The Asia-Europe Training on Science and Technology Diplomacy 2025 took place between 23 October – 4 December 2025 and was a 7-week-long online, interactive training offering engaging learning experiences to young professionals working in the intersection of science, technology, and international relations. The participants were brought together to develop their knowledge of science and technology diplomacy and build connections for stronger Asia-Europe Cooperation.

In total, 107 participants from 41 countries, selected from 2,200+ applicants, joined webinars and hands-on interactive workshops led by experts in the field, designed to build practical skills and foster cross-regional connections. They were below 35 years old representing one of the following groups:

• Civil Society: Research or Science Managers, having a supervisory or coordination role (e.g. managing research projects or teams, overseeing research areas, or supporting institutional research strategy), and are involved in international science, technology and innovation cooperation.
• Government: Diplomats and Government Officials working in the intersection of science, technology, innovation and international relations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or relevant government institutions.

Through webinars and interactive workshops, the Training covered topics such as:

• Science Impacting Diplomacy
• Diplomacy Impacting Science
• Anticipatory Diplomacy
• Innovation and Technology in Diplomacy
• The importance of understanding Personal, Cultural, and Professional lenses of yourself and other stakeholders when engaging in Science and Technology Diplomacy 

It featured speakers from these organisations: 

• UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP)
• The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China
• The Office of National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), Thailand
• BRIN – National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
• International Science Council (ISC) Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific
• The International Institute for Science Diplomacy and Sustainability (IISDS-UCSI)
• Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA)
• The Tech Diplomacy Network, Austria
• The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)
• Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland
• EUTOPIA European University
• United Nations University (UNU)
• The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
• The German Aerospace Center (DLR) – Project Management Agency
• The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippines
• United Kingdom Science & Technology Network (UK STN)

ASEF was also glad to have worked with Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA), developing the GESDA Quantum Diplomacy game together for an online setting – being the first organisers to facilitate the game online for one of the workshop weeks! 

Selected Webinars were open to the public. You can learn more about them and watch the recording of these webinars here.

The Youth Summit brought together 40 Asians and Europeans from 29 countries to Copenhagen, Denmark from the online Training, to join the Asia-Europe Youth Summit on Science and Technology Diplomacy between 15-18 December 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark organised alongside the 2nd European Science Diplomacy Conference.

At the Conference, youth delegates were able to meet in person to discuss the themes covered in the online Training. They then were tasked to workshop a Communique on their perspectives and thoughts on the future of Asia-Europe cooperation in the field of Science and Technology Diplomacy.

The participants attended the 2nd European Science Diplomacy Conference, where they then got to present their ‘Asia-Europe Youth Communiqué on Science and Technology Diplomacy’, contributing their voices to high-level discussions and shaping the future of collaboration in this vital field.

The Youth Summit was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark, and organised in partnership with the Central European Scientific Society of Innovation and Technology (CESSIT).

Learn more about the Youth Summit here.

The Science Diplomacy Workshop for Young Researchers and Policymakers in the ASEAN Region was held on 1–2 December 2025 in Manila, Philippines. It was organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST). ​

The workshop brought together early-career researchers policymakers from ASEAN member states, representing universities, research institutes, ministries and science councils. Participants came from both science and policy backgrounds, creating a mixed cohort of young professionals working at the interface of research, innovation and diplomacy.​

Over two days, the programme combined plenary inputs with interactive sessions. Expert talks introduced key concepts of science diplomacy, ASEAN cooperation, and the role of science, technology and innovation in foreign policy, while case-based group work, scenario discussions and skills-building activities. Overall, the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of Science Technology and Innovation–policy linkages and to build an emerging regional community of young science diplomacy practitioners in ASEAN.

Read more here.