The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 interconnected goals established by the United Nations in 2015 to tackle pressing global challenges such as poverty, hunger, education, gender equality, sustainable energy, and climate change, with the aim of creating a better world by 2030. The COREnext project plays a pivotal role in advancing two of these goals: SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. By integrating cutting-edge digital components and architectural innovations, the project ensures that infrastructure and urban development remain both resilient and energy efficient. 

 

Building Trustworthy and Resilient Digital Infrastructure (SDG 9) 

SDG 9 aims to foster resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation, and support innovation. As part of Work Package 4 (Digital Components: Components for power-efficient signal processing, and Components for isolation, orchestration & TEEs) in the COREnext project, the focus is on developing trustworthy infrastructure that ensures resilient industrial and societal digitisation. These digital components play a pivotal role in ensuring the security of industries and communities during digital transformation. COREnext enhances system security by implementing robust component isolation and minimizing trusted computing bases, thereby reducing the attack surface and improving overall resilience. 

Additionally, Work Package 3 (Trustworthy Disaggregated Computing Architecture) contributes to SDG 9 by shaping an architecture that promotes secure and scalable digital infrastructure, which is vital for sustainable development in various sectors, from transport to energy. To fully achieve SDG 9 by 2030, investments in infrastructure  – including transport, irrigation, energy, and information and communication technology – are crucial. Supporting Least Developed Countries (LDCs) through investments in advanced technologies, reducing carbon emissions, and expanding mobile broadband access are essential steps toward empowering communities and fostering sustainable development.  

Enhancing Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Cities (SDG 11) 

SDG 11 aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. COREnext supports this by improving energy efficiency through accelerator integration, enabling hardware to perform tasks previously handled by software on general-purpose processors.  The digital innovations within Work Package 4 enable the integration of energy-efficient solutions into digital infrastructure by systematically replacing inefficient components with more efficient alternatives. This facilitates the operation of smart cities with reduced energy consumption and lower carbon footprints, thereby promoting sustainability by optimizing energy consumption and management in urban environments. 

Digitalisation also plays a vital role in boosting energy efficiency across various sectors, contributing directly to SDG 11’s sustainability targets. By incorporating innovative technologies, cities can reduce their environmental impact, improve public services, and ensure long-term resilience to climate change and population growth.  

What Needs to Be Done to Achieve SDG 9 and SDG 11 by 2030  

While the COREnext project is making contributions, there is still work to be done to fully achieve these goals by 2030. For SDG 9, it is essential to: 

  • Continue investing in infrastructure in critical areas like transport, energy, and communication technology. 
  • Increase support for LDCs by investing in advanced technologies and ensuring their inclusion in global digital advancements. 
  • Focus on lowering carbon emissions through sustainable industrial practices. 
  • Improve access to mobile broadband, ensuring that all regions, particularly underserved ones, can benefit from digital innovations. 
  • For SDG 11, more efforts should be made to: 
  • Boost energy efficiency through further digitisation and integration of smart technologies in urban areas. 
  • Promote the use of sustainable energy solutions in cities to minimise their carbon footprint and improve the overall quality of urban life.

A Secure and Sustainable Path Forward 

COREnext’s contributions to SDG 9 and SDG 11 showcase how cybersecurity and digital innovation can directly impact global sustainability efforts. By prioritising trustworthy infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, and promoting inclusive digitisation, COREnext is helping to shape a future where industries and cities are not only more secure but also more sustainable. Achieving these goals by 2030 will require continued innovation, investment, and global collaboration. 

Stay tuned for further updates as COREnext continues to drive forward the future of sustainable and secure infrastructure. 

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