UAE, NYU launch Global Ideation Lab to advance SDGs at UN

New York: The Government Experience Exchange Program (GEEP), an initiative under the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, has launched a Global Ideation Lab in partnership with New York University (NYU).

This lab was unveiled during the UAE delegation’s participation in the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2025, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the UN Headquarters in New York City.

The Global Ideation Lab brought together 26 key figures, including ministers, UN officials, academics, diplomats, policymakers, and students, to collaboratively explore new directions for innovation in governance and sustainable development.

Notable attendees included Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office of Partnerships, and Patrick Paul Walsh, Vice President of Education and Director of the SDG Academy at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

Image Supplied | Cropped by ET

Sustainability officials and diplomats from countries such as Switzerland, Portugal, Ireland, Serbia, Paraguay, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Qatar, and the Kingdom of Eswatini also took part. Additionally, members of the UAE delegation, NYU’s academic and administrative staff, and 30 students from NYU, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania participated in the discussions.

The Global Ideation Lab served as a sandbox for developing and exchanging transformative ideas, with a focus on global cooperation and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It emphasized the developmental role of comprehensive initiatives such as GEEP, which acts as a global incubator for scalable cross-border partnerships and a platform for impactful knowledge sharing.

His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, stated that the UAE’s knowledge-sharing approach is comprehensive, leveraging contributions across sectors locally and globally. This approach provides an environment for creating innovative ideas and impactful development solutions.

“In the UAE, we have successfully built a pioneering model for international cooperation based on knowledge exchange with countries and governments, and GEEP is a crucial part of this endeavor,” Lootah added.

His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah / Image Via: Earth Negotiations Bulletin | Cropped by ET

“The joint Global Ideation Lab between GEEP and NYU exemplifies the collaborative approach we adopt in the UAE to develop best practices that enhance readiness for present and future opportunities,” the Assistant Minister concluded.

Outcomes from the session aligned academic knowledge with policy innovation, empowered participants to address pressing governance challenges, and supported progress toward achieving the SDGs by 2030. The HLPF on Sustainable Development is the United Nations’ primary platform for tracking and advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Since its inception in 2012, the forum has played a vital role in reviewing national and international efforts toward the SDGs. The 2025 forum conducted in-depth reviews of five core goals:

• SDG3: Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages
• SDG5: Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls
• SDG8: Promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work
• SDG14: Conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources
• SDG17: Strengthening global partnerships for sustainable development.

The UAE-NYU Global Ideation Lab stands as a testament to the power of academic-government collaboration in tackling complex global issues through inclusive innovation and shared knowledge.

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