G7 and Quad Countries Deepen Technology Coordination

Coordination of research and technology initiatives was high on the agenda at last week’s summit of the Group of Seven, comprising the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.

In a joint statement released at the conclusion of their meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, the countries summarized commitments to better protect dual-use technologies from exploitation, enhance nuclear non-proliferation , and accelerate progress toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through a new G7 Clean Energy Economy Action Plan , among many other initiatives.

The countries’ science ministers also met just prior to the summit and issued their own joint statement outlining shared priorities in areas such as open access, research security, international talent mobility, and sustainable use of outer space.

For instance, the ministers declared support for “immediate open and public access to government-funded scholarly publications and scientific data” and are set to release a white paper on “best practices for secure and open research.” They also warned of growing problems from orbital debris and emphasized the need to mitigate the effects of new satellite constellations on Earth-bound astronomy .

Leaders of the Quad countries, comprising Australia, Japan, India, and the United States, also met during the G7 summit. Among their announcements , the group issued joint principles on standards development for critical and emerging technologies and launched the Quad Investors Network , which will funnel public and private investment from the four nations into “critical technologies and supply chain resilience to develop innovative solutions to the greatest economic and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.”

They also highlighted the inaugural cohort of the Quad Fellowship, which will annually support 100 students in pursuing STEM graduate studies in the U.S.