G20 CHIEF SCIENCE ADVISERS' ROUNDTABLE CHARTS THE WAY TO INCLUSIVE GLOBAL SCIENCE COOPERATION

With widening knowledge gaps and more devastating climate change, among other challenges, the G20 Chief Science Advisers' Roundtable (CSAR) made a commitment to harness science, technology, and innovation (STI) as a force for equity, sustainability and inclusive human development.

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The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with its entity the National Advisory Council on Innovation, welcomed senior science advisers and their equivalents from G20 members and invited countries in Pretoria on 21 September 2025.

The G20-CSAR is a platform for open and constructive dialogue to inform decision-making and shape international strategies on pressing global challenges through the lens of STI.

The roundtable took place alongside the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) meeting on 21 and 22 September, and the G20 Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting on 23 September 2025.

It was held under the theme "Equity-based Science, Technology and Innovation for Inclusive Human Development and Global Sustainability".

Delegates highlighted the strong alignment between the roundtable discussions and South Africa's G20 Presidency theme of "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability". The 2025 G20-CSAR focused on three core priorities: first, developing and promoting a global STI agenda to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and enable just energy transitions; second, working towards a global knowledge system that is equitable and open to all; and third, leveraging G20 STI initiatives to strengthen STI capacity-building initiatives in developing countries, particularly in Africa.