Ministers from the world’s leading economies gathered in Tshwane for the 2025 G20 Research, Science and Innovation Ministerial Meeting, discussing a shared commitment to global cooperation in science, technology, and innovation (STI)
The meeting marked a significant milestone for advancing international collaboration to address critical global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality.
As part of South Africa’s historic G20 Presidency, the summit saw strong contributions from the European Union, which played an essential role in shaping the agenda and delivering key outcomes.
The EU’s leading role in shaping the global STI Agenda
Throughout the year, the European Commission played a big part in the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG), working closely with the South African Presidency, G20 members, and invited countries. The EU helped shape all major deliverables, providing policy expertise and ensuring that key values were the centre of the outcomes.
The EU’s impact was evident in advancing priorities like open innovation, tackling misinformation, and improving access to biodiversity data. It also co-led work on ensuring ethical and inclusive research practices, with a focus on equity, gender balance, and public trust in science.
Tshwane package sets the global STI roadmap.
One of the main achievements of the meeting was the adoption of the G20 Tshwane Package, developed in collaboration with UNESCO and the OECD. This comprehensive set of deliverables includes the G20 Recommendations on Enhancing Science Engagement, which highlight transparency, collaboration, and public trust as key pillars for scientific progress.
The Tshwane Package promotes open science, international data sharing, and cooperation on biodiversity initiatives, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). It also backs regional and international efforts related to natural history collections, helping to safeguard ecosystems and improve access to species data.
Promoting equality, trust and global access in science
Ministers particularly highlighted the importance of making science more equitable and inclusive. A significant focus of the summit was to ensure equal opportunities for all researchers, foster safe and respectful work environments, and promote ethical international research partnerships. The G20 also acknowledged the need to counter misinformation and build greater public understanding and confidence in science.
The commitments aim to break down barriers to global scientific collaboration, supporting researchers to work across borders and encouraging joint investments in shared infrastructure and knowledge platforms.
Science-driven approach to sustainable development
This year’s G20 meeting shows the growing understanding that sustainable development and inclusive growth depend heavily on scientific progress. With global crises ranging from climate emergencies to geopolitical instability, science and innovation were recognised as key tools for delivering long-term, global solutions.
By aligning science engagement with sustainable development goals, the G20 is setting a course for collective action. The outcomes of the Tshwane meeting represent a coordinated effort to ensure that science serves society, not only through innovation but through fairness, access, and trust.