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Science and Solidarity: A New Paradigm for Global Health
As part of the 2025 edition of Health: A Political Choice – The Future of Health in a Fractured World (released on October 6th), a flagship publication of the Global Governance Project, co-edited by the Global Health Centre (Geneva) and the Global Governance Program (Toronto), an article (pp. 70–71) is dedicated to “Science and Solidarity: A New Paradigm for Global Health” by Yasmine Belkaid, President of Institut Pasteur and Vice-President of the Pasteur Network, Mario Santos Moreira, President of the Pasteur Network and President Fiocruz, and Rebecca Grais, Executive Director of the Pasteur Network.
In their article, the authors argue that in a world fractured by crises and mistrust, science remains one of the few truly global connective threads. They emphasize that sustained, decentralized scientific collaboration is essential to achieving equity and preparedness in global health. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed both the immense power of scientific cooperation and the deep inequities in access to life-saving tools.
The authors call for a new paradigm—one that moves beyond selective solidarity toward shared responsibility, long-term investment, and inclusive governance. They highlight the Pasteur Network as a model of trust-based, multipolar collaboration that delivers public goods and strengthens resilience across borders.
The Pasteur Network exemplifies this vision. With over 30 member institutions across five continents—most located in the Global South—it fosters decentralized innovation and rapid responses to emerging health threats. During the COVID-19 pandemic, its members exchanged genomic data, protocols, and reagents in real time, often faster than through formal channels. These efforts were grounded in trust, scientific excellence, and long-standing partnerships.
The article concludes with a call to invest in the infrastructure of cooperation: networks, platforms, and inclusive governance mechanisms. The breakthroughs of the future, the authors argue, will not arise from isolated efforts but from organized collaboration grounded in equity and solidarity.