UNDP resident representative for China, delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Innovation Pilot Project (Shenzhen Longhua) held at Longhua International Cooperation Center.

Trankmann added, “This will include experimenting with new technological solutions to meet the SDGs in cities, generating effective, replicable, and scalable sustainable development models and developing bankable investment pipelines.”

Kanni Wignaraja, U.N. assistant secretary-general, UNDP assistant administrator, and director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, addressed the event through a video message.

“The SDG Innovation Lab has been designed to help Shenzhen build itself into a national sustainable development demonstration zone. I’m confident it will pave the way for groundbreaking advances in sustainable urban development and produce policy lessons and innovations that are relevant not just for Shenzhen and other cities across China, but for cities around the world,” Wignaraja said.

Joe Hooper, director of the UNDP Global Center for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Singapore, delivered a keynote speech at the ceremony, sharing his insights into global experiences with people-centered, smarter, and innovation-driven cities.

“Our center has collaborated with the Singaporean Government for many years. We’ve seen Singapore’s efforts to promote development in relevant fields while sharing their experiences with other countries, benefiting those nations as well,” Hooper said.

“I have seen similar progress in Longhua, particularly in areas like ESG, which focuses on environmental governance and social development issues. There are many innovative practices in cities, which serve as crucial engines for sustainable development,” said Hooper.

The project also aims to establish an innovation and entrepreneurship network that specifically focuses on empowering small and medium-sized enterprises in Longhua District, fostering a more diverse, international, and dynamic innovation ecosystem in the region.

“The project is of great importance for the ecosystem, particularly the entrepreneurial ecosystem, especially in biotech. I believe that this initiative will attract not only Chinese companies but also international businesses to this district. It’s a fascinating development,” said Mauro Rubin, CEO of Alamatech Group, after the ceremony. Alamatech is a consulting company dedicated to helping European companies access China’s promising biotech market.

American artist Ken Malson, a resident of Longhua, believes the project will greatly benefit his community.

“I think the project is excellent and will benefit the community significantly. It’s crucial to have the pilot project here as it continues to support local communities. I live in Guanlan, which is part of Longhua. If today’s event inspires people to engage more in this work, it will be truly impactful,” Malson said.