The University of Trieste Develops an Institutional Strategy in the Field of Science Diplomacy
On March 7, 2025, the University of Trieste (Italy) hosted a roundtable featuring Dr. Giuseppe Pastorelli, Deputy Director General of the Directorate-General for Country Promotion at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In his talk, Dr. Pastorelli emphasized Trieste’s central role in the national strategy for international scientific cooperation, particularly with developing economies, citing its dense and unique ecosystem of national and international scientific organizations.
The roundtable was part of a consultation process which the University started in 2024 to develop a strategy for science diplomacy. This process, which has been coordinated by the Vice Rector, prof. Valter Sergo, and the Rector’s Delegate for Development Cooperation, prof. Ilaria Micheli, began in May 2024 with a workshop on science diplomacy attended by international experts and University of Trieste staff. This first phase of the consultation process led to the preparation of a background document outlining the University’s positioning in science diplomacy across three key areas: capacity building, network creation and mobility, and coordination and communication.
The draft document was shared with the academic community for feedback and the improved text was subsequently discussed in additional technical roundtables, including one in September 2024 with Prof. Pierre-Bruno Ruffini, co-chair of the European Union Science Diplomacy Alliance.
The final phase of the process was marked by the March 7 roundtable and a review of the background document by the University’s governance, building the foundations of a shared institutional vision in the field of Science Diplomacy.