SA welcomes science commitments made by G20 countries

South Africa says it is happy with the commitments made by the G20 countries concerning science.

A G20 ministerial meeting has taken place at Carnarvon in the Northern Cape where about 400 delegates, policymakers and industry leaders attended.

Event Highlight
This morning, Minister Blade Nzimande hosted visiting G20 Ministers of Science and Technology at the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) site in Carnarvon, Northern Cape.

The visit showcased South Africa’s leadership in global science collaboration through the SKA –… pic.twitter.com/LjniC6DvKi

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) September 24, 2025

Professor Jessica Desempey, the incoming Director-General of the Square Kilometers Array Observatory, says funding big projects is tough, but vital for science, tech, and local growth.

“An ambitious project like this means the funding at a scale needed is always going to be a challenge but I think that we really are refining. Now is why it is important to fund it properly. It is important to make sure we realize the scientific and technical ambitions and one of the things that impacts me is, these investments are going back into the nations that are actually putting the funding in.

We are pulling our industries, our small, medium businesses into cutting edge science and technologies”.

Video: South Africa welcomes G20 science commitments