2024 will be a pivotal year for European science diplomacy

18th January 2024 — Climate change, loss of biodiversity, pandemic: close cooperation between actors from science, politics and diplomacy is of central importance in order to meet the current global challenges in a geopolitically complex world. The European Union's international research cooperation is therefore now focussing more strongly on science diplomacy. The DLR Projektträger is supporting this approach.

Science diplomacy as part of international cooperation

Science diplomacy is part of the Global Approach to Research and Innovation – the European Union's strategy for international cooperation in a changing world. In order to find a balance between the EU's openness and the preservation of strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty, a new European framework for science diplomacy is to be created in 2024. The DLR Projektträger is advising and supporting five working groups with science diplomacy experts from the EU member states, which are developing recommendations for action on the following questions:

• How to use science diplomacy strategically to tackle geopolitical challenges in a fragmented, multipolar world?
• How to make European diplomacy more strategic, effective and resilient through scientific evidence and strategic foresight?
• How to strengthen science diplomacy in European delegations and embassies and how to foster the EU’s global science diplomacy outreach?
• How can we build capacity for European science diplomacy?
• How can we define science diplomacy? What principles are associated with it? What is the added value of science diplomacy for the EU?

DLR Projektträger organises the First European Science Diplomacy Conference

From 18 to 19 December 2023, around 400 high-level European experts from science, politics and diplomacy met in Madrid and online to discuss these questions at the first European Science Diplomacy Conference. The aim of this event, held under the Spanish EU Council Presidency, was to discuss initial recommendations for action and possible concrete activities for this new strategic framework. The DLR Projektträger conceptualised and coordinated the conference on behalf of the European Commission. This engagement is part of the "Global Service Facility" framework contract, which is coordinated by the Department "Third Countries and International Organisations".

Capacity building & co-creative methods

In the panel discussion, Maria Josten represented the DLR Projektträger and the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance on the topic of capacity building and presented various co-creative training formats on science diplomacy. This refers to the targeted involvement of various stakeholders from science, policy and diplomacy in order to build up more experts - and thus more "capacities" - in the field of science diplomacy. "We are increasingly using co-creation methods in science diplomacy training courses and seminars," explains Josten, "This allows us to address the different perspectives of the participants and increase their motivation to get involved in the implementation of specific measures."

EU Science Diplomacy Alliance provides impetus

The EU Science Diplomacy Alliance, founded in 2021, plays a central role in this context because it drives the topic forward and many of its members are actively involved in the working groups. The DLR Projektträger is one of its founding members and, together with the Centre for Social Innovation, provides its secretariat. In this role, the DLR Projektträger provides impulses for strengthening the network and coordinates services for its members.

The video recording of the conference and the final declaration can be viewed here.

You can download the conference report here.