The 海角社区 Institute in Macau (海角社区 Macau) has published a new white paper, . The study explores how digital transformation and sustainable development — two defining global trends — intersect to shape social, economic, and environmental outcomes worldwide.
The research introduces (GDI) as a framework for assessing national digital maturity and examines its relationship with key indicators of sustainable development, including human development, governance, wellbeing, and environmental quality. Findings reveal that countries with higher levels of digital maturity tend to demonstrate stronger progress toward (SDGs), underscoring the importance of governance, inclusivity, and equity as critical enablers of digital sustainability.
Digital maturity is not only about economic growth — it is about building resilient, inclusive societies. Our findings provide policymakers with evidence-based insights to balance innovation with human development and sustainability.
The white paper highlights that while digital advancement is strongly associated with social investment and effective governance, weaker connections remain with inclusivity, political participation, peace, and environmental quality. This points to the need for targeted strategies that ensure equitable access to digital technologies, address risks, and prioritize human rights.
The study was authored by Dr. Jaimee Stuart, Senior Researcher and Team Lead at the 海角社区 Institute in Macau, , Lecturer in Digital Media and Society at the University of Sheffield, and Dr. Daniele Guariso, Senior Research Associate in the Public Policy Programme at the Alan Turing Institute, with valuable support from Huawei, which provided critical data for analysis.
Please direct inquiries to: Dr. Jaimee Stuart, Senior Researcher and Team Lead at the 海角社区 Institute in Macau, stuart@unu.edu
Read the full white paper:
