Bringing the community together

Science Diplomacy Hub

The Hub is a dedicated, impartial space for dialogue, co-creation, and practical support, built by the CUSP project to serve the science diplomacy community.

Benefits for members

The Science Diplomacy Hub is a community platform for anyone working in science diplomacy, from diplomats, science advisors, policymakers to researchers, science advisors, and young professionals and recent graduates entering the field.

Connect with peers
across sectors, disciplines, and borders, and find the expertise and partners you need
Contribute to the thematic Working Groups
shaping recommendations on the most pressing themes in science diplomacy.
Access a growing evidence base of
science diplomacy player profiles, country and regional fiches, good practices, and an AI-based exploration tool.
Take part in regional dialogues
and engage with the global science diplomacy community
Stay informed
about training opportunities, events, and the latest news from CUSP.

Membership is free and open

Join us in building a more connected, capable, and forward-looking European science diplomacy community!

Working Groups

The Science Diplomacy Hub hosts 10 Working Groups bringing together researchers, diplomats, policymakers, and other stakeholders around pressing themes in contemporary science diplomacy. The Working Groups meet regularly to exchange perspectives, develop recommendations, and produce outputs that inform policy discussions at the European and international levels.

  • WG01

Science Diplomacy for Geopolitical Challenges and Responsible International Cooperation

This WG explores how science diplomacy can contribute to foreign and security policy in an increasingly fragmented and competitive geopolitical environment. Attention is given to sanctions and scientific restrictions, research security, dual-use concerns and the implications of strategic competition for international scientific cooperation. The WG examines how science diplomacy can help manage risks while maintaining channels for responsible engagement and trust-building. It further considers how international R&I cooperation can support European competitiveness and resilience while balancing openness with research security and other strategic interests.

  • WG02

Science Diplomacy (and Science Advice) for the Global Commons

This WG explores how science diplomacy and science advice can strengthen the governance, protection and sustainable use of the global commons. It examines how scientific knowledge and international cooperation can inform decision-making in areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the oceans, the polar regions, outer space and other shared global domains.

The WG addresses questions of multilateral governance, evidence-informed policymaking and international scientific cooperation in support of the global commons. It identifies good practices and emerging governance models, explores the role of science in preventing and managing transboundary challenges, and develops recommendations for strengthening the contribution of science diplomacy and science advice to resilient, inclusive and sustainable global governance.

  • WG03

Innovation and
Tech Diplomacy

This WG explores the increasing connection between science, technology, and innovation and its role in EU foreign and security policy and for European competitiveness. It addresses the relationship between science diplomacy on the one hand and innovation and tech diplomacy on the other hand by suggesting a framework to incorporate these various types of diplomacy. The WG addresses approaches to safeguarding technological sovereignty and systematically identifying critical and sensitive technology areas that require strategic attention. The WG also analyses potential for synergies and interconnections with the private tech sector.

  • WG04

Science Diplomacy in Government: Roles, Responsibilities and Coordination

This WG explores how science diplomacy roles and responsibilities are organised and evolving within national governments, with particular attention to science attachés, scientific counsellors and scientists working in embassies and diplomatic missions. It examines how responsibilities are distributed across foreign ministries, diplomatic missions, ministries responsible for research and innovation and other relevant government bodies, and how these actors coordinate at the interface of science, diplomacy and foreign policy.

  • WG05

Science Diplomacy, Alumni Networks, Refugee Researchers and Diaspora Engagement

This WG explores how alumni networks, scientific diasporas and refugee researchers can contribute to international scientific cooperation and strengthen science diplomacy. It addresses approaches to fostering brain circulation, supporting displaced and at-risk researchers, and mobilising scientific communities across borders. Building on existing mobility schemes and diaspora networks, the WG identifies good practices and develop recommendations to enhance inclusive and resilient global research collaborations and to better connect scientific communities with diplomatic and policy actors.

  • WG06

Cultural and Arts-based
Science Diplomacy

This WG explores the role of culture and the arts as complementary approaches to science diplomacy. Conceived as an open and exploratory space, it brings together scientists, artists, cultural practitioners and diplomats to exchange experiences and discuss how cultural and artistic approaches can strengthen international dialogue, public engagement and mutual understanding through science.

  • WG07

Science Diplomacy and Large Research Infrastructures

The Working Group on Science Diplomacy in and Large Research Infrastructures provides a platform to discuss the varied ways in which big science engages with diplomacy. It brings together administrators from large infrastructures, government officials, scientists dependent on these infrastructures, and other non-state actors including industry. The infrastructures can be seen as diplomatic actors in their own right (diplomacy in science), their establishment and operations are examples of scientific cooperation between countries (diplomacy for science), and internally they also support a more shop floor level of diplomatic interaction between scientists (science for diplomacy). They also provide linkages to innovation and business activities. The working group provides a platform to discuss and refine the practices and issues involved in these multiple aspects of infrastructure diplomacy.

  • WG08

One Health and
Science Diplomacy

The One Health concept highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant and ecosystem health, and in this offers significant potential for science diplomacy. It brings together science, policy and society and requires multilateral cooperation despite increasing geopolitical tensions. As a cross-cutting approach essential to achieving the SDGs, One Health has been identified as a model for future international collaboration and is increasingly recognised at the highest political levels.

At the same time, One Health poses important scientific, governance and policy challenges due to its inherently inter- and transdisciplinary nature. The topic features prominently on international agendas, including those of the G7 Presidency, the UN Quadripartite and the Irish EU Council Presidency. The European Commission has expressed interest in examining the European Science Diplomacy Framework through a One Health lens.

  • WG09

Impact Assessment of
Science Diplomacy Actions

This WG explores and discusses approaches, frameworks, methods and indicators for assessing the effectiveness, outcomes and long-term impacts of science diplomacy actions, instruments and policies, in line with the needs identified in the European Framework for Science Diplomacy. Building on expertise in research policy analysis, evaluation, bibliometrics and evidence for policymaking, the group contributes to strengthening the knowledge base and policy learning capacities needed to strengthen the impact of science diplomacy and support a more strategic and coherent European approach. In doing so, it also recognises the complexity and diversity of science diplomacy practices and promotes a reflective and context-sensitive approach to their assessment.

  • WG10

Multilingualism and Communicating Science Diplomacy to the Public

This Working Group explores how science diplomacy can be communicated effectively, inclusively and across linguistic and cultural boundaries. In line with the Council Recommendation on a European Framework for Science Diplomacy, it promotes multilingualism and linguistic diversity in science diplomacy and supports the development of positive, evidence-based science diplomacy narratives.

Mapping

As the project’s mapping work advances, Hub members gain access to a growing evidence base directly through the platform: profiles of science diplomacy actors across Europe and beyond, country and regional fiches, good practices and an
AI-assisted tool to explore it all.

Training materials

The Hub is also where CUSP’s training and capacity-building materials will live as they are developed. A European Competence Framework for science diplomacy, training curricula, and other resources will be available for
the community members.