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Recovery through Creativity and Innovation

tion. The UNESCO Creative nology to transform societ- ger”, and SDG 12 “Respon-
Cities Network (UCCN) was ies, nations and humanity sible Consumption and Pro-
created in 2004 to promote as a whole. duction”. Egypt is the only
cooperation with and country currently working
among cities that have The UN Technology Inno- on all their assigned SDGs
identified creativity as a vation Labs (UNTILs) are in- in research and projects re-
strategic factor for sustain- tended to move humanity lated to: special-needs stu-
able urban development. forward, faster by focus- dents (SDG4); disease con-
The 246 cities which cur- ing on the use of innova- trol, epidemic prevention,
rently make up this network tive technology to solve and therapeutic tourism
work together towards a some of humanity's most (SDG3); animal production,
common objective: plac- demanding needs. These poultry farming, aquacul-
Continued from Page 9 dia, performing arts, pub- ing creativity and cultural technology and innova- ture, water rationalization,
lishing and visual arts– is a industries at the heart of tion labs could encourage and soil fertility (SDG1); and
UNESCO is convinced highly transformative sec- their development plans at small societies in develop- Circular Economy (SDG12).
that no development can tor of the world economy the local level and cooper- ing their economies to be
be sustainable without a in terms of income gen- ating actively at the inter- more resilient and sustain- Aruba can make use of
strong culture component. eration, job creation and national level. able. The UNTIL in Finland these types of research lab
Indeed, only a human- export earnings. Culture is focus on SDG 16 “peace, frameworks, however, are
centered approach to an essential component of Technology and Innovation justice and strong institu- the (financial, human, so-
development based on sustainable development Labs tions”, SDG 4 “quality edu- cial) resources in place in
mutual respect and open and represents a source According to the Sectary cation”, SDG 12 “respon- order to establish relevant
dialogue among cultures of identity, innovation and General of the UN (2018) sible consumption and pro- output? How can we as an
can lead to lasting, inclu- creativity for the individual "the advances of the duction” and SDG 3 “good island use our culture and
sive and equitable results. and community. At the Fourth Industrial Revolution, health and well-being”. our creativity to recover?
Yet until recently, culture same time, creativity and including those brought Currently, Finland is aiming Technology is considered
has been missing from the culture have a significant on by a combination of at the development and the left side of the brain,
development equation. To non-monetary value that computing power, robot- management of a Circular while creativity the right
ensure that culture takes it contributes to inclusive so- ics, big data and artificial Economy (SDG 12 “respon- side of the brain. We have
rightful place in develop- cial development, to dia- intelligence, are generat- sible consumption and pro- to nourish both sides and
ment strategies and pro- logue and understanding ing revolutions in health duction”). Interestingly, create frameworks were
cesses, UNESCO has ad- between peoples. care, transport and manu- Aruba has already indicat- we can develop both. I
opted a three-pronged facturing. I am convinced ed that this is a prospective hope one day our govern-
approach: it spearheads Cultural and creative in- that these new capacities economy for the island. ment will see technology as
worldwide advocacy for dustries should be part of can help us to lift millions a driving force and not only
culture and development, economic growth strat- of people out of poverty, Next to Finland, you have to secure e-governance for
while engaging with the egies, according to the achieve the Sustainable Malaysia who focusses on example, but to leverage it
international community to UNESCO report on culture Development Goals and SDG 8 “decent work and island-wide and disciplin-
set clear policies and legal and sustainable develop- enable developing coun- economic growth” and ary-wide. Having labs that
frameworks and working on ment. These industries are tries to leap-frog into a bet- SDG 11 “Sustainable Cities last on the island with the
the ground to support gov- among the most dynamic ter future”. With no doubts and Communities”. At the involvement of academia,
ernments and local stake- sectors in the world econ- technology is our future. moment, they are only fo- entrepreneurs, and NGOs
holders to safeguard heri- omy, generating $2.25 bil- Technology is the catalyz- cusing on SDG 8 and spe- the possibilities are endless.
tage, strengthen creative lion in revenue and 29.5 ers for bursts in creativity cifically on “ethical fash- In the end, if we want to
industries and encourage million jobs worldwide. In and innovations in a com- ion and ecotourism”. Fur- accept it or not, the cre-
cultural pluralism. that spirit, countries are munity. Therefore, the UN thermore, you have Egypt ative industry is culture and
harnessing the potential of created the UN Technolo- that is focusing on SDG 4 technology is culture! With-
The creative economy – high-growth areas of the gy Innovation Labs (UNTILs) “Quality Education”, SDG out creativity, technology
which includes audiovisual market for economic re- framework with a mission to 3 “Good Health and Well- and culture we cannot and
products, design, new me- turns and poverty allevia- leverage emerging tech- being”, SDG 1 “Zero Hun- will not innovate!q

Biography - Thaïs G. Franken (25) is a recently graduated Aruban student at the University of Maastricht
(UM). She obtained her graduate double master of science degree in Public Policy and Human Develop-
ment in collaboration with the United Nations University Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute
on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT). Back home, on the beautiful island of Aruba, she completed
her Bachelor of Arts in Organization, Governance & Management (OGM) at the University of Aruba (UA),
where she successfully defended her thesis titled “Placing Culture and Creativity at the Heart of the Aru-
ban Sustainable Development”. It was precisely this research project that inspired the emergence of the
“Creative Islander” column in 2018. Thaïs is very passionate about topics such as sustainability, innovation,
culture, creativity, social entrepreneurship and their role in public management. Next to her academic in-
terests, she enjoys reading, writing, dancing and cooking.