NDB Seminars in 2026 Annual Meeting

Synopsis

The world is in the midst of a profound technological revolution. Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and digital technologies are redefining how economies function and how societies are organized; advances in energy generation and storage are reshaping the foundations of industrial production and everyday life; innovations in biological sciences are transforming medical treatment and longevity. What distinguishes this moment is not merely the breadth of these shifts, but their pace and complexity: unfolding simultaneously and at accelerating speed, the dynamics and consequences of the current technological revolution remain deeply uncertain, making adaptation increasingly difficult.

In this context, Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) are at a pivotal juncture. While technological innovations offer significant potential, EMDCs face major obstacles in realizing their benefits. Without a strong focus on local innovation, EMDCs risk greater dependence on advanced economies, leading to higher costs, less adaptability, and security and sovereignty concerns. Meanwhile, mobilizing adequate financial and knowledge resources to scale up technological adoption across industries and social groups remains a pressing need. Just as important is the challenge of ensuring inclusiveness and sustainability through the transition, to prevent job losses, increased inequality, and new systemic risks.

These challenges carry direct implications for development financing for the EMDCs. Rapid technological transformation requires development financiers to mobilize greater resources to support infrastructure and innovation ecosystems and ensure equitable access to new technologies. Meanwhile, development finance institutions, especially multilateral development banks, have a responsibility to promote international cooperation and mutual learning on technological advancements, while also adapting their own operations to boost efficiency and development impact.

Against this backdrop, the NDB Flagship Governors Seminar will examine the future of development financing in an era defined by deep, complex, and rapidly evolving technological change. The seminar will explore the defining characteristics of the current technological transformation and its implications; the evolving roles of development finance within this environment; the way forward for global cooperation to address the challenges and take advantages of opportunities brought by technological shifts; and how NDB can make further contributions to the sustainable development of its member countries during this technological revolution.