Prof. Emanuela Colombo, professor at the Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano and Rector’s Delegate for Science Diplomacy, was invited to give the introductory speech at theWorld Engineering Day for Sustainable Development 2025, organised by the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) and UNESCO. The event took place on 4 March 2025 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris and brought together global leaders, government representatives, scientists, industry leaders and engineering organisations to discuss the key role of engineering in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In her speech, Prof. Colombo highlighted how engineering should be used as a tool to bridge development gaps, contributing to human prosperity, planetary protection and social justice. She also emphasised the importance of a fair energy transition, the role of engineering in scientific diplomacy and the need to strengthen the presence of African research in the global scientific landscape.

Another central aspect of her speech concerned the role of innovation and technology in people’s care and well-being. According to Prof. Colombo, in order to address global challenges, it is essential to adopt an approach based on three fundamental values:

• Time, to allow space for experimentation and creativity, enabling engineering to evolve with new perspectives.
• Trust, promoting interdisciplinary and intersectoral alliances to tackle complex problems with shared solutions.
• Gratitude, maintaining an attitude open to continuous learning and global collaboration.

The event was an important opportunity to reaffirm the contribution of the academic community and engineering research in building a more sustainable and inclusive future.