What is TDGI?
The Tech Diplomacy Global Institute (TDGI), based in Paris, describes itself as the premier global platform bridging technology and diplomacy. Its four Expert Councils, which the Institute calls its "intellectual engine", cover artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum technologies and outer space. They bring together senior policymakers, diplomats, scientists and industry leaders, and membership is by invitation and application. The councils produce policy frameworks and briefings, advise foreign ministries, and help set the agenda of the annual Tech Diplomacy Global Forum, held at UNESCO.
What does the Space Diplomacy Council do?
The Space Diplomacy Council aims to shape how nations govern an increasingly congested and contested orbit. It consists of twelve experts from different regions of the world, including the United States, Spain, India, Poland, Finland, France, Nigeria, Australia and Türkiye, selected for their expertise and for geographic balance. Members serve in a personal capacity under a two-year renewable mandate. The Council advises governments and international organisations, convenes diplomats and space leaders, and publishes analysis and recommendations. In the 2027-2028 mandate its focus areas include:
- space traffic and debris diplomacy,
- satellite infrastructure security,
- space capacity building,
- the diplomacy of new frontiers, such as lunar governance, space resources and commercial space stations,
- commercial space diplomacy.
Why does this matter for our research?
The Council's agenda is closely linked to research conducted at the Lodz Cyber Hub. The project Decolonizing the Internet: Global Governance of Low Earth Orbit Satellite Broadband, funded by the Internet Society Foundation, studies the legal and geopolitical aspects of low Earth orbit satellite constellations, in particular state responsibility, due diligence and jurisdiction.
Dr Kulesza's profile on the TDGI website: tdgi.org/people/joanna-kulesza. More about the Council: tdgi.org/expert-councils/space-diplomacy. The news item on the University of Lodz website (in Polish): uni.lodz.pl/aktualnosc/szczegoly/sdc.
Lodz Cyber Hub: www.cyber.uni.lodz.pl | LEOs project: www.cyber.uni.lodz.pl/leos
