Advanced Training Course on Science Diplomacy successfully concluded in Trieste
As part of the Alliance Work Programme 2025–2026, proposed by the co-chairs – the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the University of Trieste – the Advanced Training Course “Challenges and Perspectives of Science Diplomacy in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe” took place in Trieste and Gorizia on 25-28 November.
The initiative, co-organised by the co-chairs together with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (FVG), brought together around 30 participants from several CEI Member States (Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia), including diplomats, public officials, scientists, research managers and students.
Over the course of four days, participants engaged in an intensive programme comprising 17 modules, 3 interactive workshops, 2 roundtables and 1 study visit to research infrastructures. In line with the guiding theme of the Work Programme (“Helping shape a shared vision for science diplomacy across Europe”) as well as priority 1a (“Underpinning the consolidation of the European Framework for Science Diplomacy”), they learned from Jan Marco Müller about the evolving landscape of science diplomacy in Europe.
Several speakers from the Alliance enthusiastically contributed to this capacity-building initiative, including Jean-Christophe Mauduit, Elke Dall, Peter McGrath, Katharina Höne, David Burigana, Emanuela Colombo, Christina Hainzl and Francesca Tolve.
The initiative reaffirmed the growing need for capacity building and training in science diplomacy, while highlighting the significant contribution that the countries of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe can make to global, European and regional debates at the intersection of science, technology, innovation and foreign affairs.