Technologies and notably digital technologies have moved into the centre of all economic and societal developments. Economic growth today is tied to mastering advanced technology, societal developments are firmly in the hands of tech companies. 

Digital and tech diplomacy responds to that trend and infuses digital and tech into the conduct and practice of international relations, dialogue, and negotiations regarding digital policies and technological advancements.

It involves a broader set of stakeholders, including governments, tech companies, privacy and rights groups, the broader civil society organizations, think tanks and academia; working together to address challenges and opportunities presented by technology in the global arena. 

Digital and tech diplomacy also encompass questions related to digital sovereignty, negotiations related to cyberspace, cybersecurity, and digital governance. It involves governments, international organizations, and diplomats working to establish norms, treaties, and cooperation mechanisms to address challenges in the globally connected digital realm.

This panel will take digital and tech diplomacy as a starting point for reflecting on how foreign policy increasingly evolves around technology. Collaboration in innovation and technology becomes ever more important and now happens before the background of an increasingly complex world.  Digital and tech diplomacy are practised in the context of digital sovereignty, the protection of critical infrastructure, and questions of national security.

The panel will aim to update knowledge and create awareness in roles that promote the Digital Economy, share tools and practices to become more effective and efficient in a world driven increasingly by advanced digital technologies.