This page provides a living overview of science diplomacy training opportunities, learning resources and key publications, with regular updates as new initiatives become available. It brings together formal courses, online learning, workshops, seminars and professional-development opportunities from European and international organisations. This is particularly relevant in light of the EU Council Recommendation on Science Diplomacy adopted in May 2026, which encourages Member States to provide science diplomacy training for scientists, diplomats and professionals working at the interface between science and diplomacy, and to integrate science diplomacy modules into diplomatic training. The overview is intended as a practical resource for researchers, policymakers, diplomats, science advisers and other professionals interested in developing their knowledge and skills in science diplomacy.
| Training / Initiative | Organisation | Target audience | Format | Level / Duration | Link | Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Science Diplomacy MOOC (S4D4C) | S4D4C / European Science Diplomacy Alliance | Researchers, diplomats, civil servants, science advisers, students | Online / self-paced | ±15 hours | European Science Diplomacy Online Course | Excellent entry-level training; free. Particularly suitable as a common baseline for government staff and diplomatic trainees. |
| EU Science Diplomacy Alliance – Training & Professional Development | European Science Diplomacy Alliance (ESDA) | Researchers, diplomats, policymakers, science advisers and practitioners | Online courses, workshops, events | Variable | European Science Diplomacy Alliance | Key European professional network. Useful for training, networking and access to European science-diplomacy expertise. |
| CUSP – Consolidating European Science Diplomacy | EU-funded consortium / European Science Diplomacy ecosystem | Diplomats, civil servants, researchers, science advisers and practitioners | Training, workshops, platform, working groups | 2026–2029 | CUSP – CORDIS | Strategically very important for governments. Developing a European competence framework, curricula, pilot training and train-the-trainer activities. |
| AAAS–TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy | AAAS / TWAS | Scientists, diplomats, policymakers and science-diplomacy practitioners | Intensive in-person course | Several days; annual | AAAS–TWAS Science Diplomacy Course | Strong international practitioner training. Particularly useful for government staff interested in science diplomacy beyond the European context. The 2026 edition was held in Trieste. (members.aaas.org) |
| Science Diplomacy – Short Course | UCL – STEaPP | Professionals | Online | 14 weeks / 150 hours | UCL Science Diplomacy | Advanced academic/professional option. Suitable for staff seeking deeper theoretical and practical expertise. |
| Advanced Training Course on Science Diplomacy | Central European Initiative (CEI) / University of Trieste and partners | Diplomats, civil servants, researchers, research managers | In person | 4 days | CEI Science Diplomacy Training | Practice-oriented European training. Especially relevant for officials and practitioners. |
| Asia-Europe Training on Science and Technology Diplomacy | Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) | Young diplomats, government officials, research/science managers and early-career professionals | Online + Youth Summit | Several weeks + summit | ASEF Science & Technology Diplomacy | Highly relevant for government staff. Adds an Asia-Europe perspective and is particularly useful for young professionals. |
| SiDNET Training School | COST Action SiDNET | Researchers and professionals | In person | Several days | COST Action SiDNET | Relevant for technology diplomacy, particularly AI, data, cybersecurity, space and geopolitics. |
| Science Diplomacy and AI – Interactive Seminar / Winter School | Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) | Researchers, policymakers and professionals | Blended | Several days | FAU – Science Diplomacy and AI | Particularly relevant to tech diplomacy and AI, including strategic technologies, data, cybersecurity and technological sovereignty. |
| Science and Diplomacy | Rockefeller University / Hurford Science Diplomacy Initiative | Mainly early-career scientists and researchers | University course / seminar | Annual programme | Rockefeller – Science Diplomacy | Useful international example of science-diplomacy education outside Europe. |
| Science Diplomacy for Outer Space and Arctic | Université Paris-Saclay and partners | Students and young professionals | International summer school | 1 week | Paris-Saclay – Science Diplomacy Summer School | Thematic training on space, Arctic governance, technology and global commons. |
| Geneva Science Diplomacy Week | GESDA | Government officials, diplomats, scientists, business and civil-society leaders | Intensive immersive programme | 5 days | GESDA – Geneva Science Diplomacy Week | Advanced/executive-level option. Especially relevant for foresight, emerging technologies and anticipatory diplomacy. |
| Science Diplomacy in an Era of Disruption | Royal Society & AAAS | Scientists, diplomats, policymakers and international experts | Major report + policy dialogues | 2025; ongoing relevance | Royal Society – Science Diplomacy | Core reference publication, not a training course. Updates the 2010 New Frontiers in Science Diplomacy framework and is highly relevant to government agencies conceptual positioning. (royalsociety.org) |
| Royal Society Science Diplomacy Dialogues | Royal Society, often with AAAS and international partners | Senior scientists, diplomats, policymakers and experts | Roundtables, conferences and seminars | Ad hoc | Royal Society – Science Diplomacy | Useful for high-level networking and policy dialogue, rather than structured training. |
| UNESCO Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy | UNESCO | Governments, diplomats, scientists and international organisations | Ministerial dialogue | 2 days | UNESCO – Global Ministerial Dialogue | Strong multilateral dimension; particularly relevant to government agencies international and UNESCO engagement. |
| ASEF Science & Technology Diplomacy Webinar Series | ASEF | Diplomats, policymakers, researchers and wider public | Online webinars | Recurring series | ASEF Webinar Series | Accessible complement to ASEF's selective training programme; useful for wider staff engagement. |
| OECD – Science Diplomacy and STI Policy Work | OECD | STI policymakers, government officials, analysts | Reports, workshops and policy seminars | Variable | OECD STI Outlook 2025 | Not a dedicated SD training provider. Particularly useful for research security, geopolitical fragmentation, international cooperation and STI policy. |
| ICT Utopia for Researchers | SURF / Vals Plat | Researchers and research-support professionals | Research report | Research ICT, data sharing, security and infrastructure | SURF – ICT Utopia for Researchers | Not a science-diplomacy training, but relevant as a supporting example of the digital infrastructure, data-sharing and research-security conditions underpinning international research cooperation. SURF identifies the report as ICT Utopia voor onderzoekers (2017). (SURF Communities) |
| Royal Society Science Policy Primer | Royal Society / King’s Policy Institute | Research fellows and researchers | Residential course | Science-policy interface | Royal Society Science Policy Primer | Not SD-specific, but potentially useful for developing researchers' ability to engage with government and policy. (royalsociety.org) |
| Royal Society Pairing Scheme | Royal Society / UK Government Office for Science | Scientists, parliamentarians and civil servants | Reciprocal placement / shadowing | Science–policy interface | Royal Society Pairing Scheme | Very interesting model for governments. Builds direct relationships between researchers and policymakers. The 2027 cohort opens for applications in September 2026. (royalsociety.org) |
This section provides a selection of the most important and relevant reference documents on science diplomacy, including key European and international policy frameworks, reports and recommendations. It is not intended to be exhaustive: the field is evolving rapidly, and additional publications and resources will be added regularly. A more comprehensive bibliography covering academic literature, policy reports, frameworks and other relevant resources will also be developed as part of this living overview.
| Document | Organisation / Author | Year | Why it matters | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Recommendation on a European Union framework for science diplomacy | Council of the European Union | 2026 | Most important current EU policy reference. Establishes the first EU framework for science diplomacy and calls for stronger coordination, integration of SD into education and training, stronger links between diplomatic services and research organisations, and a balance between openness, security and strategic interests. | Council Recommendation – 29 May 2026 (consilium.europa.eu) |
| A European Framework for Science Diplomacy – Recommendations of the EU Science Diplomacy Working Groups | European Commission, DG Research & Innovation | 2025 | Direct substantive predecessor to the Council Recommendation. Developed by five Working Groups involving 130 experts from science and diplomacy. Sets out strategic, operational and enabling recommendations for European science diplomacy. | European Commission – Framework (Research and innovation) |
| A European Framework for Science Diplomacy – Executive Summary | European Commission | 2025 | Concise version of the European framework; particularly useful for a government webpage, briefing or internal communication. | Executive Summary (PDF) (Research and innovation) |
| Science Diplomacy in an Era of Disruption | Royal Society & AAAS | 2025 | Major global conceptual reference. Updates the landmark 2010 New Frontiers in Science Diplomacy and rethinks SD in a context of geopolitical disruption, technological change, research security and new actors. | Royal Society – Science Diplomacy (royalsociety.org) |
| New Frontiers in Science Diplomacy | Royal Society & AAAS | 2010 | Foundational document. Popularised the three classic dimensions: science in diplomacy, diplomacy for science and science for diplomacy. Important for understanding the evolution of the concept. | Royal Society – Science Diplomacy (royalsociety.org) |
| Science Diplomacy: 15 Years On | AAAS & Royal Society / Science & Diplomacy | 2024 | Collection of international perspectives examining how science diplomacy has evolved since the 2010 framework; useful as a bridge between the old and new conceptual approaches. | Royal Society – 15 Years On (royalsociety.org) |
| Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy – Report and Co-Chairs' Statement | UNESCO | 2025 | Key multilateral reference. Addresses science diplomacy in relation to open science and research security, emerging technologies, shared scientific/natural resources and science in times of crisis. | UNESCO – Global Ministerial Dialogue (UNESCO) |
| OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2025 | OECD | 2025 | Important contextual reference on geopolitical fragmentation, research security, strategic technologies and international STI cooperation. Science diplomacy is treated within the broader transformation of STI policy. | OECD STI Outlook 2025 (OECD) |
| Global Approach to Research and Innovation | European Commission / Council of the EU | 2021 | Important policy precursor to the European science-diplomacy agenda. The Council Conclusions called for the development of a European Science Diplomacy Agenda. | European Commission – Global Approach to R&I |
| Council Conclusions on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation | Council of the European Union | 2021 | Political starting point for the EU science-diplomacy process. Requested the Commission and EEAS to develop a European Science Diplomacy Agenda. | Council – Global Approach to R&I |
| Science Diplomacy: An Introduction / Science Diplomacy policy resources | S4D4C / European Science Diplomacy Alliance | 2019–2023 | Useful practical and conceptual resources developed through the major EU science-diplomacy research projects. Particularly relevant for definitions, case studies, governance and training. | European Science Diplomacy Alliance |
| Science Diplomacy: 15 Years On – Discussion Paper / Roundtable Summary | Royal Society | 2023–2024 | Useful background to the development of the Royal Society/AAAS 2025 framework; captures the debate on how SD should evolve in a changing geopolitical environment. | Royal Society – Science Diplomacy (royalsociety.org) |
