Frontier ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) are recognized as an important means of achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the use, adoption, and adaptation of these technologies are not the same across countries.

Frontier ICTs such as Artificial intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are expected to have a greater impact on sustainable development and are also recognized as an important source of concerns for socio-economic development (especially policymaking) in developing countries.

The main objective of the module is to provide relevant information, cases, policy recommendations, and international cooperation agenda(s) to enable national digital leaders to properly apply frontier ICTs in achieving the SDGs. Specifically, this module aims to: 
1. Introduce the definition, scope, and features of frontier ICTs.
2. Examine the role and importance of frontier ICTs in achieving the SDGs.
3. Provide major challenges, barriers, and risks to be considered in developing and introducing frontier ICTs. 
4. Provide the current status of policies related to each of the major technologies and global cases applied in the public sector.
5. Suggest policy recommendations and international cooperation measures for effective and efficient development and application of frontier ICTs. This promotes a better understanding of the goals and direction for government policymakers to pursue.

The online course for this module is available on the ESCAP e-learning platform.

E-learning course link: Frontier ICTs for Sustainable Development for Digital Leaders - Overview Module