Geneva, 31 March 2026 – The Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center, a UNITAR affiliated institution, successfully co-organized and fully executed the 2026 Digital Economy Cooperation and Innovation Forum at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Serving as a founding partner of the Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance (DEC40) and the designated implementing partner of the forum, the Center took end-to-end responsibility for agenda design, international stakeholder coordination, and the delivery of key outcomes.
Under the theme “Boundless Intelligence, Shared Prosperity,” the forum was co-hosted by DEC40 and the GDEC Organizing Committee. The Center brought together over 150 leaders from global government, corporate, academic, and international organization sectors, including the UN Secretariat, the International Trade Centre (ITC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Center Drives Key Forum Outcomes
As the executing arm of the forum, the Center played a decisive role in driving several major outcomes.
In close partnership with UNITAR and DEC40, the Center announced the launch of the second cohort of the International Digital Economy Governance and Leadership Capacity-Building Program, a flagship leadership initiative that will expand to Europe, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
The program focuses on:
- AI governance
- Digital trade rules
- Inclusive digital transformation aligned with the SDGs
The announcement was made by Mr. Philippe Auber, Deputy Director of Division for Multilateral Diplomacy at UNITAR, during the forum’s outcomes session.
Immediately following the forum, the Center co-hosted and moderated the “Beijing Night” networking reception inside the Palais des Nations, where nearly 50 representatives from Chinese and Swiss enterprises, international organizations, and government bodies engaged in deep dialogue and project matchmaking.
The Director of the Center served as the moderator, facilitating direct cooperation between Beijing-based digital enterprises and their Swiss counterparts.
Strategic Support for DEC40 Initiatives
As a founding partner of DEC40, the Center provided strategic and operational support for:
- The unveiling of DEC40’s Geneva office
- Cooperation between UN agency and International Organizations
- The launch of DEC40’s official website
- The induction of 11 new Chinese and Swiss enterprise members
The Center also worked alongside ITU, ITC, and UNITAR to operationalize the Global Digital Economy Lighthouse Cases Collection and the AIGC For Future Global Challenge, ensuring alignment with UN frameworks and SDG targets.
From initial planning to on-site execution, the Center acted as the co-organizer alongside DEC40 and the GDEC Organizing Committee, and as the exclusive implementing partner responsible for:
- Designing the forum’s thematic structure
- Inviting international organization representatives
- Coordinating the “Beijing Solution” exhibition area featuring benchmark enterprises such as HollySys, Qi-Anxin, and iSoftStone
- Managing the Sino-Swiss enterprise symposium chaired by Zhao Houlin, Honorary Chairman of DEC40
The symposium brought together 14 corporate leaders from intelligent manufacturing, new energy, and biotech sectors.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference
During the forum, the GDEC Organizing Committee extended a formal invitation to global stakeholders for the main session of the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference, to be held in Beijing in July 2026.
The Center will continue to serve as a key implementation partner, helping to deliver the second Global Dialogue on Digital-Friendly City Development.
The Center also announced that it will work with DEC40 and UN partners to organize technical exchanges and project matchmaking events across Europe, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East throughout 2026.
These efforts aim to ensure that the cooperation pathways established in Geneva translate into tangible digital dividends for cities and communities worldwide.
