WHAT IS THE ASIA-EUROPE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DIPLOMACY INITIATIVE FOR YOUNG LEADERS?
The Asia-Europe Science & Technology Initiative for Young Leaders is a new project of ASEF’s Education Department which conducts research and connects academics, diplomats, professionals and students engaged in international collaborations related to science, technology, and innovation in Asia and Europe.
The project offers a unique opportunity for Asia-Europe cooperation on emerging trends and strategies in the field of Science Technology Diplomacy. The project aims to:
Facilitate Intellectual Exchange
Strengthen Networks
Contribute
THE ASIA-EUROPE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIPLOMACY REPORT
The research report titled ‘Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Report: Mapping Science & Technology Diplomacy Strategies and Actions in the Two Regions’ was conducted in 2024. The Report was launched in April 2025 and maps the different country strategies, priorities, policy tools and their performance across 40+ ASEF member countries and the European Union, providing insights and recommendations to the relevant institutions on areas for enhanced collaboration within and across the two regions.
The Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Report explores Science & Technology Diplomacy using quantitative and qualitative analysis, including documentary analysis and interviews to map national strategies, priorities, policy tools and practices in the field of science diplomacy.
The Report addresses two main questions:
(1) What strategies do countries in Asia and Europe have for Science Diplomacy?
(2) What initiatives and tools are being used to implement these strategies?
ASEF enlisted the support of Country Informants from 41 ASEF member countries and for the European Union to conduct desk research and interviews with relevant stakeholders in these countries to provide detailed insights into their science diplomacy strategies and actions; identifying the main stakeholders within the Science & Technology Diplomacy field and their actions.
The Report identifies common areas and themes, as well as the priorities in different countries and regions in Asia and Europe in the field of Science Diplomacy. It aims to provide insights and recommendations to the relevant institutions on areas for enhanced collaboration within and across the two regions.
Read the full Report here.
Part of ASEF’s work is to attend and contribute to regional and international forums to promote interregional cooperation, intellectual exchange, and to the further strengthening of the international Science & Technology Diplomacy network.
In 2024, ASEF attended, organised, and supported 2 regional conferences and 2 international forums.
The Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum in Kyoto, Japan
Between 6-8 October, 2024, we were invited to attend the 21st Science and Technology in Society Forum in Kyoto, Japan. The Forum gathered 1,400+ scientists, policymakers, and global leaders to discuss topics such as Energy, Earth and Commons, Climate Risks, Life Sciences, Innovative Engineering, Cooperation in S&T, S&T Education, and Digital Technologies.
Read more about the event and ASEF’s participation here.
The World Science Forum and Regional Conferences on Collaboration in Academia
Between 18-23 November, 2024, ASEF was in Budapest, Hungary to contribute to 2 regional conferences on collaboration in academia and to organise an official Side Event to the World Science Forum 2024.
The 2 regional conferences were organised on 18-29 November, by the Central European Scientific Society of Innovation and Technology (CESSIT), the Tempus Public Foundation (TPF), the Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates (DOSZ), the Corvinus University of Budapest (CUB), Ludovika University of Public Service and Edutus University in partnership with ASEF, and were on the topics of ‘Academic Competitiveness: The Future of European Higher Education, Research and Development’ and ‘Collaboration & Competitiveness: The Future of Science, Technology, and Innovation’.
On 20 November, ASEF organised an official Side Event to the World Science Forum. The Panel discussion entitled ‘Bridging Continents & Advancing Science: The Future of Asia-Europe Science Diplomacy’ brought Country Informants from the Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Report to present their initial key findings from their research.
Read more about the regional conferences and the presentation of the preliminary findings of the Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Report at the World Science Forum Side-Event here.
EUSDA and UNESCO Workshop on Science Diplomacy alongside the Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy
On 27 March, 2025, the European Science Diplomacy Alliance (EUSDA) and UNESCO organised a workshop on science diplomacy training at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
ASEF contributed to the workshop online, presenting an in-depth overview of key providers and emerging trends in science diplomacy training across Asia and Europe, drawing on findings from the Report. Through the presentation, ASEF showcased the mapping of the organisations involved and highlighted the most in-demand training topics, exploring both the commonalities and differences in training approaches worldwide.
Read more about the workshop and the findings presented here.
WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE ASIA-EUROPE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DIPLOMACY INITIATIVE?
In 2024, we engaged young researchers from 40+ ASEF countries to work on the Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Report. These chosen people were tasked to act as Country Informants, mapping the different country strategies, priorities, policy tools and their performance in their countries and combine their findings into a Narrative Country Report. These Country Informants were selected through an Open Call and allocated to a research country either based on citizenship or on strong connection to and knowledge of that country.
TESTIMONIALS
Want to hear directly from the Country Informants about their experience as part of the Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Initiative? Click your way to our Medium Blog, where you can find articles detailing the experience and learnings of our Country Informants. Click the links below to access some of the articles directly.
Joining the International Decade of Sciences
Written by Zane ŠIME (Latvia) and Elaine YEAP (Malaysia)
Leveraging Geopolitics on Health Equity: A Global Perspective from the World Science Forum 2024
Written by Sheena Joy PALCIS (the Philippines)
PARTNERS AND COLLABORATION
Are you interested in engaging in or collaborating with us on this project? Please do not hesitate to contact us at scitech[at]asef.org.
