Group of Seven ministers of science and technology wrapped up a three-day meeting in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture on Tuesday, pledging to help set up an international network that gets more women involved in science.
The representatives from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States as well as the European Union also agreed to promote research on the brain. This could help address dementia and other aging-related disorders, as many countries are grappling with aging populations.
During the meeting, the ministers "recognized that science, technology and innovation are essential for social and economic development, and for addressing global challenges such as health, energy, agriculture and the environment," according to a document they issued called the Tsukuba Communique. The city of Tsukuba is known for its concentration of research institutions.