The Globelics International Conference 2025 was held from 24 to 26 November 2025 at the National Research Foundation (NRF) in Pretoria, South Africa, under the theme “Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development to Build Resilience for Global Challenges.” Organized by a consortium of South African members of the Globelics Network, the conference was co-hosted by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the DSI/NRF Trilateral Chair in Transformative Innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Sustainable Development at the University of Johannesburg, in collaboration with the Tshwane University of Technology, the University of the Witwatersrand, and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).
Held during South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the conference provided a timely platform for examining how innovation systems can address growing inequality, climate change, geopolitical uncertainty, and fragile economic growth, particularly in developing countries. Discussions emphasized that innovation should be understood not only as a source of technological progress, but also as a mechanism for building resilient societies capable of responding to complex global challenges through inclusive and sustainable development. The conference also sought to strengthen the voice of Africa and the Global South in international policy debates by contributing evidence-based recommendations relevant to the G20 agenda.
The academic programme reflected the broad scope of contemporary innovation studies. Participants explored topics including innovation and inequality reduction; climate crisis and sustainable innovation; geopolitical disruptions and resilient innovation systems; digital transformation and data infrastructure; innovation policy for global development goals; multi-level innovation systems; innovation and capabilities in firms and economies; and theoretical and methodological advances in innovation and development studies. Together, these themes highlighted the importance of integrating technological capabilities, institutional learning, and collaborative governance to achieve long-term sustainable development.
The conference combined plenary lectures, parallel paper sessions, poster presentations, special sessions, and policy dialogues, encouraging interaction between academics, policymakers, development agencies, business representatives, and civil society organizations. A dedicated session commemorated the intellectual contributions of Professor Richard Nelson, recognizing his pioneering work on national innovation systems and his lasting influence on the Globelics community. Participants also engaged in discussions that connected academic research with practical policy challenges, reinforcing the network’s longstanding commitment to competence building and evidence-based policymaking.
A particularly distinctive feature of the conference was its close connection with the Science Forum South Africa (SFSA), which followed immediately after the meeting. This sequencing enabled participants to extend discussions on science, technology, and innovation policy while strengthening collaboration among researchers, governments, funding agencies, and international organizations. By linking the Globelics conference with one of Africa’s leading science policy events, the organizers expanded opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue and policy engagement.
Overall, the Globelics International Conference 2025 reaffirmed the network’s commitment to promoting innovation as a driver of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development. By bringing together scholars and practitioners from across the world, with particular attention to the perspectives of the Global South, the conference strengthened international collaboration, advanced debates on innovation systems, and contributed to shaping policy responses to the economic, social, environmental, and technological challenges confronting contemporary societies.