A groundbreaking new white paper, titled From Knowledge to Solutions: Science, Technology and Innovation in Support of the UN SDGs, has been published in the open-science journal Research Ideas and Outcomes. This seminal work orchestrates insights from Europe’s premier biodiversity and data science experts, delivering a critical reevaluation of biodiversity’s role—not merely as an environmental concern, but as a pivotal factor underpinning global food security, public health, climate stability, and economic systems. By bridging scientific domains and policy frameworks, the paper argues for an urgent and holistic transformation in how humanity researches, values, and protects biological diversity.
The authors advocate decisively for a paradigm shift away from fragmented and isolated actions toward a cohesive, globally coordinated response to biodiversity challenges. This approach was exemplified during discussions at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the concurrent Science Summit, which underscored the necessity of integrating large-scale research infrastructures with policy efforts. Central to this transformation is the enhanced role of cutting-edge research infrastructures that unite a variety of scientific modalities—from vast biodiversity collections and genomic observatories to highly sophisticated ecosystem “digital twins” powered by state-of-the-art supercomputers. These infrastructures are reimagining how biodiversity data is generated, shared, and applied within science and governance.
At the helm of this initiative is a network of European legal entities converging various fields such as biodiversity, ecology, and engineering, with strategic coordination by LifeWatch ERIC—the LifeWatch European Research Infrastructure Consortium. This consortium exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration through its capacity to provide virtual workbenches and digital tools that help researchers and policymakers analyze complex biodiversity patterns and ecosystem processes with unprecedented precision. These resources are proving instrumental in developing evidence-based policies to mitigate biodiversity loss and environmental degradation at scale.
European initiatives including the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and pioneering digital twin projects catalyze these efforts by ensuring data interoperability and accessibility. By leveraging e-Infrastructures such as OpenAIRE, the scientific community facilitates the global adoption of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles, thus enhancing transparency, reproducibility, and collaborative engagement. These infrastructures collectively create a robust foundation that supports monitoring and evaluating progress toward the targets outlined by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K-M GBF), positioning biodiversity at the intersection of scientific innovation and policy implementation.
One of the paper’s most urgent recommendations is the central positioning of biodiversity within the agenda of the forthcoming 2026 UN Summit of the Future. The authors urge that biodiversity be recognized as a core pillar, essential not only for environmental sustainability but also as a critical axis of equity, security, and intergenerational justice. They emphasize that the evolving UN Pact for the Future must integrate biodiversity into its framework to address the interconnected crises of habitat destruction, climate change, and socio-economic instability effectively.
To realize this vision, the authors propose establishing a global alliance uniting researchers, policymakers, indigenous knowledge holders, civil society actors, and industry leaders. This coalition would work strategically to embed biodiversity conservation and sustainable use into the broader global agenda. By amplifying diverse voices and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the alliance aims to position biodiversity as a universal enabler of peace, prosperity, and justice in an increasingly complex global landscape.
The white paper meticulously dissects how existing and emerging research infrastructures contribute across seven strategic considerations aligned with the K-M GBF. These considerations include the recognition and rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose traditional ecological knowledge is vital to comprehensive biodiversity science. It also highlights the coordination of biodiversity monitoring systems and data infrastructures crucial for tracking global conservation progress continuously.
Scientific fulfillment of the core objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), facilitated by streamlined access to comprehensive biodiversity information, is another cornerstone discussed. The paper underscores the importance of open science and the deployment of cutting-edge technology to advance research, data sharing, and management. This includes novel AI-driven platforms and supercomputing capabilities that enhance data analysis and ecosystem simulation.
Adopting an ecosystem approach through multidisciplinary, cross-domain methodologies emerges as a critical theme. Technologies enabling holistic understanding and predictive modeling of biodiversity and environmental dynamics empower researchers to foresee and mitigate emerging threats. These integrative tools also foster enhanced synergies among international organizations responsible for environmental policy, research projects, and social and scientific initiatives.
Foremost among the paper’s innovations is the demonstrated link between biodiversity and human health. By integrating diverse data streams and interdisciplinary research, the paper reveals how healthy ecosystems underpin food security, resilience against pandemics, and overall public health. This holistic view potentially transforms how global health and environmental policies are conceived and coordinated.
Europe’s key biodiversity research institutions play a vital role in these transformative efforts. LifeWatch ERIC leads by providing an expansive digital ecosystem for analyzing biodiversity data, while CSC’s hosting of the LUMI supercomputer advances modeling efforts linking biodiversity and climate science. The EGI Federation supports enormous data processing tasks on a global scale, enabling comprehensive environmental data analysis from diverse sensors.
Marine biodiversity and ocean data integration receive special focus through the efforts of VLIZ and EMBRC-ERIC, which coordinate maritime digital twins and access to marine biological resources. Similarly, DiSSCo undertakes the monumental task of digitizing natural science collections across Europe, democratizing access to invaluable taxonomic and ecological data stored in museums worldwide.
Open-access publishing and innovation platforms like Pensoft facilitate rapid dissemination and transparency of scientific knowledge via advanced text and data publishing tools. Complementing these efforts, organizations such as the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Athena Research Centre bring critical expertise in ethical computing, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructures, spearheading interdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity challenges.
This white paper emerges as a pivotal moment in global biodiversity research and policy, offering a comprehensive blueprint that leverages technological innovation, open science, and collaborative governance. Its insights reiterate the importance of integrating biodiversity conservation not only as an environmental imperative but as a complex, multifaceted challenge requiring urgent, unified scientific and political action. By aligning technology, knowledge, and policy, the global community can advance toward sustainable development goals with biodiversity at the forefront, ensuring a more resilient planet for generations to come.
Subject of Research: Biodiversity conservation and its integration with science, technology, innovation, and policy to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Article Title: From Knowledge to Solutions: Science, Technology and Innovation in Support of the UN SDGs
News Publication Date: 15-Aug-2025
Web References:
- Research Ideas and Outcomes: https://riojournal.com/
- Article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/rio.11.e168765
- LifeWatch ERIC: https://www.lifewatch.eu/
- European Open Science Cloud (EOSC): https://eosc.eu/eosc-about/
- UNGA79 Science Summit: https://sciencesummitnyc.org/science-summit-unga79/
- OpenAIRE: https://www.openaire.eu/
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: https://www.cbd.int/gbf
References:
Arvanitidis C, Barov B, Gonzalez Ferreiro M, Zuquim G, Kirrane D, Huertas Olivares C, Drago F, Pade N, Basset A, Deneudt K, Koureas D, Manola N, Mietchen D, Casino A, Penev L, Ioannidis Y (2025) From Knowledge to Solutions: Science, Technology and Innovation in Support of the UN SDGs. Research Ideas and Outcomes 11: e168765.
Image Credits: LifeWatch ERIC
Keywords: biodiversity, UN SDGs, global biodiversity framework, LifeWatch ERIC, digital twin, ecosystem modeling, open science, research infrastructures, genomic observatories, ecosystem health, environmental policy, climate stability
