Who we are
SciTech DiploHub, the Barcelona Science and Technology Diplomacy Hub, is a pioneering nonprofit public-private partnership backed by leading research centers, universities, non-profits, startups, corporations and public institutions that positions Barcelona as a global lab in science diplomacy for cities around the world.
It has the mandate to elevate the role of science, technology and cities in foreign policy and make Barcelona a more influential player on the global stage by representing its knowledge and innovation ecosystem worldwide.
Making Barcelona the world’s first city to implement a science and technology diplomacy strategy
Goals
1
To consolidate Barcelona as an innovation capital, ready to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through science and technology.
2
To position the city as an influential geopolitical actor through science diplomacy. Becoming a reliable partner thus paving the way for other global cities committed to developing their own science and technology diplomacy strategies.
3
To promote a sound and inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue to design and deploy Barcelona’s science diplomacy action plan, through partnerships among the scientific community, startups, policymakers, NGOs, the diplomatic corps, the private sector and civil society.
4
To empower a global network of top scientists and technology experts educated in Barcelona to foster international cooperation, showcase our scientific strengths abroad and help us to better understand and interpret key global issues.
5
To become a world-class think tank where scientific expertise and innovation can be harnessed in support of an evidence-based local and foreign policy.
Cities, Science and Global Governance
A new global order is arising around global cities and their markets, rather than nation-states and their borders. Big cities are economic, political and innovation powerhouses discreetly transforming the international scene, becoming essential diplomatic players and increasingly bypassing nation-states to create city-centered global policies.
At the same time, science and technology are the new driving forces in economic and social progress and have become key tools to tackle humanity’s grand challenges, from climate change to cybersecurity, being of special relevance to enable the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all their dimensions (economic development, environmental protection and social development).