SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure - what is it and why is it so important?

SDG 9 refers to the need to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation. To this end, it seeks to increase the contribution of industry to employment and GDP, doubling this contribution in the least developed countries, as well as to increase scientific research and modernise infrastructures. 

According to the United Nations, inclusive and sustainable industry together with innovation and infrastructure are three fundamental pillars of sustainable development. They are also essential for the functioning of enterprises and, consequently, for economic and social development. The UN details, for example, that each manufacturing job creates 2.2 jobs in other sectors of the economy.

However, global manufacturing growth has been steadily declining and, following the recovery from the pandemic where the growth rate was 7.4 % in 2021, global manufacturing growth is estimated to have slowed to 3.3 %.

This is pointed out by the United Nations in its 2023 report on progress towards the SDGs, which also notes that global spending on research and development, although it increased significantly in 2020 —driven mainly by higher investments in research and development and substantial declines in countries' GDP— significant regional gaps remain. in research and development and substantial declines in countries' GDPs - significant regional gaps remain: the least developed countries (LDCs) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) spent about 0.27% and 0.20% of their GDP on research and development, respectively, compared to 2.62% in Europe and North America.

The number of researchers per million inhabitants has increased worldwide, from 1022 in 2010 to 1342 today, according to the report. However, women account for only 31.2% of researchers worldwide.

Progress will only be achieved with advances in technology, and this requires the promotion of sustainable industries and investment in scientific research and innovation. Good roads, reliable electricity, good sea and air connections, and universal Internet connectivity are the measures recommended by the UN to end this situation.

Addressing and reversing the current situation is an overarching goal at the international level. For this reason, building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation have become SDG 9 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda.
 

 SEE INFOGRAPHIC: Keys to understanding the lack of R+D investment in the world [PDF]

SDG 9 targets: industry, innovation and infrastructure

The specific targets set for 2030 are:

• Develop high-quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
• Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation.
• Increase the contribution of industry to employment and GDP, and double this contribution in the least advanced countries.
• Modernise infrastructure and retrofit industries to become sustainable, using resources more effectively and promoting the adoption of clean and environmentally-rational industrial processes and technologies.
• Bolster scientific research and improve the technological capacity of the industrial sectors in all countries.

Our contribution to SDG 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure

For us, developing sustainable, reliable, resilient and high-quality infrastructures requires moving towards a green economy. That is why the company is committed to accelerating its investments in renewable energies, digitalisation and electric mobility as a path to economic and employment recovery.

• The company will support more than 500,000 jobs by 2030 across its value chain. In addition, it has committed to increase the presence of women in relevant positions to 35% by 2030 and to 43% on the Board of Directors.
• We are the world's leading private energy company in terms of investment in R&D&I. Between 2019 and 2022 we have invested more than €1.2 billion and we aim to exceed €4 billion by 2030, doubling our investment in this area by the end of the decade.
• We are world leaders in the development and implementation of smart grids. In recent years, the Group's distribution companies have deployed close to 15 million smart meters —it plans to install a total of 21 million by 2025 in the markets where it operates— and have adapted the electricity infrastructure that supports them, incorporating remote management, supervision and automation capabilities.
• We have started up what will be the largest green hydrogen plant for industrial use in Europe, with an investment of €150 million.
• We have created the Global Smart Grid Innovation Hub, a global smart grid innovation centre to address the challenges of the energy transition and lead innovation in electricity distribution networks.
• We are one of the companies that most support start-ups throughout Europe, through the international PERSEO programme, with €125 million invested through our portfolio of investments in start-ups, our PERSEO Venture Builder unit, pilot projects and the launch of the Iberdrola Start-up Challenge.