After the Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) Summit inception meeting held in Kolkata followed by thematic conferences in Ranchi, Dibrugarh, Dharamshala and Diu, Mumbai will host the G-20 RIIG Summit and Research Ministers’ Meeting during July 4-5.

A total of five RIIG meetings have been hosted by India this year under the theme “Research and Innovation for Equitable Society”.

Earlier, the Ranchi conference was held on the theme- ‘Materials for Sustainable Energy’, Dibrugarh on ‘Circular Bioeconomy’,  Dharamshala- ‘Eco-Innovations for Energy Transition’; and Diu was held  on the theme ‘Sustainable Blue-economy’.

The summit on July 4 will be chaired by the secretary, department of science and technology (DST), Srivari Chandrasekhar.

The theme for RIIG under India’s presidency is “Research and Innovation for Equitable Society.”
On July 5, union minister of state (independent charge) for science and technology Jitendra Singh will chair the G-20 Research Ministers’ Meeting (RMM).

The series of meetings culminating in the Research Ministers’ Meeting will sum up earlier deliberations and enhance cooperation amongst G-20 member countries, with a focus on addressing aspects of achieving socio-economic equity through scientific research and innovation.

The ministerial declaration of the G-20 science engagements will be discussed and adopted at the two-day RIIG Summit and Research Ministers’ meeting. Adoption of the ministerial declaration marks the culmination of the G-20 RIIG engagements that took place in the series of meetings held in different parts of India during India’s G-20 Presidency in 2023.

Later on July 6, G-20 delegates attending the RIIG Summit and Research Ministers’ Meeting will visit IIT Bombay to see the research and innovation facilities at IIT Bombay.

As many as 107 foreign delegates including Research Ministers from 29 G-20 members, invited guest countries and international organizations are likely to participate in the meeting.

India has taken forward the Research and Innovation Initiative (RIIG) during its Presidency in 2023 under the theme “Research and Innovation for Equitable Society”.

The G-20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union (EU) that works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development. It consists of most of the world’s largest economies, including both industrialized and developing nations.

To harness strong correlations between science and economy as instruments of social transformation, interactions between these ecosystems will help promote an equitable society and appropriate environment that sustains research and innovation.

RIIG meetings provide a platform for stakeholders at all levels to share ideas and create new partnerships to elevate research and innovation as a tool to achieve socio-economic equity.