Minister of Science, Dr Nzimande, has called for the harnessing of science to serve the most vulnerable and marginalised communities.
The science, technology and innovation industry holds immense promise for humanity to build a just and humane world. But this can only be achieved if we purposefully harness science, technology and innovation to serve the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of society.
Dr Blade Nzimande was speaking during the official opening of the annual Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) 2025 at the CSIR Convention Centre in Pretoria. The theme was inspired by a national call adopted by his department to ensure that all aspects of national development are driven by science, technology and innovation.
Dr Nzimande expressed that we must consistently raise the levels of public awareness about the value of science.
The event attracted over 6,000 delegates, including scientists, policymakers, youth innovators, entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives.
The 2025 Science Forum marks ten years since it was first held in 2015. Over the past decade, Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) has grown in strength, attracting eminent scientists and experts in various scientific fields.
This year, participants took part in over 38 side events and 91 high-level panel discussions on topics including science diplomacy, inclusive innovation, disruptive technologies, science journalism, and the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa.
Science Forum South Africa 2025 Recap ✨
What an inspiring week at the CSIR Convention Centre in Pretoria! Thank you to everyone who stopped by, connected with us, and picked up a copy of our magazine. 🌍✨#ScienceForumSA2025 #AfricanScienceStars pic.twitter.com/p2VqnaDWDt
— African Science Stars (@AfriScienceStar) December 8, 2025
Dr Nzimande also highlighted the need for Africa to forge a radically different future, expressing the need for African countries to refrain from depending on the generosity of external donors, regardless of their benign intentions.
“We need to be more forceful about extricating the African continent from the legacies of neo-colonialism and dependent ‘development. To enable this fundamental shift, we believe Africa desperately needs what I call a Sovereign Research Agenda for Africa”.
Also see: Female scientists honoured for groundbreaking research addressing Africa’s challenges
Feature Image: Pexels
