Shaping Global Responses: Key Takeaways from Think7 Summit 2025
- Elysse Le Roy & Alex Zelenski
- Apr 8
- 5 min read
Disclaimer: The insights below draw from two days of panel discussions held during the Think7 Summit 2025 in Waterloo, ON, organized by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). While the commentary highlights perspectives shared at the event, it does not represent official policies or positions.
Introduction
As global challenges multiply in complexity and urgency, this year’s Think7 Summit delivered an interesting vision for international cooperation. The Think7 (T7) is the official engagement group of the Group of Seven (G7), bringing together leading think tanks and research intuitions to develop policy recommendations for G7 leaders.
As Canada holds the 2025 G7 Presidency, the CIGI is leading the Think7 process, organizing it into four key task forces: Transformative Technologies - AI and Quantum; Digitalization of the Global Economy; Environment, Energy, and Sustainable Development; and Global Peace and Security. Across two days of panel discussions and task force presentations, a central message emerged: the G7 must evolve from being exclusively focused on internal coordination among wealthy democracies into a catalyst for agile, inclusive solutions that bridge geopolitical divides while empowering regional implementation.
“Global solutions require a global perspective; the G7 can play a leadership role as a catalyst,” noted by CIGI President Paul Sampson, setting the tone for the summit to acknowledge that business-as-usual approaches to governance are no longer sufficient. This evolution comes at a critical juncture, as mounting challenges - from climate disruption to emerging technologies - demands responses that are both globally coordinated yet locally relevant.
The Summit advanced evidence-based policy recommendations across transformative technologies, economic resilience, climate, health, and global security. Below is an overall view of the key discussions, merging highlights into a single narrative that underscores both foundational insights and action steps.
1 - Transformative Technologies: AI, Quantum, and Beyond
Emerging Dual Use Challenges: Summit delegates emphasized both the promise and the pitfalls of emerging technologies. Quantum computing, for instance, offers breakthroughs in energy efficiency and secure communications but also raises cybersecurity concerns. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance productivity and public services, yet it risks misuse in disinformation or warfare contexts. As Tracey Forrest, Director of Research for Task Force 1, remarked, “Technology is at the heart of it all…with dual use potential to both serve humanity and warfare.” This duality underscores the urgency for responsible innovation and governance frameworks that maximize benefits while mitigating risks.
Policies Responsible for Innovation: Task Force 1 on AI & Quantum recommended a G7-led observatory to track AI market dynamics and foster responsible R&D. A specialized contract group could have the capacity to coordinate quantum supply chains, accelerating cross-border research while minimizing potential security threats. From harnessing youth talent to bridging the digital divide, stakeholders called for ethically minded governance structures that prioritize transparency and human rights.
2 - The Digital Economy and Fair Data Frameworks
Building Trust and Interoperability: A core Summit takeaway was that data has become an economic resource in itself – fueling AI, digital trade, and next-gen applications. Yet trust remains fragile, a small fraction of data sees active use, and much remains locked in silos. The Fair Data Economy Task Force underlined that “interoperability” and “openness” are essential to avoid digital fragmentation and reap optimal value from data.
Empowering Citizens through Public Digital Infrastructure: From India’s expansive microfinance networks to Estonia’s mandatory e-governance, panelists showcased how robust legislation and citizen engagement can improve digital outcomes. The missing ingredient? “Meaningful public involvement in design”, as articulated by one speaker. Future data and technology policies need to foreground citizen rights — ensuring data security and citizen engagement in shaping data-driven systems.
3 - Addressing Geopolitical Friction and Advancing Global Peace
Diplomacy in a Multipolar World: Geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict in Ukraine and rising concerns in the Indo-Pacific region, remain central to G7 discussions. The Think7 Task Force 2 on the Digitalization of the Global Economy highlights the urgent need for collective action through diplomacy and humanitarian support to address these crises. The intricate relationship between trade, digitalization, and IP further complicates the geopolitical landscape. Unlike traditional trade based on mutual benefits, intellectual property often operates on exclusionary principles that create legal monopolies and temporarily stifle competition. Understanding how IP laws affect trade dynamics is essential for policymakers seeking to balance creator rights with open markets and fair competition.
4 - Global Standards with Regional Autonomy
Global Benchmarks vs. Local Realities: A recurring tension across panels was how to establish universal norms — for AI ethics, cybersecurity, or environmental benchmarks — without disregarding local nuances. Summit speakers pointed out that global rules can minimize fragmentation and ensure baseline protections (for instance, limiting harmful AI applications). However, heavy-handed international mandates may stifle regional initiatives or fail to address community-specific needs.
Agile, Context-Aware Approaches: Experts advocated for a “hybrid” governance strategy of adopting high-level global standards on critical issues such as data privacy, carbon emissions, or AI safety while enabling regional or local adaptations. Attendees cited Europe’s GDPR-inspired data protection regulations, India’s robust digital ID frameworks, and Estonia’s e-governance model as proofs of concept for tailoring universal principles to local contexts.
5 - Fostering Inclusive Partnerships, Especially with Youth
Broadening the Stakeholder Base: A recurring Summit thread was the necessity of diverse perspectives. In many sessions, speakers spotlighted youth engagement — for instance, the Y7 Youth Summit — as pivotal for ensuring policies remain future-oriented. Panelists also recognized that public-private partnerships (PPPs) can spur progress, whether in deploying clean energy solutions or scaling AI responsibly. “Neither the public nor private sector alone can address challenges of this magnitude,” one summit attendee remarked.
6 - Environment, Energy, and Sustainable Development
Coupling Energy Security with Climate Action: Experts underscored the synergy between reliable power infrastructures and emissions reduction, highlighting advanced research into renewables, energy efficiency, and carbon border adjustments as potential game-changers.
Financing and Governance: Addressing climate impacts and funding a just energy transition cannot be left to national budgets alone. Task Force 3 recommended novel mechanisms for tackling the global debt crisis in tandem with climate finance — bridging economic stability and decarbonization goals. Strong involvement of both public institutions and private investors was championed, exemplifying how thoughtful regulation and incentives can align climate ambition with real-world feasibility.
Concluding Thoughts
The Think7 Summit 2025 offered a panoramic view of the urgent hurdles confronting G7 nations — and the collaborative actions required to overcome them. As G7 President, Canada has a unique opportunity to lead during this transformative period. Bridging European traditions with North American Innovation and committed to multilateralism, Canada can leverage Think7’s recommendations to champion inclusive governance models.
By focusing on a few unifying themes — responsible tech development, fair data economies, agile diplomatic frameworks, inclusive partnerships, and sustainable energy solutions, Canada can address immediate challenges while building long-term resilience. Ultimately, harnessing youth leadership, forging cross-sector alliances, and embedding trust in new digital systems remain at the heart of this mission. As the world contends with climate crises, AI leaps, and shifting geopolitical alignments, the G7’s capacity to adapt, innovate, and collaborate will set a critical precedent for global governance.
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