This year’s conference focuses on innovation for sustainable and inclusive development to build resilience in the context of growing inequality, climate change, and geopolitical disruptions, particularly as they affect developing nations. Against the backdrop of South Africa’s G20 presidency, the Globelics conference serves as a crucial intellectual forum that aligns with and reinforces the G20 objectives. Both platforms emphasise the transformative power of innovation in addressing global challenges by promoting collaborative innovation policies that prioritise inclusivity and sustainability. The conference will draw from the G20 discussion and contribute insights and recommendations that can shape the leadership role of Africa and the Global South on the world stage, ensuring that the voices of developing nations are amplified in the G20’s decisions and outcomes.
The conference will precede the Science Forum South Africa (SFSA), scheduled for November 25-28, 2025. SFSA is widely recognised as one of the most significant events on the African continent for discussing science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy. This forum hosts thousands of international attendees, including policymakers, academia, science funders, industry representatives, and civil society, who come together to discuss the current and future roles of science in society. SFSA will be conveniently located within walking distance of the Globelics Conference venue so we encourage Globelics attendees to participate in SFSA’s vibrant discussions.
This year’s conference is organised by a consortium of Globelics members in South Africa, co-hosted by South Africa’s National Research Foundation, and the DSI/NRF Trilateral Chair in Transformative Innovation, the 4IR and Sustainable Development (University of Johannesburg), with partners in Tshwane University of Technology, the University of Witwatersrand, and the Human Sciences Research Council.
Conference Themes
The conference welcomes papers that connect innovation efforts to sustainable and inclusive development goals. Suggested themes and sub-themes include:
Innovation and Inequality Reduction
- Innovation systems addressing socio-economic disparities
- Innovation in, for and by marginalised communities
- Indigenous knowledge, informal sector, innovation and development
- Gender, innovation and development
- Skilled migration, brain drain and innovation
Climate Crisis and Sustainable Innovation
- Innovation as a tool for climate adaptation and mitigation
- Policy strategies for fostering green innovation
- Innovation, sustainable development and energy in the South
Geopolitical Disruptions and Resilient Innovation Systems
- Innovation system responses to global instability
- Regional collaboration to strengthen innovation and resilience
- Institutional frameworks for multistakeholder engagement
Digital Transformation and Data Infrastructure
- Digital innovation and marginalised communities
- Case studies of digital transformation in developing regions
- Digital technologies for the green transition in developing countries
Innovation Policy for Global Development Goals
- Reflexive governance and policy experimentation for innovation
- Public-private partnerships for innovation
- Science, technology and innovation policy and politics
Multi-level innovation systems
- Technological systems, learning and innovation
- Sectoral innovation systems, industrial policy and development
- Technological infrastructure and technological capabilities
- National, regional and local innovation systems
- University relationships with industry and society: the developmental university
Innovation and capabilities in firms and economies
- Work organisation, education and economic development
- Trade, FDI, value chains and global innovation networks
- Innovation, growth and catching up
- Organisational learning, firm capabilities
- Innovation management and entrepreneurship
Theoretical and methodological advances in Innovation & Development Studies
- Empirical methodologies, data requirements, indicators, different approaches and methodologies
- New methods in Innovation & Development
- Theoretical developments in innovation studies
Conference Structure
The conference will feature:
- Plenary sessions: Presentations by leading experts on innovation and development. Presentations by leading experts on innovation and development. This year, the conference will feature a dedicated session to commemorate the contributions by the late Professor Richard Nelson, recognising his key role in Globelics and major impact in the field of innovation.
- Paper parallel tracks: Thematic paper oral presentations across multiple tracks.
- Special sessions: Focused discussions dedicated to showcasing specific projects, emerging research, and topical issues.
- Policy engagements: Dedicated policy dialogues will bring together policymakers, development agencies, business leaders, community organisations, and researchers to address critical topics aligned with the conference theme and South Africa’s 2025 G20 priorities.
- Poster sessions: Interactive displays to present research findings and projects in a visually engaging format.
- Cultural and networking events: Showcasing South Africa’s innovation ecosystem and cultural heritage.
Opportunities for PhDs and Early Career Scholars
- Early-career researchers (i.e. registered postdoctoral fellows) and PhD students are encouraged to participate. PhD students can participate in the PhD paper competition – please mark in your submission if you are applying for the PhD Paper Award.
- Early career and PhD student papers that are highly ranked in the review process may be considered for travel support (please note that travel support is very limited and cannot be guaranteed, so we encourage participants to source for alternative sources of funding to cover for travel).
Local Organising Committee
- Erika Kraemer-Mbula, TRCTI, University of Johannesburg
- Rebecca Hanlin, TRCTI, University of Johannesburg
- Mpho Mogotsi, TRCTI, University of Johannesburg
- Wandile Kelly Mlilo, TRCTI, University of Johannesburg
- Siphiwe Masoka, TRCTI, University of Johannesburg
- Dulcie Dirwai, TRCTI, University of Johannesburg
- Jean-Luc Mubenga-Tshitaka, TRCTI, University of Johannesburg
- Phindile Mahlangu, TRCTI, University of Johannesburg
- Rasigan Maharajh, Tshwane University of Technology
- Mario Scerri, Tshwane University of Technology
- Glenda Kruss, HSRC
- Mammo Muchie, Tshwane University of Technology
- Geci Karuri-Sebina, University of the Witwatersrand
- Diran Soumonni, University of the Witwatersrand
- Sepo Hachigonta, NRF
- Refilwe Mashigo, NRF
Conference Scientific Committee
- Bengt-Ake Lundvall (Denmark)
- Erika Kraemer-Mbula (South Africa)
- Marina Szapiro (Brazil)
- Michiko Iizuka (Japan)
- Rasmus Lema (Netherlands)
- Susan Cozzens (USA)
- Andrew Cummings (El Salvador)
- Alexandre Vera-Cruz (Mexico)
- Roberta Rabellotti (Italy)
- Xiaolan Fu (UK/China)
- Ann Kingiri (Kenya)
- Julius Ecuru (Uganda)
- Caleb Adelowo (Nigeria)
- Miranda Risang Ayu Palar (Indonesia)
- Balaji Parthasarathy (India)
- Yuan Zhou (China)
- Jana Schmutzler (Colombia)
- Danilo Spinola (UK)
- Keun Lee (South Korea)
- Joanna Chataway (UK)
Contact & More Information
For more details contact Globelics2025@uj.ac.za.