Andreas Brandner 

Executive Director, Knowledge for Development Partnership, Managing Director, Knowledge Management Austria

Knowledge is at the heart of sustainable development. It is an
essential resource for all parts of our societies – ranging from
individual citizens to companies, organisations, and public bodies –
and only through partnership and collaboration can we master
the challenges of the future. But knowledge without values is
dangerous. That is why we selected the symbol of the olive twig
for the Agenda Knowledge for Development: the leaves represent
the different kinds of knowledge and the diversity of humankind.
The twig represents common, human values – as for instance, expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Agenda 2030. By linking values with knowledge, we can create a peaceful and better world together. To put this into practice, knowledge partnerships need to be developed. I envision a
global knowledge for development partnership, built on strong, self-determined knowledge partners, rich in diversity, engaging and inclusive in its work, linked with thematic, national and local knowledge partnerships and hubs, reaching finally every single citizen.

Knowledge partnerships provide a transdisciplinary and inclusive space for dialogue, for the assessment and advancement of local/regional knowledge ecosystems, the improvement of legal frameworks, the initiation of joint programmes, the integration of knowledge silos, inclusion of minorities and migrants, and awareness-raising for the relevance of knowledge in society, and finally for bridging global opportunities to local realities. Stable financial resources, political commitment, and of course, knowledge
and attention need to be dedicated to these knowledge partnerships that complement essentially the traditional sectors like schools, universities, industry, or media. Knowledge foundations or funds are essential to guarantee sustained knowledge partnerships, to connect knowledge silos and to integrate bodies of knowledge to achieve higher societal impact.

I give special credit to the millions of social entrepreneurs that play an important role within healthy knowledge ecosystems; to those who left the comfort zones of traditional business, science, and politics, taking the financial and social burden to make a difference for a better future. They are shaping future knowledge societies, and their contributions need to be respected.

I advocate for the advancement of competence in knowledge work, knowledge management, and knowledge politics. These are not given naturally, but they can be learnt and improved. Specifically in
in this regard, every single person, every organisation and company, and every public body can contribute to better and more competent knowledge societies.

Knowledge sciences should be considered a core scientific domain by universities and also by students. It is the ultimate discipline behind most uprising professions, and its future is promising; its relevance can only increase. At some point, we may have more knowledge scientists than MBA graduates. Finally, I dedicate my last statement to the knowledge of nature. We must value nature as our most important knowledge partner in the fight against climate change. Advancing knowledge about nature will increase appreciation and needs prioritization in schools and beyond. Loving nature is then the next step, the ultimate key to biodiversity and peace with our planet.

Keywords: SDGs, knowledge societies, human rights, knowledge management, knowledge competencies, knowledge politics, social entrepreneurship, knowledge partnerships, knowledge cities, knowledge foundations, knowledge funds, knowledge sciences, knowledge of nature