STINT Forum – Science Diplomacy

A new study on science diplomacy is presented. The study provides an overview of the latest developments in this area, reflects on the relevant actors and initiatives in Sweden, and outlines a new strategic direction for science diplomacy in Sweden.

The Inquiry on Increased Internationalisation of Higher Education Institutions, also known as the Internationalisation Inquiry, highlighted the importance of science diplomacy. In recent years, greater geopolitical tension, increased interfaces between technological developments, the economy, politics, and security and foreign policy interests, as well as the pandemic-induced decrease in international mobility (of for example researchers and students) have placed even greater emphasis on science diplomacy. STINT has therefore identified the need to define and study science diplomacy in the Swedish context and tasked two leading international researchers in the areas, Prof. Stefan Kuhlmann and Dr Ewert Aukes from the University of Twente, with authoring a report that sheds light on the following aspects:

• definition and development of science diplomacy in the Swedish context
• strategic dimensions and objectives
• ongoing initiatives and prospects for development

The presentation of the study is followed by a panel discussion including representatives of the Internationalisation Inquiry, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, academia, and the business sector.

Programme

08.00: Registration

09.00: Introduction
Dr Andreas Göthenberg, Executive Director, STINT

Presentation of the study
Prof. Stefan Kuhlmann and Dr Ewert Aukes, University of Twente

Panel discussion
Prof. Sylvia Schwaag Serger, Chair, STINT (moderator)
Dr Agneta Bladh, Chair, Inquiry on Increased Int’l of HE Institutions
Dr Beate Eellend, Desk Officer, Ministry of Education and Research
Dr Hans-Christian Hagman, Chief Analyst and Senior Adviser, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Prof. Stefan Kuhlmann, University of Twente
Mr Magnus Schöldtz, Senior Advisor, Wallenberg Foundations AB
Prof. Astrid Söderbergh Widding, President, Stockholm University

Q&A

11.00: Coffee

Prof. Stefan Kuhlmann is Full Professor of Science, Technology and Society and chair of the Department of Science, Technology, and Policy Studies (STəPS) at the University of Twente (NL). He is Academic Director of WTMC, the Dutch Graduate Research School of Science, Technology, and Modern Culture. Until 2006 he held leading positions at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Germany, and was Professor of Innovation Policy at the University of Utrecht. He studies research and technological innovation as social and political processes, focusing on governance, and publishes widely in the field of research and innovation policy studies. Currently he is a partner in the EU-funded research project “S4D4C – Using Science for/in Diplomacy for Addressing Global Challenges”.

Dr Ewert Aukes is Assistant Professor in the field of energy transition at the Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability (CSTM) at the University of Twente (NL). His tasks comprise research and teaching. After having obtained his PhD in 2017 with a dissertation on framing in Dutch coastal policy innovation, he has worked on two EU H2020 projects in the fields of forestry ecosystem services, governance innovations and science diplomacy. He has published in scientific as well as professional journals relating to environmental sciences, policy analysis and social science methods, and authored reports for the Dutch public works agency concerning innovations in Dutch water management. In his previous position as postdoctoral research at the Department of Science, Technology, and Policy Studies (STəPS) at the same university, he participated in the EU-funded research project “S4D4C – Using Science for/in Diplomacy for Addressing Global Challenges”.