Abu Dhabi, April 2025

In a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape marked by regional tensions, global fragmentation and the reconfiguration of traditional alliances, the strategic importance of technologically capable middle powers is growing more evident than ever. Against this backdrop, the second Tech Middle Powers Workshop convened in Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. The event brought together leading voices in diplomacy, security and innovation from across the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Representatives from the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy & Foreign Relations at Reichman University and the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies at the University of Bonn joined policymakers and scholars from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Germany and South Korea. Together, they explored how middle powers can collaboratively shape a more stable and connected international order through strategic technological engagement.

This year’s workshop tackled timely and complex questions: How can middle powers cooperate amid increasing unpredictability? What opportunities can arise from geopolitical volatility? And how might technological partnerships serve not only as tools for innovation but also as bridges between conflict and shared prosperity across Asia, the Middle East and Europe?

A highlight of the event was a panel featuring Dr. N. Janardhan, Laura Mahrenbach and Dr. Maximilian Mayer, who explored the intersection of technology diplomacy, geopolitical strategy and multilateral engagement. Their discussions underscored the rising potential of initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which has emerged as a strategic opportunity to drive pragmatic cooperation and innovation flows across three continents. IMEC’s broader vision—dubbed Digital IMEC—encompasses AI, fintech, clean hydrogen and cybersecurity, representing a more resilient model of “reglobalisation” grounded in connectivity and sustainability.

The workshop reaffirmed the vital role of middle powers in shaping the future of international cooperation—not as passive actors but as proactive architects of corridor-based, cross-regional diplomacy.

The event was co-organised by the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy & Foreign Relations at Reichman University, the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies at the University of Bonn and  the Institute for International Cooperation Technological Diplomacy and Communication.