Science, Technology and Innovation for Capacity Building Toward Sustainable Futures: Bridging Global Challenges and Local Realities

This paper proposes and applies a Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) capacity framework for advancing sustainable futures by connecting global sustainability challenges with local implementation realities. Drawing on innovation systems and capacity development theory, the framework positions STI as a driver of human, institutional, technological, and collaborative capacities that enable effective sustainability action. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines survey evidence and stakeholder perspectives, the study analyzes links between STI inputs, capacity formation, localization processes, and sustainability outcomes. Findings indicate that STI investments significantly strengthen capacity, while capacity factors mediate the relationship between innovation and measurable sustainability performance. Institutional support, skills development, and multi-actor partnerships emerge as critical enablers of successful technology adoption. The results align with global sustainability assessments emphasizing innovation and capacity building as key implementation mechanisms, highlighting integrated capacity systems as essential for durable local impact.