25-26 May 2025: ICGEB attended the 2nd Meeting of the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) as a Knowledge Partner of the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), together with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
South Africa has assumed the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2024 to November 2025. Minister Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation of South Africa, chairs the G20 RIWG, the inter-governmental track responsible for cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.
In line with South Africa’s G20 theme: Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, the DTSI identified the RIWG theme as Equity in Science and Innovation-based Approach to Sustainable Development. The theme is supported by three key priority areas: Open Innovation for Development, Biodiversity for Sustainable Development, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Minister Nzimande invited ICGEB to work alongside DSTI as a knowledge partner, together with the CSIR, on the proposed initiative focused on Building African Science capacity to better understand Africa’s human genetic diversity as a resource for improving African and global public health.
During the 2nd RIWG Meeting, ICGEB Director-General, Dr. Lawrence Banks, together with Dr Rachel Chikwamba, CSIR Group Executive: Advanced Chemistry and Life Sciences, and Dr Janine Scholefield CSIR Research Group Leader, presented the proposed initiative to the G20 delegates, and continue to work alongside DSTI to review and lead in this area.
ICGEB’s participation as a G20 knowledge partner has simultaneously profiled the organisation and its capacities with other G20 partners. The RIWG also represented an opportunity for the ICGEB to meet with mutual G20 and ICGEB Member States, including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Türkiye. Egypt was also present, as an invited country.
The next steps foresee knowledge partners hosting an inclusive workshop in July 2025, bringing in experts from across the G20 countries to provide input on this proposed initiative, followed by the final Ministerial meeting in September 2025.
