Science, technology and innovation (STI) must play a central role in the achievement of these goals. However, new technologies threaten to outpace the ability of societies and polbymakers to adapt to the changes they create, giving rise to widespread anxiety and ambivalence or hostility to some technological advances. Big data analysis can help to manage or resolve critical global issues, create new scientific breakthroughs, advance human health and improve decisbn-making, by providing real-time streams of informatbn. The Internet of Things allows the conditbn and actbns of connected objects and machines to be monitored and managed, and allows more effective monitoring of the natural world, animals and people. These two technologies have important applications in health care, agriculture, energy and water management and quality, as well as in monitoring devebpment indicators to assess progress towards the Sustainable Devebpment Goals. Governments should consider developing strategies to harness these technologies towards their devebpment goals.