STI Support to Member Countries

The Bank supports the deployment of affordable and practical technologies that will have an impact on the development of its Member Countries and Muslim Communities in Non-Member countries. Particular emphasis is given on supporting proven innovative technologies and scientific expertise for addressing development challenges in standalone projects or in mainstreamed components to generate the most impact.

Since inception of the STI program, the Bank has been promoting STI by fostering cooperation and scientific knowledge sharing among its Member Countries (MCs) through numerous schemes and activities. This includes contributing to national STI policies development, capacity development, knowledge sharing and networking through South-South and North-South cooperation.

Summary of STI Support

Since 2004, IsDB has supported various initiatives aimed at strengthening the technological capacities of Member Countries by providing platforms, tools, equipment, training and learning opportunities. These initiatives cover different priority development sectors including Health, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Agriculture. 

STI Focused Areas

Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) are fundamental drivers of socio-economic development. Strengthening STI can accelerate economic growth, enhance prosperity, and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Under the Bank’s 10-Year Strategic Framework, technology adoption - including Artificial Intelligence - is identified as cross-cutting priority that supports scalable, technology-driven solutions and strengthens national STI ecosystems. The Framework emphasizes universal digital access and capacity building, technology diffusion, and empowering Member Countries and Muslim Communities in Non-MCs to achieve broad-based productivity and sustained growth. It also promotes South–South cooperation to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer through deployment programs and calls for digital transformation initiatives that expand digital goods, bridge the digital divide in rural and underserved areas, enhance financial inclusion, and strengthen economic empowerment.

In alignment with the 10-year strategic framework, STI will prioritize the deployment of affordable, practical, and impactful technologies tailored to diverse development challenges - alongside the development of capacities needed to operate, adopt, and sustain solutions.

Priority focus areas include:

• Food Security and Systems: Transform Agriculture practices to improve food and water productivity, resilience to climate change, and sustainable resource use.
• Human Development: improve the quality and accessibility of basic social services such as public education (including STEM) and ensure equitable access to affordable, technology-enabled healthcare services.
• Better Living Environment: Promote sustainable and inclusive living environments for improved quality of life through facilitating access to affordable, smart, and green infrastructure technologies; accelerating the use of clean and renewable energy.
• Empowering of the Poor, MSMEs and Startups: Empower marginalized groups (including women and youth), small enterprises, and innovators by generating employment, expanding access to financing, markets, and digital tools that enhance productivity, competitiveness, and income opportunities.