Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology of China attended the 44th Carnegie Group Meeting of Science Ministers on November 4th to 6th, 2016. The Meeting was attended by science ministers and advisors from Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Meeting mainly discussed three topics: new technologies for healthy aging, women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and executing on COP21. Minister Wan introduced China’s recent development of science and technology, and shared his observations on the three topics. He noted that R&D plans should be demand-driven so as to realize substantive progress in healthy aging and the prevention and control of age-related diseases. Efforts should be made to encourage and enable women to play a bigger role in STEM. He also exchanged ideas with other participants on policy measures to tackle climate change through science, technology and innovation.

Background
The Carnegie Group Meeting of Science Ministers was initiated by the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government. It serves as an informal platform for science minsters to exchange ideas about practices of national policies on science and innovation; and to talk about major scientific issues. The first session of the Meeting was held in early 1991 in the United States. Currently, there are 14 participating parties included Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.