G20 Ministers Commit to Global Science Cooperation – EU’s Leading Role Instrumental in advancing sustainable, inclusive, and innovative science, technology, and innovatio

The G20 Research, Science and Innovation Ministerial Meeting took place in Tshwane, South Africa, on 23 September 2025, bringing together ministers from G20 members and invited countries to reinforce international collaboration in science, technology, and innovation (STI) as a cornerstone for addressing global challenges.

Throughout South Africa's G20 Presidency in 2025, the European Commission has played a central and active role in shaping the work of the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG). The Commission contributed substantively to the development and negotiation of all core deliverables and the Ministerial Tshwane Declaration, working in close coordination with the Presidency, G20 members and invited countries, and knowledge partners. This included extensive engagement in the drafting and negotiation process, providing policy and technical expertise for all deliverables, and seeking alignment of G20 RIWG priorities with EU core values and principles.

The EU's contribution was particularly significant in advancing work on Open Innovation and science engagement, including recommendations on countering misinformation, strengthening trust in science, and enhancing access to biodiversity data. The Commission also co-led discussions on equity, inclusion, and ethical research cooperation, ensuring that these values were strongly embedded across all outputs.

Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva, representing the EU at the Ministerial meeting in Tshwane, reaffirmed the EU's commitment to open, inclusive, and responsible science. She underlined the importance of translating principles into action-highlighting the EU's initiatives on open innovation, biodiversity data sharing, closing the gender gap in STEM and science engagement as examples of EU leadership in global STI cooperation. While strongly advocating for science to be open, inclusive, and trusted.

A key outcome of the meeting was the adoption of the G20 Tshwane Package, supported by UNESCO and the OECD. The package includes important deliverables such as the G20 Recommendations on Enhancing Science Engagement, which reflect many of the EU's longstanding policy priorities. These recommendations aim to promote openness, transparency, and public trust in science, and strengthen international cooperation in areas such as disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, and gender equality in STI.

The Commission's sustained involvement throughout the RIWG process has ensured that the G20 STI agenda remains aligned with the EU's strategic vision: using science and innovation to deliver sustainable, inclusive, and globally connected solutions.

Key Commitments to Science, Sustainability, and Inclusion

The Chairs Summary report presented at the Tshwane Ministerial meeting positions open science and open innovation as essential tools for addressing global challenges and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. In this light, leaders committed to fostering collaborative research, enabling scientists to work across borders, coordinating investments in research infrastructure, and strengthening global knowledge-sharing. Additionally, they pledged to preserve and restore ecosystems and expand access to international biodiversity initiatives, including the Global Biodiversity Information Facility(GBIF) and open-access species catalogues.

Equity and inclusion in science are central to the work of G20 science track. Leaders emphasised the importance of equal opportunities and safe workplaces free from harassment while promoting responsible, ethical, and open international research cooperation.

The G20 Tshwane package

The Ministerial meeting also led to the adoption of the G20 Tshwane package, supported by UNESCO and the OECD, focusing on open innovation, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity data, and gender equality, while also backing regional biodiversity activities and international cooperation on natural history collections. A key deliverable in this package is the G20 Recommendations on enhancing science engagement. Endorsed by all G20 Ministers, this package aims to promote transparency, foster collaboration, build inclusive science systems, counter misinformation, and strengthen public trust in science.

Background

The G20 Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting is a pivotal forum that brings together G20 members and invited countries to collaborate on pressing global issues through the lens of science, technology, and innovation. Founded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the G20 has expanded its focus to include a diverse range of global challenges, recognising that sustainable development and inclusive growth are closely linked to advancements in STI.

South Africa is holding the G20 Presidency from 1st December 2024 until 31 November 2025. It is the first time the African continent hosts G20. To tackle global crises as climate change, underdevelopment, inequality, poverty, hunger, unemployment, technological changes and geopolitical instability, South Africa has embraced the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability" for its G20 Presidency.

The 2025 G20 R&I Ministerial meeting, hosted in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa, continues the G20 tradition by addressing critical themes such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and socioeconomic inequality. Through its Ministerial Declaration, the G20 strives to foster open innovation, equitable access, and strategic international partnerships, paving the way for collective actions and transformative solutions to the world's most urgent challenges.

More information

• Chairs Summary report
• G20 Recommandations on Science Engagement
• G20 Open Innovation Platform of Platforms
• Open Science
• Nature and biodiversity
• Gender equality in research and innovation