Focus: The conference will explore the role of various institutions particularly academic and research institutions to enable women and girls across the world (more focus on DCs) reap the benefits form the global growth in the digital economy particularly in STI. Clearly, women have an untapped potential as a primary mover of greater development in the world, but challenges remain. And so, reforms in economic, social, and political institutions must be made to create an enabling environment for women participation and empowerment. The conference will therefore aims to provoke forward thinking on the role of science, innovation and research in solving global problems related to sustainability as well as the potential of Industry 4.0 for the implementation of SDGs. While it is largely argued that Industry 4.0 has the potential to produce innovative solutions to global issues but the problematique of managing science, innovation and research for SD is strongly influenced by the institutional culture in which international discussions have taken place.