New Horizon Europe project aims to unify science diplomacy across Europe

A new Horizon Europe-funded project, Consolidating European Science Diplomacy (CUSP), has been launched to strengthen and connect science diplomacy efforts across Europe. Bringing together 11 organisations from Europe and beyond, the initiative seeks to reduce fragmentation between countries and institutions and translate Europe’s scientific excellence into greater geopolitical influence.

The project officially started on 1 June 2026 and will hold its first consortium meeting in Vienna on 9–10 June. Coordinated by the Zentrum für Soziale Innovation (ZSI) and rooted in the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance, CUSP follows key recommendations from the European Commission’s 2025 expert report on a European Framework for Science Diplomacy and the Council recommendation adopted in late May 2026.

Over the next three years, CUSP will focus on three main areas: mapping Europe’s science diplomacy ecosystem, creating an online European Science Diplomacy Hub, and developing training and capacity-building tools for diplomats, policymakers, researchers and science counsellors. The project will also host a major conference and five Impact Days to involve stakeholders.

The consortium includes ZSI, DLR, Charles University, MCAA, UNESCO, CEPS, Aarhus University, FECYT, CIHEAM Bari, ENRICH Global and CNR.

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Press release