UNICC at WSIS+20 and AI for Good 2025: Showcasing Digital Innovation for the UN Family

UNICC joined high-level forums, thematic workshops, and collaborative showcases across both events.

16 July, 2025

16 July 2025
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Photo: UNICC/Remedio

GENEVA – 16 July 2025

The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) participated in the 2025 WSIS+20 High-Level Event and the AI for Good Global Summit, held in Geneva, reaffirming its commitment to enabling trusted digital transformation across the United Nations system and international organizations. Throughout the week, UNICC leadership and technical experts contributed to a wide range of strategic dialogues and multi-stakeholder panels that explored the future of digital transformation and cooperation, as well as emerging technologies.

During the United Nations High-Level Leaders’ Dialogue at WSIS+20, the UNICC Director, Sameer Chauhan, joined other UN leaders in a strategic exchange that highlighted the critical role of WSIS in ensuring coordinated digital cooperation across the UN system. Drawing on the UNICC’s operational experience, the Director emphasized that fragmentation across digital infrastructure across UN entities is not merely a technical issue, but a systemic barrier to collaboration, innovation, and impact. Mr. Chauhan called for a shift from isolated digital efforts to shared, mission-critical platforms that enable anticipatory action, data interoperability, and operational coherence.

A wide view of a conference hall during the United Nations High-Level Leaders' Dialogue at WSIS+20. A panel of speakers is seated on stage under a large green-lit screen displaying the event title. The audience is seated in rows, watching the discussion.
A close-up of three panelists seated on stage during the United Nations High-Level Leaders' Dialogue at WSIS+20. UNICC Director is in the center, wearing a blue suit and holding a microphone, is speaking while gesturing with his hand.

Photos: ITU/Lechat

As part of the AI for Good Global Summit, UNICC convened a high-level launch event for its newly established AI Hub, bringing together representatives from across the UN system, Member States, the private sector, academia, and civil society. The session formally introduced the Hub as a collaborative platform aimed at enabling the safe, efficient, and impactful adoption of artificial intelligence across the UN system and other international organizations. Participants engaged in strategic discussions around the Hub’s mission, governance structure, and its value in advancing responsible AI.

UNICC AI Hub Chief stands at a podium, presenting with a large digital screen behind her displaying key points about AI from the UN perspective.
A large group photo of participants at the AI Hub Launch event during the AI for Good Global Summit.

Photos: UNICC/Remedio

UNICC’s Deputy Director, Milena Grecuccio, joined a distinguished panel—including Sameer Chauhan (UNICC Director), Ms. Shirin Hamid (CIO, IMF), and His Excellency Thomas Schneider (Ambassador and Director of International Affairs, Swiss Federal Office of Communications)—to discuss “Scaling AI Responsibly across the UN System”. Grecuccio addressed the importance of ethical and practical operational guidelines for AI, underscoring the AI Hub’s role in delivering secure systems alongside upskilling the UN and the multilateral system personnel through its AI Academy. Mr. Schneider shared Switzerland’s pioneering vision for equitable AI collaboration, while Ms. Hamid highlighted the value of UNICC’s shared AI capabilities.

Four panelists, three seated and one speaking into a microphone, are on stage in front of a large screen displaying the UNICC logo, a digital brain graphic, and QR codes linking to more information about the UNICC AI Hub. The audience is seated and attentively watching the session. The setup includes a podium with the AI for Good logo and vertical neon lights as part of the stage design.
Four panelists stand on stage at the AI for Good Global Summit in front of a large screen displaying the summit's colorful logo and the words “AI for Good Global Summit.”

Photos: UNICC/Remedio

UNICC also joined forces with partners during the AI and Virtual Worlds workshop, contributing to discussions on designing secure and human-centric virtual cities. Speaking during the high-level segment, the UNICC Director emphasized the foundational role of digital trust and cybersecurity in virtual environments, advocating for secure-by-design approaches that protect users without shifting the burden of security onto them. Moreover, he underscored the importance of building inclusive digital ecosystems that advance public value and ensure data integrity.

Photos: ITU

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), in collaboration with UNICC, hosted a hybrid session titled “Digital Identity Solutions: Opportunities and Challenges in the Pursuit of Inclusiveness” as part of the WSIS+20 programme. The session brought together experts to reflect on how emerging technologies can help deliver secure, inclusive digital identity solutions. UNICC’s Massimiliano Merelli, Programme Director for the UN Digital ID initiative, highlighted the organization’s efforts to develop interoperable identity frameworks that serve UN system needs while promoting accessibility, privacy, and trust.

Photos: UNICC/Remedio

In parallel, UNICC maintained a strong presence at the exhibition halls, showcasing flagship initiatives, including UNIQCloud, UN Digital ID, the AI Hub, cybersecurity solutions, HyperAutomation, DHoTS and the Quantum for Good initiative.

A group of delegates gathers around the UNICC booth at the exhibition during WSIS Week. UNICC Director in a blue suit is actively presenting information about UNICC's Artificial Intelligence services, gesturing toward a screen displaying key details. The booth features banners, brochures, and a monitor with a QR code.

Photos: ITU

UNICC’s participation in these strategic platforms and events helped advance the vision of a digitally inclusive and secure future in alignment with the Global Digital Compact and the broader WSIS Action Lines.

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