Five years ago, before the pandemic burst into our lives and artificial intelligence redefined our relationship with technology, Barcelona was already preparing to put its knowledge and innovation ecosystem at the service of the greatest challenges that history had in store for us.
In a public-private collaboration project with an international vocation, the city's main actors conspired to position Barcelona as the world capital of scientific diplomacy. Thus, SciTech DiploHub, the scientific and technological diplomacy hub, was born in 2018.
Its impact is estimated at more than forty million euros, considering international scientific collaborations, new scholarships for researchers and mentoring and business landing programs in ecosystems such as London, Shanghai or Boston.
In just half a decade, Barcelona has positioned itself as a global epicenter of thought between science, technology and geopolitics. Every year, hundreds of experts in diplomacy and science come to the city to train in science diplomacy. With the recent launch of the Scientific Tourism Plan, Barcelona opens the doors of the Catalan research ecosystem to global visitors. An effort that complements the International Scientific Journalism initiative, bringing together journalists from the main media specialized in science and technology.
The current Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU is being an important lever to project this leadership. Last week we received more than 400 rectors in Barcelona at the Forum of European University Alliances, an event led by the Minister of Universities, Joan Subirats, and the Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas.
This October, the city will host the Euro-Mediterranean Congress of Scientific Diplomacy, with the participation of ministers and secretaries of state from the 42 member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean. In addition, the Center for Scientific Diplomacy for Ibero-America, an initiative that Barcelona co-leads with Mexico City, will bring together experts in science and public policies to promote greater dialogue and integration through scientific diplomacy in the region.
A leadership that will reach its zenith in July, when Barcelona will become the permanent headquarters of the World Forum on Scientific Diplomacy, a summit organized jointly with the United Nations and various international organizations.
A European, Mediterranean, Ibero-American and, therefore, global capital, which places Barcelona on the map in what it does best: putting the values of creativity, science and talent at the disposal of the great global challenges. An attractive city, but, above all, influential.
