Rio de Janeiro, 29 September 2025 — In a message delivered to the opening ceremony of the 17th TWAS General Conference, Edmondo Cirielli, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) of Italy, reaffirmed Italy’s strong commitment to science diplomacy as a strategic tool for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.
“Science is a universal language aimed at advancing human progress,” Cirielli stated, highlighting the central role of science diplomacy in Italy’s foreign policy. He emphasized that international scientific cooperation is more urgent than ever, especially given high-stakes global challenges and the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Minister recalled Italy’s leadership in promoting science diplomacy, citing recent initiatives such as the G7 Academies Summit hosted by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome.
The 17th TWAS General Conference marks a major milestone: TWAS is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Cirielli praised TWAS for its decades-long contribution to international collaboration, describing the Academy as “one of the leading actors in global scientific cooperation.” He noted that the theme of this year’s conference—‘Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation for Global Development’—is a reflection of the TWAS mission and the goals of the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development.
He also commended TWAS’s efforts to empower women and young scientists, and expressed pride in the many opportunities for collaboration between TWAS and Italian universities, laboratories, and centres of excellence. “TWAS grants researchers from all over the world the opportunity to grow in their field of expertise,” he said.
Italy’s support for TWAS remains steadfast. “This is why Italy remains the top donor to TWAS,” Cirielli affirmed. He also highlighted Italy’s broader investment in science diplomacy, including the Mattei Plan to strengthen partnerships with African countries, and MAECI's global network of more than 50 science, space, and agricultural attachés.
“Scientific progress is not an isolated process,” he concluded. “On the contrary, it is closely connected with development. I congratulate TWAS once more on its activities and its cooperation with Italy.”
The 17th TWAS General Conference is taking place at the Windsor Barra Convention Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 29 September to 2 October 2025, organized in partnership by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and TWAS.
About TWAS
For over 40 years, The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS) has been a leading force in developing crucial scientific capability in the global South. A global science academy founded in 1983 in Trieste, Italy, TWAS supports sustainable prosperity through research, education, policy, and diplomacy. With its partners, TWAS has graduated over 1,230 PhDs and awarded more than 2,300 postdoctoral fellowships to developing world scientists. The Academy also bestowed over 1,200 prizes, awarded over 2,800 research grants, trained over 750 individuals in science diplomacy, and supported over 1,400 exchange visits. TWAS is a programme unit of UNESCO.
Media Contact
Giovanni Ortolani, TWAS Public Information Officer, office: +39 040 2240-324, email: gortolani@twas.org
Cristina Serra, TWAS Staff Writer, office: +39 040 2240-429, cell +39 338 430-5210, email: cserra@twas.org