First Regional Workshop on Science Diplomacy and Open and Inclusive Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)
Overview
The First Regional Workshop on Science Diplomacy and Open and Inclusive Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) brought together policymakers, scientists, representatives of the private sector, and international organizations in San Salvador to strengthen regional capacities in science diplomacy and promote open science as a tool for cooperation and sustainable development.
The event was organized by the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) of El Salvador, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) through its Science Diplomacy Center (SDC), and the Central American Policy Project on Open and Inclusive STI, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC/CRDI, Canada) and with the Central American Integration System (SICA) as the institutional host.
SENACYT (Panama and Guatemala), MESCyT (Dominican Republic), the National Center for High Technology (CeNAT, Costa Rica), CamBioTec, and the City of Knowledge (Panama) also collaborated.
The workshop provided a space for dialogue between governments, universities, scientific networks, and international organizations to articulate science diplomacy with open STI policies, highlighting its role in building trust, cooperation, and knowledge sovereignty in the region.
📄 See the full agenda here (PDF in Spanish)
Context and regional relevance
Central America and the Caribbean face common challenges—climate vulnerability, social inequality, technological gaps, and limited scientific connectivity—that require collective, evidence-based strategies. In this context, science diplomacy serves as a bridge between knowledge, policy, and action.
The workshop consolidated the convergence of two key agendas:
- science diplomacy as an infrastructure for cooperation, and
- open and inclusive STI as a means to democratize access to knowledge, foster transparency, and promote regional innovation.
Both approaches reinforce SICA’s integration and strengthen the collective voice of Central America and the Caribbean in the global governance of environmental and technological change.
Objectives
The main objective of the workshop was to strengthen regional science diplomacy and its articulation with open and inclusive STI policy, promoting institutional capacities and lasting alliances between science, politics, and society.
The specific objectives were:
- To promote the integration of science diplomacy into national STI strategies.
- To promote evidence-based policies and structured scientific advice.
- To strengthen cross-border scientific and technological cooperation.
- To consolidate a regional network of institutions committed to open science and collaborative governance.
Workshop content and thematic areas
The program took place over two days and included keynote speeches, inter-institutional panels, interactive workshops, and collaborative workspaces.
Main topics:
- Fundamentals and new uses of science diplomacy.
- Science diplomacy as an instrument of regional development. Open science and inclusive STI policies.
- Scientific advice and evidence-based decision-making.
- Regional experiences of cooperation and scientific networks (Plan Trifinio, CYTED, CeNAT).
Expected outcomes
The workshop aims to strengthen scientific diplomacy and open STI in Central America and the Caribbean, highlighting:
- the creation of a regional scientific diplomacy network;
- the importance of institutionalizing scientific advisory mechanisms;
- the link between open STI policies and social inclusion;
- and the commitment of participating institutions to generating sustainable collaborations.
Workshop products
- Press releases and regional dissemination
- Speaker presentations: Workshop 4 and 5 Nov 2025
Organizers and partners
Main organizers:
- National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT, El Salvador)
- Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), through the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC)
- Central American Integration System (SICA)
- Central American Open and Inclusive STI Policy Project (IDRC/CRDI – Canada)
Collaborating institutions:
- SENACYT (Panama and Guatemala)
- MESCyT (Dominican Republic)
- CeNAT (Costa Rica)
- CamBioTec
- City of Knowledge
Speakers
In alphabetic order:
- Alvarenga, Edgar – Deputy Minister of Education and Science and Technology ad honorem, President of CONACYT, El Salvador.
- Caballero, Yen – Coordinator of the Central American Open and Inclusive STI Policy Project, City of Knowledge, Panama.
- Carrero-Martínez, Franklin – Director of the Science and Technology for Sustainability Program, US National Academies of Sciences (online).
- Colín, Hilda – CamBioTec.
- Figueroa, Ana – Member of the National Assembly of El Salvador.
- Figueroa Santamaría, Ingrid – Executive Director, General Secretariat of SICA.
- Ferreira, Gabriela – IAI STeP Fellow; specialist in international cooperation and STI policies for sustainable development.
- Gómez Valenzuela, Víctor – Dominican Republic; expert in open and inclusive STI policies.
- Hernández Mondragón, Alma – Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Mexico).
- Hernández, Liseth Oliveth – Tri-national Executive Secretary, Plan Trifinio.
- Marengo Orsini, José Antonio – General Coordinator of Research and Development, Cemaden (MCTI, Brazil).
- Morales, Franklin – Head of International Technical Cooperation, SENACYT Panama.
- Ohira, Marcella – Deputy Executive Director and Director of the Center for Science Diplomacy, IAI.
- Rojas Esquivel, Armando – Coordinator of the Observatory of Science Diplomacy, CeNAT, Costa Rica.
- Segovia, Johana – Researcher in ocean networks.
