By Panichat Kitisittichai, SasinSEC        The Diplomatic Council, a global think tank with UN consultative status, fosters diplomacy and international cooperation among nations and organizations. Sasin School of Management collaborates with the Council to arrange events, research, academic initiatives, and guest lectures. In March 2023, Lars Svensson, Chief Executive of the Sasin Sustainability & Entrepreneurship Center, or SasinSEC, addressed the Council’s meeting at Sasin School of Management. His talk focused on the implications of innovation and digital technology for Thailand, exploring how these factors can shape the country’s economy, society, and governance while promoting sustainability. Mr Svensson compared the vision of SasinSEC to the role of Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. SDG 17 highlights the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing to drive innovation and digital transformation to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He demonstrated how SDG 17 helps drive sustainable development initiatives in several ways: 1. Bridging the digital divide: One of the critical implications of innovation and digital transformation is the potential to attenuate inequalities, particularly in terms of access to digital technologies and the benefits they bring. SDG 17 calls for efforts to bridge the digital divide by supporting affordable, reliable, and universal access to ICT, thus ensuring that the benefits of innovation and digital transformation are more evenly distributed. 2. Leveraging partnerships for innovation: SDG 17 encourages multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize resources and expertise to address global challenges. These partnerships can play a critical role in driving innovation and digital transformation to tackle issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change, ultimately contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. 3. Measurement and monitoring: To track progress towards the SDGs, reliable data and monitoring systems are needed. Digital transformation and innovative technologies can help improve data collection, analysis, and reporting, enabling better decision-making and more effective sustainable development initiatives. The Council meeting explored the importance of digital transformation for businesses to remain competitive and relevant in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Five digital imperatives drive this transformation, focusing on experiences, insights, platforms, connectivity, and integrity. These factors encompass optimizing user interactions, evaluating data and analysis requirements, managing information, strengthening connectivity, and enhancing resilience and security. SasinSEC helps businesses tackle these essentials so they can successfully navigate the changing technological landscape and address significant global challenges. By collaborating and harnessing the power of technology, stakeholders can tackle prioritized global issues and foster a more sustainable and inclusive world.