A study on imperative innovation eco system linkages to map Sustainable Development Goal 9

In this present day digital era, sustainable development goals are essential for human survival. Information Communication Technology (ICT) is one such important factor to help society to build a more equitable, transparent and sustainable world by removing the communication disturbances and creating transparent and inclusive system. The present study finds the need to find out the imperatives for sustainable development in the era of Digitization. In the light of artificial intelligence, machine learning and digitization the scope of sustainable development depends on many non-traditional developmental indicators, which play a major role in the development of most developed nations. This study aims to find out these indicators, by understanding the development indicators of top ranked and high income countries with high innovation index scores. An attempt is made to understand the correlation between sustainable development goal SDG9 (Industry, infrastructure and Innovation) and Global Innovation Index scores in top ten GII ranked countries and BRICS by analyzing cross section data of various economic, social and technical development indicators published by UN, World Bank Reports for the year 2018. The trends in the variables indicate the need for more planned expenditure on ICT and R&D in order to build a robust ICT to prepare for digitization. The analysis also shows that ICT development indicators are highly correlated (R2 = 0.70 to 0.90) with GDP Per capita (PPP). This suggests that ICT has become a leading indicator for sustainable development, innovation and infrastructure.