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:

• Increase awareness and information available on the Science & Technology Diplomacy ecosystems, key stakeholders and their initiatives across Asia and Europe
• Increase connectivity and collaboration between Asian and European stakeholders in Science and Technology Diplomacy through cross-sectoral exchanges
• Increase knowledge and skills of young leaders in the field of Science and Technology Diplomacy: young diplomats, research managers, scientists

ACTIVITIES

2024 Activities

The research report titled “Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Report” aims to map out the different country strategies, priorities, policy tools and their performance across 50 ASEF member countries, the European Union and ASEAN Secretariat, and provide insights and recommendations to the relevant institutions on areas for enhanced collaboration within and across the two regions – Mapping Science & Technology Diplomacy Strategies.

The report explores Science & Technology Diplomacy using 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?

The findings of the report were also presented at high-level forums:

• The Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum in Kyoto, Japan
• The World Science Forum and Regional Conferences on Collaboration in Academia

Read more here.

2025 Activities

As part of the Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Initiative, in 2025, we will conduct 3 activities:

1.Country Focused Workshop Series entitled “Navigating Science and Technology Diplomacy Ecosystems” | Online | April – July 2025

This workshop series builds upon the research done in 2024 for the Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Report. which mapped Science and Technology Diplomacy strategies, priorities, and tools across Asia and Europe, providing a mapping of the status of Science Diplomacy across the two regions. This year’s Country Focused Workshop Series aims to (1) increase awareness and information available on the S&T Diplomacy ecosystem of selected Asian countries, introduce key stakeholders and their activities, as well as (2) identify overlapping interest and potential avenues for collaboration between Asian and European stakeholders in S&T Diplomacy.

The sessions will take place online and focus on four (4) countries:

1. Malaysia (April)
2. Thailand (May)
3. Kazakhstan (June)
4. Indonesia (July)

2. Capacity Building Programme | Online | October – December 2025

The 8-week long online, interactive training would invite ca. 100 young diplomats and research managers from 50 countries from Asia and Europe (2 representative per country), working in the international sphere on science, technology and innovation related matters.

The training will:

• facilitate knowledge exchange and mutual learning on the science and technology diplomacy ecosystems in Asia and Europe;
• build skills in intercultural science and technology diplomacy communication, and
• build peer-to-peer networks among participants to facilitate future dialogue and collaboration.

3. Asia-Europe Youth Summit on Science and Technology Diplomacy, held alongside the 2^nd European Science Diplomacy Conference | Copenhagen, Denmark | 15-18 December 2025

Selected participants will attend an in-person Youth Summit, where they will engage in deeper discussions on the topics through case studies, simulations & collaborative learning. They will jointly draft a declaration on Youth Perspectives on Asia-Europe Cooperation on Science Diplomacy to be delivered at the 2^nd European Science Diplomacy Conference.