Urban diplomacy – What role do cities play in the diplomatic arena?
17th November 2022 — On the 8th November 2022, DLR Projektträger hosted its fourth "Brussels: FutureTalks" event series – for the first time in the presence of its Brussels representative office. The event on the topic of "Urban Diplomacy: Cities as Partners & Innovators in Diplomacy?" was organised jointly with the Institute for Qualifying Innovation Research and Consulting (IQIB) and the SciTech DiploHub (Barcelona). It followed on from the successful cooperation between the partners within the framework of the "EU Science Diplomacy Alliance" co-initiated by DLR Projektträger 2021.
Addressing global challenges with urban diplomacy
DLR Projektträger invited 30 high-calibre practitioners from cities, networks and UN organisations as well as experts from the fields of technology, innovation, migration and climate to the event. The meeting provided an opportunity to network, discuss already tested approaches and develop new methods to strengthen urban diplomacy. The discussion showed that in view of the current, often global challenges that quickly exceed the administrative capacities of cities, the latter must rely on alliances among themselves. This makes it all the more important to jointly develop and use a toolbox for urban diplomacy.
Cities also play a central role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, complying with the Paris Agreement and implementing the New Urban Agenda. Finally, in an increasingly complex world, urban diplomacy can be a powerful tool to balance or complement national policies. "If we succeed in strengthening and mobilising urban innovation hotspots, urban diplomacy can make a crucial contribution to overcoming global challenges," sums up Oliver Rohde, who heads the Policy Department of European and International Cooperation at DLR Projektträger.
Urban Diplomacy as a new field of work for DLR Projektträger
At the end of the workshop, all participants agreed that the exchange should be continued. The goal: to develop networks for all actors involved as well as capacity building programmes for cities and municipalities and to include urban diplomacy in the new European agenda for science diplomacy. "The format of Brussels: FutureTalks as a platform for open exchange on future issues has now also proven itself in attendance. The experts were able to develop concrete ideas for shaping urban diplomacy. In 2023, we will continue to focus on FutureTalks," explains Stella Reschke from the DLR Projektträger Brussels office, which organises the series of events.
If urban innovation hotspots can be strengthened and mobilised, urban diplomacy can make a decisive contribution to tackling global challenges.
The format of the Brussels: FutureTalks as a platform for open exchange on future issues has now also proven itself in attendance. The experts were able to develop concrete ideas for shaping urban diplomacy. In 2023, we will continue to focus on FutureTalks.
