SA advances Open Science agenda at UNESCO policy discussion in Paris

MEDIA STATEMENTTO ALL MEDIA 17 JULY 2026   SA advances Open Science agenda at UNESCO policy discussion in Paris   The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to advancing Open Science as a public good during a high-level discussion at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, on Thursday, 16 July.   The discussion focused on Open Science Policy Trends and the technical findings from the first monitoring cycle of the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, as reflected in the UNESCO Open Science Outlook, 2nd Edition. It was held within the framework of the three-day 2026 International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, which ended in Paris today.   Addressing delegates, Dr Gina said Open Science is central to transforming how scientific knowledge is produced, shared and applied, especially as countries confront challenges such as climate change, public health threats, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, digital transformation and inequality.   “Open Science provides a pathway towards achieving this vision. It promotes transparency and collaboration, improves access to scientific publications, research data, software and infrastructure, and strengthens scientific integrity and public trust,” said Dr Gina.   South Africa has adopted a new National Open Science Policy as a watershed moment in the country’s science and innovation landscape. The policy aligns closely with the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and supports wider access to publicly funded research, while balancing openness with ethics, privacy, security, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and intellectual property considerations.   The country is also among the first countries in Africa to adopt a comprehensive national Open Science Policy aligned with the UNESCO Recommendation, placing the country in a strong position to contribute to regional and global efforts aimed at using science to advance sustainable development.   Its contribution to Open Science across Africa was also acknowledged, including through the African Open Science Platform hosted by the National Research Foundation, which supports regional collaboration, policy development, capacity building and infrastructure development.   Reflecting on the global findings, Dr Gina said the first monitoring cycle shows that Open Science is gaining momentum globally, but that sustained commitment, investment and international cooperation are needed to translate policy commitments into practical implementation.   “The future of science will be determined not only by the discoveries we make, but also by how widely those discoveries are shared, who can participate in producing them, and how effectively they contribute to solving society’s most pressing challenges,” said Dr Gina.   ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION   For Media enquiries: please contact Veronica Mohapeloa 0834005750 or veronica.mohapeloa@dsti.gov.za