ICT-centric innovation ecosystems

Strong ICT-centric innovation ecosystems play a vital role in driving sustainable development, economic growth, and digital inclusion. By fostering entrepreneurship and enabling the development and scaling of digital solutions, these ecosystems help bridge digital divides and create new opportunities for individuals, startups, and businesses. They bring together a diverse set of actors including policymakers, industry, academia, research institutions, and investors to support innovation, strengthen digital capabilities, and accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies.

This theme explores how supportive policies and regulatory frameworks can enable innovation and empower Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to participate in the digital economy. By promoting open innovation, facilitating access to finance, encouraging collaboration between public and private stakeholders, and strengthening research and development capacity, governments and partners can create enabling environments where digital entrepreneurship can thrive. Strengthening these ecosystems also helps countries build local talent, scale digital solutions, and foster inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.

Related ITU initiatives

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development – An ITU initiative supporting countries in strengthening national digital innovation ecosystems and accelerating entrepreneurship through global collaboration.

ITU Acceleration Centres – A global network of innovation hubs that support startups, digital entrepreneurs, and ecosystem development through collaboration, experimentation, and capacity-building.

Digital Innovation Profiles – Country level assessments that help governments understand and strengthen their digital innovation ecosystems and develop targeted policies for growth.