The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network is pleased to announce its partnership with the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress. Bringing together thousands of sustainability leaders in government, civil society, academia and the private sector from more than 80 countries worldwide, the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress is one of the leading annual convenings that spotlights evidence-based, actionable and inclusive approaches to sustainability.
This year’s Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress, SRI2025, is hosted by the University of Illinois System and co-convened by the Belmont Forum and Future Earth. The Sustainable Development Solutions Network will collaborate with SRI as a lead partner, working to advance sustainability thought leadership through substantive program development, joint communications and activation of their combined global networks.
Through this new partnership, SDSN’s flagship International Conference on Sustainable Development will join forces with the SRI Congress to leverage their collective efforts and networks to advance solutions to the most pressing sustainable development challenges of our time. The partnership will enable SDSN to connect with new audiences, expand its network and visibility, and continue its commitment to working with university partners to mobilize leaders from across sectors to develop and promote interdisciplinary science-based solutions to sustainable development.
“As the state of Illinois has powerfully and effectively recognized, the path to prosperity and environmental sustainability is through the collaboration of government, universities and businesses in science- and technology-based economic innovation and transformation,” SDSN President Jeffrey Sachs said. “SDSN’s partnership with the University of Illinois System and the SRI Congress offers an exciting platform for engaging stakeholders across the world to accelerate the transformations to sustainable development.&rdquo
The fifth edition of the SRI Congress will take place in Chicago and online June 16-19 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. The congress will spotlight pathways to sustainability, sharing implementation strategies and legacies of successful approaches to critical sustainability concerns facing Chicago, the United States and the world. The program will include more than 140 events ranging from interactive sessions and workshops to innovative demonstrations and satellite events throughout the Chicago area.
“I am thrilled to announce that the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network is joining this year’s SRI Congress as a lead partner,” said Tim Killeen, president of the University of Illinois System. “Bringing Jeffrey Sachs and the SDSN into the 2025 Congress further elevates its global impact, reinforcing the University of Illinois System’s leadership in sustainability and innovation. At SRI in Chicago, top sustainability visionaries and changemakers from around the world will collaborate, forging the ideas and partnerships that will drive transformative solutions to the economic, societal and environmental challenges of the future. With the SDSN at the forefront, this year’s congress promises to be more dynamic, influential and consequential than ever.&rdquo
The congress is open to SDSN’s global network including past International Conference on Sustainable Development participants. The congress also offers special rates for students and resource-constrained individuals. To learn more and register for the SRI Congress, visit sricongress.org.
###
About the SDSN
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. The SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We aim to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social and environmental challenges confronting the world. For more information, visit www.unsdsn.org.
About the SRI Congress
The Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress will celebrate its fifth anniversary in Chicago, where it will be held from 16-19 June at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. SRI is an annual convening focused on action-forward, knowledge-based and inclusive approaches to sustainability. The SRI Congress series is co-convened by the Belmont Forum and Future Earth. For more information, visit www.sricongress.org.
About the University of Illinois System
The University of Illinois System is a world leader in research and discovery, and the largest educational institution in the state with more than 97,700 students, about 28,000 full-time equivalent faculty and staff, and universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield. The U of I System awards more than 27,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees annually. For more information, visit https://www.uillinois.edu/.
