The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Professor Blade Nzimande, will lead the second meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG), as well as the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy (GIB).
The meeting will take place at the University of Mpumalanga from Sunday, 25 May to 28 May 2025.
South Africa holds the G20 Presidency for 2025, and these high-level gatherings form a core part of the country’s commitment to using science, technology, and innovation (STI) for sustainable global development.
The department said the second RIWG meeting will review the progress made on the ten deliverables that were agreed upon during the first RIWG meeting, which took place at the University of the Free State in February 2025.
In addition, a virtual follow-up meeting was held on 9 and 10 April 2025.
"The second G20 RIWG meeting will also discuss the draft G20 Research and Innovation Ministerial Declaration," the department said.
As part of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation’s G20 programme in Mpumalanga, Nzimande will also deliver the keynote address at the Africa Day celebrations at Mpumalanga University today.
The Minister will deliver his keynote under the theme “Harnessing Global Solidarity for the Implementation of STISA 2034”.
As part of these celebrations, the DSTI will host a G20 Africa STI Leaders Dialogue.
The dialogue will cover the role of artificial intelligence in the implementation of the African Union's Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy (STISA-2034).
The dialogue will be addressed by various public policy makers and science experts including the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga Professor Thoko Mayekiso, Mpumalanga Department of Education MEC Cathy Dlamini, and African Union Commission Director Professor Saidou Madougou.
The dialogue will also be attended by G20 African members Algeria, Egypt, and Nigeria, as well as 15 African countries invited by South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za
