World leaders in digital diplomacy take part in 24-hour DiploHack in Stockholm

Some of the world's leading digital diplomats will gather in Stockholm on 16-17 January for the Stockholm Initiative on Digital Diplomacy (#sidd) meeting. Interactive Institute Swedish ICT will lead a 24-hour diplohack organized by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs where representatives from a dozen countries will work together to produce new methods for the digital diplomacy of the future.

During 24 hours, the diplomats will work together with international experts on communication and technology in a so-called 'diplohack' led by Carl Heath, researcher at the Interactive Institute. The format combines different kinds of expertise to produce joint solutions to current diplomatic challenges. Participants include digital strategists from the US, UK and French foreign ministries, Bambuser founder Måns Adler, Italian diplomat and author of Twitter for Diplomats Andreas Sandre, and author of the Twiplomacy studies Matthias Lüfkens.

- International diplomacy is an interesting area to look at when working with open innovation and design methodology. It is an audience with high skills and an area that involves complex international processes, says Carl Heath at the Interactive Institute.

The expectation is that the participants will together develop practical and implementable solutions for the future of digital diplomacy. The outcome of the meeting will be shared widely and may be used by anyone who wishes.

- The challenge is to design the workshop in a way that makes it possible to get concrete results in a short time, says Carl Heath.

The starting point for the meeting was the objective outlined in the Statement of Foreign Policy that Sweden must be at the absolute cutting edge in digital diplomacy efforts.

In connection with the meeting, a special TEDxStockholmSalon on the new diplomacy is being held, at which Carl Bildt will make his TEDx debut.

Links

Further information about the meeting, the programme and list of participants: www.diplohack.org/stockholm.html

Further information about the TEDxStockholmSalon on the new diplomacy: www.tedxstockholm.com

Contact

For further information on "diplohack", please contact Carl Heath, Interactive Institute Swedish ICT, carl.heath@tii.se,  +46 70 240 20 37

For further information on interviews with participants, please contact Lina Eidmark. Ministry for Foreign Affairs, lina.eidmark@gov.se, +46 70 813 68 95