The role of science, technology and innovation in the UN 2030 agenda

•Critically evaluates the role of STI for achieving the SDGs within the context of current economic theory.•Questions whether current available technology is suitable for assisting transformations to the SDGs.•Proposes an argument for re-orientating STI more specifically towards the SDGs.•We address the implications of our analysis for the UN global Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM). The transition path to inclusive and environmentally sustainable economic development must be Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) intensive. As such, we outline an economic framework that demonstrates the need to transform the nature of STI and reorient it towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) together with the various public policy options that can reorient investment patterns in STIs towards achieving the SDGs. In addition, the Means of Implementation (MoIs) of the UN 2030 agenda will need to be blended to create new modalities of finance, governance and public policy at all levels if STI is to be reoriented and transformative changes in economic, social, environmental and political systems are to be achieved for the SDGs. After laying out a framework, the paper also addresses the implications of our analysis for the UN global Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) which aims to promote STI access, transfer and capacities across nations to achieve the SDGs.