Science and Technology Diplomacy Summer School
SciTech DiploHub, the Barcelona Science and Technology Diplomacy Hub and IBEI, the leading academic and research institution on global affairs from Barcelona, have partnered to offer a first-of-its-kind training in Science and Technology Diplomacy in a will to train the next cohort of leaders of a field that is increasingly essential to tackle humanity’s global challenges.
Aimed at mid-career scientists and technology experts, as well as diplomats and international relations practitioners, the Summer School offers an immersive 40+ hours course that covers the most pressing issues on Science and Technology Diplomacy ranging from sustainable development to technology diplomacy, with a special focus on Europe, the Mediterranean and the role of global cities.
Can’t wait to start learning about Science and Technology Diplomacy? Dive into the basics now!
Can’t wait to start learning about Science and Technology Diplomacy? Dive into the basics now!

Who will attend?
This executive training is aimed at leading professionals aspiring to make an impact on today’s transnational challenges through furthering cross-border understanding and science and technology cooperation. Participants should have a graduate degree in a relevant field (i.e. any branch of science, technology, engineering, international affairs, public policy and political science) and ideally at least 3-5 years of related work experience in research, international relations or project management. Participants must demonstrate an interest in global issues, as well as a will to transcend professional silos and engage in interdisciplinary work. Demonstrated leadership capabilities as well as social commitment will be appreciated.
Tentative Program
Academics
Lectures will cover relevant emerging issues such as Global Health, Cyberspace Diplomacy and Climate Change, as well as incorporating Mediterranean and European perspectives and case-studies. Lectures are organized following 6 different modules
- Introduction to Science and Technology Diplomacy
- Science and Technology Diplomacy in the Mediterranean
- Science and Technology Diplomacy in Europe
- Technology Diplomacy
- Sustainable Development and Science Diplomacy
- National and urban approaches to Science Diplomacy
Professional development
Drawing from the understanding that current global challenges need a multidisciplinary, cross-cultural approach, participants will be able to gain hands-on knowledge with practical sessions on science diplomacy skills, including:
- Negotiation and intercultural skills.
- Role-play simulation and professional development activities.
- Professional Networking opportunities.
On-the-field lectures
By visiting leading institutions and projects on Science and Technology Diplomacy, participants will complement academic activities with real world cases that will allow them to understand the specificities and complexities large scale international Science Diplomacy projects require. Past visits include, but are not limited to, the Union for the Mediterranean and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.

Past lecturers

MAURIZIO BONA
Senior Advisor to the Director General of CERN for relations with international organizations, parliaments and scientific policy

NASSER KAMEL
Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean

Senior Project Director, AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy, and member of the RISE High-Level Advisory Group to European Commissioner Carlos Moedas

ERNESTO FERNANDEZ POLCUCH
Chief of Section, Science Policy and Partnerships, Division of Science Policy and Capacity Building, Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO.

LUK VAN LANGENHOVE
Coordinator of the H2020 program EL-CSID, Academic Director at the Institute for European Studies (IES) at VUB, Associate Senior Research Fellow at UNU-CRIS.

Research Associate in AI in and for diplomacy at DiploFoundation

JOSEP MARIA MARTORELL
Associate Director at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS)

OCTAVI QUINTANA
Director of the PRIMA Foundation – Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area. Former Director of the European Research Area.

ALEXIS ROIG
CEO, SciTech DiploHub


ANA ELORZA
Science Advice Coordinator, FECYT

JORGE BORREGO
Senior Deputy Secretary General for Energy and Climate Action, Union for the Mediterranean

SHAUN RIORDAN
Former British Diplomat, Director Of The Chair For Diplomacy And Cyberspace At The European Institute Of International Studies And Senior Visiting Fellow Of The Clingendael Institute

JUAN PABLO SORIANO
Lecturer and post doctoral fellow in International Relations, UAB

IZASKUN LACUNZA
International Projects Head of Unit, FECYT

SILVIA BRAVO I GALLART
Communications and Outreach specialist

JOAN CLOS
Distinguished fellow, IBEI, and former Executive Director, UN-Habitat

MIGUEL GARCIA-HERRAIZ
Deputy Secretary General for Water and the Environment, Union for the Mediterranean

EMMANUELLE GARDAN
Head of Sector Higher Education and Research, Union for the Mediterranean

ROBERT KISSACK
Associate Professor and Head of Studies, IBEI

CLAIRE MAYS
Executive Director, H2020 INSSCIDE

CHARLES ROGER
Assistant Professor, IBEI

POL MORILLAS
Director, CIDOB
Barcelona: a hotspot for science and global affairs
This comprehensive and first-of-its-kind training course in Science & Technology Diplomacy will take place from 31st August to 4th September in one of world’s innovation hotspots: Barcelona. Hosted by IBEI, at Pompeu Fabra University Ciutadella Campus (UPF), the Summer School is located at the heart of Barcelona, only a 10 minute walk from the sea and the innovation district 22@.
With world-class research institutions, Barcelona hosts facilities such as the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, the ALBA Synchrotron or the National Genome Analysis Center, the headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean, the UN-HABITAT City Resilience Profiling Programme (UN-HABITAT/CRPP) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Barcelona is among the top innovative hubs worldwide, the 3rd non-state capital in terms of consular representation and one of the leading cities in global municipalism – the perfect place for science and technology diplomacy.
SciTech DiploHub takes no institutional positions on policy issues. All statements of fact and expressions of opinion contained in any content on this site, related pages and social networks are the sole responsibility of the author or commentator. References to specific nonprofit, private, or government entities are not an endorsement.