Innovation and Research to Support Policies on Sustainable Development Goals: An Integrated ICT Platform for the Definition and Monitoring of Programs in Puglia Region, Italy

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, approved by the international community, represents a global strategic guide with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 interconnected targets, aimed at promoting equitable economic, social and environmental development. In this context, innovation and research can play a crucial role in supporting policies for the achievement of SDGs, especially at local and regional levels. This article reports what was developed in the Puglia Region according to a double action. On the one hand, the creation of an IT platform to improve collaboration between legislative institutions and research centres facilitates the collection and transfer of data as best practices to support political decisions. On the other hand, practical experimentation on issues related to regional development is conducted, with particular attention to sustainability-oriented partnerships, legislative needs, and knowledge of the territory. The new information system, based on a geo-database and developed entirely with open source software, collects regional regulatory data on SDGs, cooperation projects, and technical and scientific documents contributing to the knowledge of the application of plans and programmes applied to the territory. This tool, in addition to mapping relevant projects, represents an important resource for monitoring progress and supporting sustainable development policies, facilitating the sharing of information between local, national, and European actors.