G-20 was started after the Asian financial crisis of 1997 – 1998 as an informal forum for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the most important industrialised and developing economies to discuss international economic and financial stability. It is also a platform that has brought countries that have developed some of the great innovations in the world. Here are some of the G20 country innovation.
Argentina was among the first countries (after the U.S.) to approve GM soybeans in 1996. Rapid adoption of herbicide-tolerant soy revolutionized farming. Today, over 95% of Argentina’s soybean production is GM. This innovation helped Argentina become the world’s third-largest soybean producer, boosting exports and making soy a cornerstone of its economy.
Australia, through Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation CSIRO, pioneered the technology behind Wi-Fi, solving a core technical challenge in wireless data transmission. They solved the problem of radio signal interference inside buildings, developing a method for transmitting high-speed wireless data over radio waves. Today, that innovation powers nearly every connected device on the planet.
Brazil's large-scale sugarcane ethanol industry was spurred by the National Alcohol Program (Pró-Álcool) in 1975, creating a major renewable fuel source with significant socio-economic and environmental benefits, such as reducing fossil fuel dependence and carbon emissions. The industry uses the entire sugarcane plant, with the leftover bagasse for energy. Brazil is now a global leader in ethanol production, with flex-fuel vehicles and a supportive policy framework like RenovaBio driving its continued expansion and global export.
Canada has emerged as a global leader in the quantum technology industry, supported by decades of investment and a comprehensive National Quantum Strategy (NQS) focusing on research, talent, and commercialization. The country boasts a vibrant ecosystem of world-class research institutions, established companies like D-Wave and Xanadu, and a growing number of quantum startups. With a strategic plan to grow the sector's economic impact, Canada aims to solidify its leadership in quantum computing, software, communications, and sensing, transforming industries and securing a leading position in the global quantum supply chain.
China boasts the world's largest and most advanced high-speed rail (HSR) network, spanning over 45,000 kilometers and connecting most of the country's cities. Renowned for its speed and efficiency, the HSR system's trains can reach up to 350 km/h, with ambitious expansion plans to add more high-speed lines to connect even more cities and residents.
France has successfully established its nuclear industry through a large-scale Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) program, becoming a global leader in the technology, particularly with its development of the advanced European Pressurized Reactor (EPR). The nation's strategy involved leveraging Westinghouse designs, achieving high standardization, fostering a stable regulatory environment, and maintaining consistent public policy to build a nuclear fleet that produces nearly 80% of its electricity. French expertise in PWRs is sought internationally, with companies participating in major projects worldwide and driving innovation for the next generation of reactors.
Germany is a leader in green energy innovation, focusing on technologies like energy storage, smart grids, and hydrogen to stabilize its renewable energy system and achieve carbon neutrality. Key innovations include new solar technologies and materials, such as perovskite-based cells, and projects like agri-photovoltaics that integrate energy generation with agriculture. The country also uses advanced financing models, such as the H2Global double auction for hydrogen, and implements comprehensive strategies to promote demand and integration of green energy across all sectors.
India's Aadhaar program is the world's largest biometric digital identity system, providing over 1.4 billion unique, 12-digit numbers linked to demographic and biometric data for residents.Overseen by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Aadhaar enables transparent and direct delivery of government subsidies and benefits, reducing fraud and inefficiencies by linking services directly to individuals' digital IDs. It serves as a crucial tool for identity verification in India, functioning similarly to a social security number and becoming a cornerstone of the nation's digital infrastructure.
Indonesia's palm oil innovations focus on sustainability and efficiency, with initiatives in green processing (water recycling, energy efficiency), advanced harvesting and transport tools (digital egrek, electric wheelbarrows), enhanced seed resistance (Ganoderma-resistant DxP Dami Mas IGR seeds), waste utilization (palm kernel shells), digital supply chain management (traceability systems, NFC logging), improved food safety (automated sampling, MOSH/MOAH testing), and innovative multi-stakeholder approaches like the Forest and Communities for Sustainable Palm Oil (FoKSBI) platform to foster collaboration for a sustainable future.
Italy’s robot and automation industry is making its mark as one of the European leaders. With a total of 655 robot and automation companies, the Italian industry is the largest in Europe by number of businesses, ahead of France and Germany. One of the industry’s key strengths is within packaging machinery and automation. Italy has the highest share of the global packaging machinery market at 16.5% with a turnover of €8.1 billion in 2021, ahead of Germany with an estimated market share of 14.9% according to UCIMA. Exports account for 78% of the Italian packaging machinery’s turnover.
Japan's Shinkansen (Bullet Train) has innovated in speed, safety, efficiency, and comfort through advancements like aluminum alloys, tilting carriages, Automatic Train Control (ATC) for safety on dedicated tracks, and the next-generation Chuo Shinkansen maglev project. Recent innovations include AI for predictive maintenance, battery-based propulsion for emergency power (N700S), and aerodynamic nose cones to mitigate tunnel pressure waves.
South Africa's Square Kilometre Array (SKA) innovation drives advancements in big data, AI, and precision engineering, exemplified by its precursor telescope, MeerKAT. The SKA project transforms radio astronomy and fosters local scientific talent and technological capabilities, creating jobs and contributing to the economy through training programs and partnerships with local communities and industries. The SKA initiative also acts as a catalyst for broader scientific and technological development, supporting South Africa's position as a leader in big science and fostering a skilled workforce for the future, according to the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The United States leads in innovations such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G technology, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in areas like 2025's Global Innovation Index (GII), with historical innovations including the internet, airplane, light bulb, and personal computer.
