On the sidelines of the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Research and Innovation, held on September 21–22 in Pretoria, an important event for the global scientific community took place — the second meeting of the G20 Chief Scientific Advisors’ Roundtable. The Russian delegation took an active part in the discussion, presenting two key projects: the Sochi Dialogue Forum and the ‘Vyzov’ Foundation.

The initiative of the Chief Scientific Advisors’ Roundtable, originally launched under India’s presidency with the support of UNESCO, continues to strengthen the institutional foundations for international cooperation. Its main objective is to create a common framework for developing coordinated approaches to addressing shared challenges faced by the global scientific and technological community.

The Russian delegation included representatives of science diplomacy:
Irina Kuklina — Executive Director of the Analytical Center of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation , and Maria Matveeva — Director of the Secretariat of the Russian-Austrian Public Forum Sochi Dialogue and Director for Science at the ‘Vyzov’ Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations.

In her address, Maria Matveeva emphasized the critical importance of maintaining channels of communication even with countries whose governments take an unfriendly stance. As a successful and functioning example of such cooperation, she highlighted the activities of the Russian-Austrian Public Forum Sochi Dialogue. This project clearly demonstrates that scientific and cultural exchange can and should develop beyond political barriers.

Breaking Boundaries: Gender Equality and Global Talent Support

The ‘Vyzov’ Foundation used the G20 platform to showcase its achievements in narrowing the gender gap in science and technology. A vivid illustration of this progress is the positive trend in women’s participation in the Foundation’s award program: the share of female applicants increased from 20% to 26%.

According to the Foundation, its key goal is to raise the prestige of the scientific profession and to build a global community without borders. To fulfill this mission, ‘Vyzov’ is open to partnerships with G20 and African countries in order to jointly support talent worldwide.

Consolidated G20 Position on Key Issues
At the conclusion of the event, participants formulated several fundamental principles shaping the future of international scientific cooperation:

·       Science and technology are core tools for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), combating climate change, and ensuring sustainable growth.

·       Consideration of context — national and regional specificities must be taken into account when developing and implementing scientific solutions.

·       Human-centered approach — research and innovation should prioritize human needs.

·       Support for cooperation — strengthening international scientific partnerships and providing targeted support for young researchers is essential.

This high-level dialogue once again confirmed that science serves as a universal foundation for making balanced international decisions. Russia’s representation through initiatives such as the Sochi Dialogue and the ‘Vyzov’ Foundation not only reinforces its position in the global scientific landscape but also makes a significant contribution to building a shared future based on knowledge and cooperation.

• RU:  «Сочинский диалог» был представлен на площадке G20 в ЮАР
• DE:  Der „Sotschi-Dialog“ wurde auf dem G20-Treffen in Südafrika vorgestellt