From Dialogue to Action: Universities, AI, and Sustainable Development
Since 2021, the ASEF Higher Education Innovation Laboratory (ASEFInnoLab) has connected higher education stakeholders from Asia and Europe to collaborate on global challenges. Its fifth edition focused on universities’ roles in AI innovation ecosystems, covering AI governance, AI in education, and AI for sustainable development. Following the online programme, an onsite event in Shanghai brought participants together to develop white papers that inform both institutional strategies and the upcoming ASEFInnoLab6. One of these papers explores how universities can leverage AI for sustainable development while promoting inclusive and equitable solutions. The three white papers were officially launched in February 2025 to a diverse Asia-Europe audience.
Learn more about these initatives here.
Key Insights from the White Paper for Universities on Navigating Artificial Intelligence Innovation Ecosystems in AI for Sustainable Development include:
Challenges for Universities in Leveraging AI for SDGs
- Lack of resources
- Lack of strong incentives to invest in AI for sustainable development
- Funding gap in AI for sustainable development
Opportunities for Universities in Leveraging AI for SDGs
- Building specialist knowledge and becoming thought leaders in sustainable development
- Forming collaborations and partnerships in sustainable development
- AI for sustainability on campus and in universities’ ecosystems