SDG Mapper: Smarter keyword detection with AI-powered update

The SDG Mapper tool has just received a major boost to its detection capabilities, thanks to an expanded and fine-tuned list of keywords. The update strengthens the tool’s ability to capture SDG-related content while avoiding inflated counts.

Using large language models (LLMs), we enriched the keyword list with targeted AI suggestions for each Goal and Target. Every new term was carefully reviewed and validated by experts, while the existing list was checked for redundancies and overly generic entries. The result: more than 30% growth in the list — from 3 400 to 4 903 keywords — with broader and more precise coverage at both goal and target level.

Extensive testing on over 50 000 EU policy documents from Eur-Lex (2019-2024) confirmed the improvements: an average 13% increase in keyword detections, with no evidence of inflated counts. Newly added terms complement the existing set, helping the tool better reflect the breadth of SDG-related content in any type of document.