To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 50th anniversary of the United Nations University, the United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau) successfully hosted its Milestone Series from 23 to 25 October 2025. The three flagship events—the Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition, the UNU Macau AI Conference, and the AI Education Day—brought together global expertise and youth leadership as concrete actions to implement the UN’s Pact for the Future and Global Digital Compact, advancing a digital future that is human-centered, inclusive, and equitable.
Highlights of the Series
- Global Vision: The series translated the aspirations of the Pact for the Future and Global Digital Compact into action, promoting AI for good and inclusive global AI governance.
- High-Level Leadership: Senior UN officials participated, including Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and UN Under-Secretary-General; Dr. Amandeep Singh Gill, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies; and Dr. Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs—fostering multilateral dialogue and strategic alignment.
- International Gathering: Over 500 participants from more than 30 countries—including representatives from academia, government, industry, and international organizations—gathered in Macau. The event featured 150+ speakers, 30 thematic sessions, and 131 youth innovation proposals, with 77% submitted by teams from the Global South.
- Multistakeholder Collaboration: The UNU Global AI Network held its first in-person meeting, with 124 member institutions confirming three pillars of actions: AI education and training, AI research, and AI youth innovation. UNU Macau also hosted AI and digital economy training for officials from nine Portuguese-speaking countries, supporting digital transformation in the Global South.
- Youth Empowerment: Five youth teams were recognized in the Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition focusing on climate actions. Nearly 300 students from Macau and the Greater Bay Area actively participated, demonstrating creativity and global perspective.
- Macau’s Unique Role: The series highlighted Macau’s position as a bridge between Cultural East and West, Global North and South, and between China and Portuguese-speaking countries—reinforcing its role in global cooperation and innovation.
Professor Tshilidzi Marwala remarked: "Over three days, we built an open platform for global knowledge exchange and youth empowerment—advancing AI-driven solutions for climate resilience, education, governance, and inclusion."
Dr. Jingbo Huang, Director of UNU Macau, added: "This was more than a conference—it was a multistakeholder platform that brings diverse actors into global AI governance and innovation, with youth at the heart of sustainable development."
Global Vision: Delivering on the UN’s Digital Mandate
This series of events is guided by the principles of the Summit of the Future and the Global Digital Compact, with a focus on how artificial intelligence can accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. The UNU Macau AI Conference was themed “AI for Humanity: Building a Fair Digital Future”, exploring how AI can support the Sustainable Development Goals through three pillars: bridging the digital divide, advancing inclusive capacity building, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
During the conference, UNU and Springer launched the AI and Sustainable Development book series. With 22 volumes already proposed, the series aims to advance inclusive and equitable AI through knowledge sharing and long-term global research-policy dialogue. This is the first book series on AI in the UN system. Selected papers from the conference will be published in the series, featuring contributions from leading scholars, technologists, and practitioners.
High-Level Engagement and Global Expertise
The series welcomed over 500 participants from more than 30 countries. Professor Tshilidzi Marwala delivered a keynote academic address in person as part of the “UNU Rector’s AI Lecture Series II.” Dr. Amandeep Singh Gill and Dr. Felipe Paullier delivered video remarks, alongside contributions from AI experts across government, academia, industry, and international organizations.
President Tshilidzi Marwala delivered a keynote academic address as part of the UNU Rector’s AI Lecture Series II. In his remarks, he unpacked the essence of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that “AI does not reflect truth—it reflects accuracy.” He stressed that AI must serve the common good and promote inclusive development.
Keynote speakers included: Professor Benjamin Rosman, University of the Witwatersrand, named one of TIME’s “AI 100” in 2025; Professor Simon See, Senior Director at NVIDIA AI Technology Center; Professor Virginia Dignum, Director of the AI Policy Lab at Umeå University and member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Body on AI.
A speaker from Singapore shared: "This event reminded us that the global AI conversation isn’t only about productivity and innovation—it’s also about dignity, equity, and the moral responsibility to ensure that progress doesn’t leave anyone behind."
Alexandre Lobo, Vice-Rector of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), remarked: “We joined sessions and co-organized panels, connecting with a delegation from all Portuguese-speaking countries. It was a memorable event that should continue to solidify Macau’s role.”
Multilateral Collaboration: Co-Creating with the Global South
The UNU Global AI Network, launched last year during the 1st UNU Macau AI Conference, held its first in-person meeting in Macau, with 124 member institutions confirming three strategic pillars: AI capacity building, research collaboration, and youth innovation. In partnership with the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macau) and the University of Saint Joseph, UNU Macau hosted AI and digital economy training for officials from nine Lusophone countries, supporting digital transformation in the Global South.
The Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition received 131 proposals from 47 countries, with 36 submissions from the Global South. Winning teams from Mongolia, Morocco, Singapore, and France addressed challenges in climate resilience, agriculture, and public health.
A youth team member from Mongolia shared: "The sweater I brought even smelled like sheep and had grass in the pockets because I didn’t have time to wash it. And there I was the next day on a global stage, representing my culture and my country. I’m deeply grateful for my roots—and for the opportunity to stand here."
The series also marked the launch of Asia’s first UNU hub: the UNU–Lingnan University Centre for Humanitarian Innovation and Technology, which will promote research, education, and international collaboration to improve living conditions in the Global South and offer scholarships for youth.
Youth Engagement: Inspiring the Next Generation of AI Talent
Nearly 300 students from Macau and the Greater Bay Area participated in competitions, forums, and workshops. The Macau Computer Society organized a local youth track, with Lou Hau High School, St. Joseph Diocesan College Fifth School, and the University of Macau Affiliated School winning gold awards. The latter also received the “Macau Special Award” for its smart agriculture solution.
During AI Education Day, 50 secondary students engaged in gamified learning, model UN simulations, and hands-on workshops to explore how AI intersects with the SDGs and to strengthen digital literacy and innovation skills.
Students widely viewed the event as a valuable opportunity to broaden their global perspective. Chen Zhexiang, a student from City University of Macau, shared: "The conference’s focus on AI ethics and its relevance to Global South communities inspired me to think deeply about integrating ethical considerations into AI development."
Macau as a Bridge for Global Cooperation
The series underscored Macau’s unique role as a connector across cultures and regions. Dr. Vincent U, President of the Administrative Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund, attended on behalf of the Macao SAR Government and delivered opening remarks. The Education and Youth Development Bureau of Macau supported the AI Education Day and Mr. Carlos Roberto Xavier, Acting Deputy Director presented awards—reflecting the government’s strong commitment to youth technology education and AI development.
The “Macau Session” of the AI Conference showcased local innovations in autonomous driving, respiratory disease monitoring, and epidemic early warning systems. Hosted by Mr. Samuel Wanhei Chan, President of the Macau Computer Society, the session demonstrated how academic and industry collaboration can translate policy into practical solutions.
Mr. Chan noted: "Macau’s geographic and cultural positioning, combined with UNU Macau’s international, academic, and platform-based strengths, make it an ideal hub for global AI dialogue. This series addressed pressing challenges in AI ethics and trust, fostering multilateral cooperation and consensus."
The series was supported by four major integrated tourism and leisure enterprises in Macau. Galaxy Entertainment Group, Sands China Ltd., and Wynn were venue sponsors for the AI Conference, the Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition, and the AI Education Day respectively. MGM supported a dedicated session at the AI Conference—demonstrating Macau’s strengths in “tourism + technology.”
Local scholars also contributed. Dr. Wenjian Liu, Associate Dean of the School of Data Science at City University of Macau, noted: "Macau’s international outlook and strategic location give it great potential to align AI development with the UN Sustainable Development Goals."
Series Event Recap
Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition (23 October, The Londoner Macao): Hosted by Sands China Ltd. as the venue sponsor, the competition received 131 proposals from 47 countries. Winning teams hailed from Mongolia, Morocco, Singapore, France, and Macau.
UNU Macau AI Conference (24 October, Galaxy International Convention Center): Hosted by Galaxy Entertainment Group as the venue sponsor, the conference featured 30 thematic discussions of AI + and 4 keynote speeches. The AI and Sustainable Development book series was officially launched.
AI Education Day (25 October, Wynn Palace): Supported by the Education and Youth Development Bureau and hosted by Wynn as the venue sponsor, the event welcomed over 100 students and featured a high-level forum on AI in higher education, along with SDG-themed educational games and workshops.
About UNU Macau
Established in 1992, UNU Macau is one of 14 research institutes under the United Nations University and the only UN entity based in Macau. As a global think tank focused on the intersection of digital technology and sustainable development, the institute has recently focused the research and education on AI empowerment and global governance. It is deeply committed to youth empowerment, cultivating digitally literate and globally competent talent through internships, training, and educational programs.
UNU Macau extends its sincere gratitude to the Macao SAR Government and all sectors of society for their continued support, and to the following partners for their collaboration: UNU Global AI Network, Venture Cup China, The Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University (I-AIIG), British Consulate General Hong Kong, Chunlai Education Group, Fengrui (Guangdong) Energy Holdings Co., Ltd., HKUST IEMS, Keyland Foundation, MGM, SenseTime. Looking ahead, the institute will continue to serve as a bridge for international cooperation, technological innovation, and youth development.
