Beijing declaration calls for shared vision on science beyond 2030
The Beijing Science Declaration, released during the 2026 International Science Council (ISC) Midterm Members' Meeting and Beijing Science Dialogue held in the Chinese capital from Oct. 19 to 21, calls for a shared vision for global scientific development beyond 2030.
The declaration focuses on key issues including science as a global public good, responsible artificial intelligence, and trust between science and society. It aims to build international consensus on the future of global science.
The ISC meeting and dialogue are part of International Month 2026, organized by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and themed "Originating Innovation, Nurturing Excellence."
Led by CAST, the initiative brings together local governments, international science and technology organizations in China, national academic societies, and local science and technology associations. It aims to foster exchanges between Chinese and international science and technology communities, promote shared development, and explore the future of science and technology.
Attachment: Beijing Science Declaration (Full Text)
Beijing Science Declaration Science in a Complex World – Science for a Better Future
Beijing, China, October 2026
We, scientists, leaders of scientific organizations, representatives of governments, youth networks and other stakeholders from around the world, gathered at the Beijing Science Dialogue,
Reaffirming the right of everyone to take part in science, the importance of equitable knowledge production and access to scientific knowledge, and the benefits of scientific progress without discrimination;
Aware that science is an integral part of society, and that misinformation and disinformation can erode public trust and weaken the use of evidence in public decisions;
Reaffirming that science is a common endeavor of humanity to understand the world, improve the well-being of people and the planet and address global challenges, and that its benefits are a common public good to be shared by all;
Acknowledging that scientific exchange is the foundation of scientific and societal progress;
Recognizing that challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, access to health services, food security, the energy transition, disaster risk and the governance of emerging technologies are complex, interconnected, cross national borders and require sustained, open international cooperation;
Mindful that the international community is preparing a new global agenda for sustainability that builds on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related efforts, such as moving beyond GDP and advancing human development requiring the full breadth of scientific disciplines from fundamental to applied research,
Recognizing that knowledge and evidence generated across the natural, social and human sciences are essential to informing decision-making and policy implementation.
Affirming that openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and mutual respect are fundamental to scientific progress;
Concerned that geopolitical shifts, unequal access to scientific resources, gaps in scientific capacity and barriers to cooperation are straining the global science system at a time of rapid scientific, technological and societal change;
Recognizing that artificial intelligence (AI) brings major opportunities for research but also risks to research integrity, the reliability of knowledge, data governance, accountability, public trust and the environment, and is changing the pace and paradigm of science itself, with consequences for researchers and for knowledge as a public good that global debates on AI have largely overlooked;
Acknowledging that the International Science Council (ISC) and its Members have been building cooperation platforms and acting as bridges to bring scientists from around the world to work closely together;
Commit to the following actions and call on the broader international community to join us in:
I. Safeguarding an open, inclusive and cooperative global science system
1.In view of the considerable divide between global research networks and shared research infrastructure between different regions of the world, promote equitable capacity sharing and strengthening of all research institutions, ensuring that developing regions are not merely sites for data collection, but co-leaders in data analysis and intellectual property ownership.
2.Strengthen global research networks, facilitate mobility and shared research infrastructure, that connect countries, disciplines and institutions.
3.Launch discussions about equitable sharing of the financial load with a view of redressing the highly unequal nature of relations which characterize international research.
4.Uphold scientific and academic freedom, including the right of researchers to cooperate internationally without discrimination or undue interference, together with their responsibility to respect research integrity and ethical norms, as freedom and responsibility reinforce each other.
5.Advance open science and open data, and share knowledge and resources equitably, with particular attention to building capacity in developing regions, so that no country or group is left behind.
6.Use scientific cooperation, science diplomacy, multilateral partnerships to build mutual understanding, trust, and solidarity globally and sustain global open ecosystems without straining them or further deepening regional divides.
II. Advancing responsible AI for shared global challenges
7.Set shared norms for AI in science, adapted to various disciplines, that define its appropriate use and protect the authenticity, reproducibility, verifiability, interoperability, and traceability of research, and ensuring that credit is given where it is due.
8.Ensure that AI in science serves human well-being, sustainable development and public interest, and does not deepen global divisions or create new digital divides.
9.Treat the responsible use of AI in producing knowledge as a core question for society, and develop shared rules, ethical principles and governance models that make AI safe, fair, transparent, explainable, accountable, non-discriminatory and respectful of diversity, and that will strengthen human scientific capacity in a positive way and safeguard against its abuse.
10.Base AI governance on scientific evidence, with the social sciences involved from the outset, so that it addresses social, economic, environmental, cultural, psychological and ethical effects as well as technical ones.
11.Expand international cooperation on AI through capacity-building, knowledge sharing, talent development, mutual learning and exchange.
III. Strengthening science-society links through trust and participation
12.Strengthen science communication, education and public engagement, including sustained multistakeholder dialogue, so that science becomes a shared endeavor in which the voices of marginalized individuals, communities and populations are also heard, and promote science literacy on a global scale.
13.Earn and retain public trust through transparent and accountable practices: uphold research integrity, communicate uncertainty, distinguish clearly between facts, scientific judgments and value choices, and take part openly and responsibly in public debate and decision-making.
14.Work with media, science writers, educators, community leaders, artists, storytellers and all parts of society so that scientific knowledge reaches everyone and leads to action that improves people's lives.
IV. Shaping the future together
15.Secure a systemic, sustained and institutionalized place for science in global agenda-setting and public policy-making, with opportunities for early-career scientists to contribute, so that scientists can help design, implement and evaluate new global agendas for sustainability.
16.Co-design, co-develop and co-deliver solutions with governments, businesses, civil society and the public.
17.Critically examine and reform global research assessment, metrics and reward systems to focus on the quality of research rather than overemphasizing career advancement and individual performance metrics.
18.Give meaningful voice to all disciplines and knowledge systems, and all cultures and regions to reduce inequalities and enable all to participate in and benefit from science.
We commit to support and enhance openness, cooperation, freedom, responsibility and integrity in science, and to a global science system that is equitable and inclusive, serves people and the planet, is trusted by society, and informs policy. Building on work already under way, we will use this Declaration to strengthen science as a bridge between countries, societies and peoples, fostering global solidarity and collective stewardship for humanity's shared future, and advancing our shared commitment to global wellbeing, peace, resilience and sustainable development.