7 November 2014 - A delegation of 31 from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) visited the Clingendael Institute on Friday 7 November to discuss innovation in the practice of diplomacy with experts from the Clingendael research department. This informal session concluded a two-day working visit to The Hague. It turned out to be a perfect opportunity to exchange ideas on complex policy networks and digital diplomacy, topics on the agenda of the Swedish foreign ministry and subjects of Clingendael research projects commissioned by two European foreign ministries.

Just like the Dutch MFA, the Swedes are in a process of continuous learning and experimenting with innovative forms of co-creation with outside actors, engagement, and communication. The recent Stockholm Initiative on Digital Diplomacy and so-called Diplohack events, co-sponsored by the Dutch MFA, are great examples of the Swedish entrepreneurial spirit. The visit to The Hague included a visit to the Dutch MFA and was meant to find inspiration for new ways of working in the digital age.