Science, technology and innovation (STI) ministers and senior officials from G20 member states and invited countries gathered in Tshwane, South Africa, on September 23 for the G20 Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting.

The meeting, under the theme "Science, Technology and Innovation for Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability," emphasized the central role of international cooperation in science and technology in addressing shared global challenges.

China's Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun, who led the Chinese delegation, said that open, inclusive and people-centered international scientific cooperation is essential for promoting sustainable development and narrowing global development gaps.

Yin outlined China's recent efforts to foster an open innovation environment, including launching the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative and the Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science.

China is also participating in and spearheading international big science projects and engineering efforts, implementing the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Action Plan, and expanding shared access to research infrastructure and large scientific instruments.

Besides, it is promoting broader civil scientific exchanges and talent cooperation, and engaging in global governance on topics such as AI and research ethics.

The meeting approved the Tshwane Package, a suite of recommendations and initiatives for strengthened science engagement to foster public trust, participation and literacy in science.

The package also calls for the creation of a multi-platform G20 open innovation architecture to facilitate voluntary cross-border knowledge sharing; an open-innovation demonstration project focused on disaster risk reduction and water security; and support for global biodiversity data cooperation, including the development of a catalogue of life.

In addition, the package seeks to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in STI; and a compendium of good practices and a thematic portal to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in STI.

The meeting featured wide-ranging discussions on open innovation, the role of biodiversity information in sustainable development, and policies to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in science and technology.

Representatives from UNESCO, the OECD and other international organizations joined G20 ministers and guest-country delegates in stressing that no country can tackle urgent global problems alone. Building an inclusive, sustainable global innovation ecosystem is key to shared prosperity.

As the current G20 presidency, South Africa has convened a series of science and innovation meetings addressing climate, food, water, energy and soils, and has held focused sessions on the bioeconomy, using AI for sustainable development, and human genetic diversity in Africa.