About the
Event
The Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress will celebrate its fifth anniversary in Chicago, Illinois, where it will be held from 16-19 June 2025 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk and online. SRI is an annual convening focused on action-forward, knowledge-based and inclusive approaches to sustainability.
SRI2025 will be the first time the Congress is held in the United States. The event will build on the momentum of Congresses in Australia, South Africa, Panama, and Finland, connecting both in person and around the world with satellite events and interactive online experiences.
SRI2025 will spotlight Pathways to Sustainability Solutions, sharing implementation strategies and legacies of successful approaches to critical sustainability concerns facing Chicago, the United States, and the globe. It will also provide opportunities to overcome engagement, policy, resourcing, and other hurdles that slow our transformation to more resilient and equitable futures.
- SRI2025 offers an inclusive, interactive, and inspiring global platform for co-creating state-of-the-art solutions and innovations and building a coalition of those willing to achieve a sustainability transformation.
- SRI2025 unites global leaders from 80+ countries in research, government, civil society, and business to meaningfully advance progress towards sustainability at a local and global level.
- SRI2025 takes place in North America for the first time ever. It is co-hosted in the heartland by the University of Illinois System and focuses on action-forward, knowledge-based, and inclusive approaches to sustainability.
SRI2025 is a comprehensive and interactive program focused on catalyzing sustainability solutions. It centers on four core pathways:
- One Health: Connecting Human, Animal & Planetary Health
- Collaborative Decision-Making: Fostering Connections with Communities
- Innovative Tools: Developing & Deploying New Technologies for Sustainability Solutions
- Holistic Solutions: Integrating Food, Energy, Water and Infrastructure
SRI2025 CONGRESS
A global platform for collaboration
- Extensive stakeholder engagement and capacity building
- Collaborative project development and funding
- Showcases and demonstrations of cutting-edge innovations
- The latest research on sustainability solutions
- Daily plenary sessions with a diversity of leaders
- Curated workshops and panel discussions
- Engagement with Indigenous communities
- Special Juneteenth programming focuses on sustainability,
- equity, and justice
- Compelling public events and custom excursions across the region
THE OPPORTUNITY
The program will feature a dynamic mix of activities
- Connect with other change makers: Engage with experts, policymakers, funders, community, and industry leaders.
- Discover and create innovative solutions: Learn about groundbreaking projects and technological advances, take part in creating solutions with potential for measurable impact.
- Share experiences and learnings: Insights formed regionally can transform the world.
- Learn how to overcome challenges: Find pathways to bring new sustainability solutions to market.
- Forge partnerships: Collaborate and leverage with new partners.
Inspire change: Be part of a movement to create a sustainable future.
