Organized by Federal Ministry of Austria European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE), BOKU University and UniNEtZ, several stakeholders were invited to contribute diverse perspectives on the significance of global partnerships for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and highlighted collaborative efforts that drive sustainable development.
The panel moderated by Lukas Schlögl (ÖFSE), discussed the roles of policy makers and key stakeholders, including universities, in promoting responsible stewardship and addressing multiple crises such as hunger and the impacts of climate change. In his opening remarks, Schlögl shared some quotes that highlighted the urgency of achieving the SDGs and the criticism of some reports that the agenda is not on track. He also underlined that science is in a kind of conflicted role, providing alarming evidence on climate change, the scale of biodiversity loss and human conflicts, and calling on policymakers to act decisively. On one hand, universities and their third mission play a crucial role in society, yet on the other hand, they are often overlooked and left feeling somewhat powerless. After introducing the panellists Schlögl invited them for a self-critical reflection of what the last years have shown across the SDG agenda. The statements were followed by a discussion with the audience.
Klaus Steiner, Deputy Head of the Federal Ministry of Austria for European and International Affairs (BmEIA) and country’s SDG coordinator with over 30 years of experience in development cooperation began by outlining Austria's involvement in the SDGs. Since 2015, Austria has submitted two reports to the United Nations detailing its progress on SDG implementation and the efforts made. The first report, however, faced criticism from UniNEtZ, a coalition of 16 universities, for lacking sufficient data. This feedback initiated a dialogue and collaboration aimed at addressing the data gap and culminating in the joint presentation of Austria’s second report at the UN in New York in July 2024. Steiner also underlined the shift in the SDG agenda, where the distinction between developed and developing countries no longer applies. Each country faces unique challenges, and for the Austrian context, the SDGs—sustainable consumption and land degradation, present particularly significant obstacles. In his opinion it is now time to preserve the momentum of this partnership at the Austrian level and actively engage regional stakeholders in the process as well.
Gerhard Volz, Head of Department for International Cooperation in Higher Education at Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD) then discussed the role of funding agencies on supporting universities with public funding to achieve their internationalisation goals, including structured efforts towards the SDGs. He highlighted several programmes, including national funding for regional University networks from the Federal Ministry of Science, Education and Research (BMBWF), the APPEAR programme by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) programme and the European Commission 's capacity building initiatives in higher education. Volz pointed out the importance of the underlining strategies such as Austrian Development Cooperation's focus on priority countries, the national higher education and internationalisation strategy (which includes a 'global mindset' goal linked to the SDGs), and the European Union's commitment to education and research. He gave examples of projects addressing the SDGs, in particular the Austrian Partnership Programme in Higher Education and Research for Development (APPEAR), where contributing to the SDGs is a core objective. However, he also acknowledged that there is room for improvement, particularly in terms of sustainability after the initial funding ends. While there are tools to support universities, long-term impact evaluations are often lacking due to limited resources, Volz noted the challenges of tracking the results of projects years later and emphasised the need for better data and greater synergy between stakeholders. He concluded that, for OeAD an agency for education, SDG 4 focused on Quality education is at the core of all programmes and activities.
Franz Fehr, BOKU University and head of UniNEtZ, started out by describing this innovative alliance of around 400 scientists and artists from 23 partner institutions in Austria that has been working on the implementation of the SDGs in Austria for the past three years. Initially, the primary focus was on writing research papers, but soon they realized that they need to step out of our academic comfort zone. The first challenge was bringing together experts from a wide range of disciplines—technical scientists, social scientists, and philosophers alike. This multidisciplinary approach was a crucial first step in fostering collaboration. However, the next, more difficult step was embracing transdisciplinary work, which required engaging with sectors beyond academia. They began collaborating with chambers of commerce, agriculture, and industry to ensure that our research was grounded in practical applications. One particularly challenging area has been the dialogue with the Austrian Parliament. Especially in fields like agriculture the scientific community has valuable insights, however aligning these with the priorities of policymakers has been difficult. One of the most eye-opening experiences for Fehr was attending the SDG Science Conference in New York. There it felt like being in an "ivory tower," far removed from the urgent realities that many countries especially war-torn nations face. Many countries simply do not have the resources or stability to focus on SDG implementation and reports when their populations are struggling for survival. While Austria can show off certain achievements, the most important takeaway from the past three years is that global solidarity is the key to real progress on the SDGs.
Martin Woller, Regional Director of Advantage Austria, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber presented the industry's perspective on global partnerships, highlighting the importance of collaboration between academia and businesses. He began by addressing the criticism that scientists haven't done enough outreach, arguing that partnerships and cooperation are already evident, as shown by initiatives like the Africa-UniNet and the very event they were attending. Woller emphasized that if researchers feel isolated, they should seek out others interested in collaboration, including companies, which may not always be the first choice in the scientific community. However, businesses can help apply theoretical research to real-world situations, and he believes this should happen more in Austria. He noted that Austrian universities, particularly universities of applied sciences, already work closely with companies, making this a success story. Woller praised Austrian family-owned businesses for living the values of the SDGs, focusing on long-term sustainability and environmental protection. He sees great potential in partnerships between universities and companies and stressed the need for a more international approach, citing examples like African-UniNet and Advantage Austria, which connects Austrian companies with leading international universities such as MIT, Imperial College London, and ETH Zurich. These collaborations benefit both universities and businesses, with universities gaining from the innovation of Austrian companies, while businesses leverage the research opportunities of these institutions. Woller concluded by stating that increased cooperation will boost the role of the scientific community in society, benefiting all.
Margarita Langthaler, senior researcher at ÖFSE and an expert on education and development cooperation, shared her insights on the successes and challenges of global collaborations, especially in higher education. She emphasized the need to consider the broader context within which these partnerships operate and how the higher education landscape has evolved over time. A key issue she highlighted is the persistent gap in financial and human resources, as well as the asymmetries at the conceptual level. Scientific excellence and valuable research agendas are often shaped by Western academic traditions, making it difficult for developing countries to promote their own research values. This imbalance, rooted in colonial history, continues to widen the gap in scientific capacities between rich and poor countries, although some countries like China are making significant strides. Langthaler also pointed to the role of international university rankings and academic publications in reinforcing these asymmetries. Access to high-ranking journals, crucial for academic careers and university prestige, is often restricted due to high costs, leaving many universities in developing countries at a disadvantage. In terms of partnerships, particularly North-South collaborations, while funders increasingly call for equitable partnerships, the reality is that these arrangements often reinforce existing power imbalances. Northern partners typically set research agendas, while southern partners focus on data collection. Langthaler emphasized the importance of acknowledging existing asymmetries in global partnerships and finding constructive ways to address them. This requires mutual trust, a willingness to learn from each other—especially from the Global North. She also stressed that long-term cooperation is essential for impactful collaboration, as short-term, volatile funding is not effective in achieving lasting results on the ground.
The last speaker Andreas Melcher, BOKU University speaker shared an example of a successful African project focused on fisheries, which began over 20 years ago. It started with a request for doctoral supervision from a student from Burkina Faso. The results of this PhD research on fish migration where then used as a foundation to secure project funding, leading to a larger collaborative effort involving multiple partners, including ministries, universities, and NGOs. This project not only advanced scientific research but also educated students, some of whom are now professors and key collaborators. The speaker emphasized the importance of moving research into practical applications, particularly in sustainable aquaculture and fish farming. He highlighted the need for funding to support this transition and suggested that programmes like Erasmus+ should be expanded to include Africa to facilitate such collaborations.
The audience was then invited to engage in the discussion, during which several examples of successful cooperation with the private sector were highlighted, along with funding programs from Germany that have facilitated SDG-related initiatives. It became evident that there are numerous starting points for collaboration to drive progress toward the SDGs. However, cooperation itself is not just a useful tool—it is an essential requirement given the complexity and interconnectedness of the SDGs. Achieving these ambitious goals demands multi-sectoral partnerships across, academia, industries, civil society and government.
In addition to collaboration, there is a pressing need for more comprehensive data and clear indicators to effectively measure progress toward achieving the goals. Without research, it is difficult to assess where we stand or identify areas needing improvement. Programmes like APPEAR, which are specifically designed to support the realization of the SDGs, play a crucial role in this effort. By providing targeted funding and fostering international collaboration, such initiatives help to accelerate progress and bridge gaps, ensuring that the SDGs remain within reach.
