At the G20 Research and Innovation (R&I) Ministers’ meeting held in Manaus, Brazil, on September 18-19, leaders discussed “Open Innovation for a Just and Sustainable Development.”
In their resulting Ministerial declaration, the ministers emphasised that open science and innovation are essential tools for addressing global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as for driving progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
Despite the difficult geopolitical environment, ministers endorsed a G20 Strategy to promote open innovation cooperation, recognising the importance of working together to foster innovation at the international level as well as to develop tools, mechanisms, and outline strategic actions and measurement frameworks to assess their effectiveness. Ministers agreed to take concrete actions to:
- foster capacity building and mobility programs,
- strengthen public-private partnerships,
- develop guidelines for international open innovation activities, and
- showcase examples and best practices of successful international initiatives for open innovation
Ministers also endorsed the G20 Recommendations on inclusion, diversity and combating inequalities in science, technology and innovation. They committed to ensure that, without any form of discrimination, that everyone enjoy equal opportunities for education and training needed to qualify for research and development careers, and that those who succeed enjoy equal access to available employment in scientific research, free from all forms of violence and harassment. In this sense, the G20:
- Encourages the use of native languages in science and ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.
- Commits to close the gender gap in science, by taking measures to dismantle gender stereotypes and biases through the enhanced visibility of women in science and actively encouraging women and girls to consider careers in science.
- Aims to foster dialogue between different knowledge systems to encourage collaboration in knowledge production with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
- Supports the transition to open science, by prioritising equitable access to, contribution to, and benefits from open science through policy and institutional practice, including science communication.
More information
Ministerial Declaration
G20 Strategy to promote open innovation cooperation
G20 Recommendations on inclusion, diversity and combating inequalities in science, technology and innovation
The EU’s Open Science Policy
Gender equality in research and innovation
Press contact:
EC Spokesperson for Research, Science and Innovation
