Tech Diplomacy & Industry Partnerships with Martin Rauchbauer

OVERVIEW

Science Diplomacy and Tech Diplomacy converge in this episode of The Global Lens where host Daniella Sussman and guest Martin Rauchbauer reflect on Silicon Valley’s growing role in shaping global governance and innovation. Their conversation explores how international partnerships and frontier technologies are influencing diplomacy, industry, and collective global influence in an increasingly interconnected world.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Martin Rauchbauer, co-founder of the Tech Diplomacy Network, shares his journey as Austria’s first Tech Ambassador in Silicon Valley, offering rare insights into how governments and tech executives align in a rapidly shifting world.

From adapting diplomatic skills to AI-driven realities to exploring the risks of monopolies, he emphasizes why innovation and international collaboration require new playbooks.

Listeners will learn why culture, adaptability, and shared responsibility are key for effective engagement between industry and diplomacy. This conversation is both a guide and a call to embrace experimentation, measured regulation, and cross-sector creativity in addressing global challenges.

In this episode, we discuss:

01:19 - The evolution of tech diplomacy and its roots in Silicon Valley

02:23 - The challenges of navigating global crises while technology acts as both problem and solution

04:08 - The adaptability required from both diplomats and tech executives in a world of fast transformation

06:56 - Why pragmatic problem-solving and regulatory clarity are essential for companies and governments

10:53 - How establishing permanent presence in hubs like Silicon Valley shapes meaningful tech diplomacy

15:56 - The rise of the Tech Diplomacy Network as a collaborative platform for countries and industries

19:01 - What other regions can learn from Silicon Valley’s culture of diversity, openness, and risk-taking

26:55 - Why embracing experimentation, sandboxes, and long-term thinking is crucial for governments

29:24 - How artists and technologists together push boundaries and inspire innovation

41:56 - Practical advice for both diplomats and tech founders navigating evolving ecosystems

ABOUT THE GUEST

Martin Rauchbauer is a senior diplomat at the Austrian Foreign Ministry in Vienna and co-founder of the Tech Diplomacy Network in Silicon Valley, a platform connecting governments, civil society, and global tech companies to address planetary challenges through frontier technologies. As Austria’s first Tech Ambassador in Silicon Valley, he helped shape the emerging field of tech diplomacy by driving transatlantic digital policy dialogues, advancing digital human rights, and establishing digital humanism as a strategic pillar of Austrian foreign policy. With a passion for bridging diplomacy, technology, the arts, and the environment, Martin has published and lectured internationally on these themes.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

⚇ (Website) Tech Diplomacy Network – https://www.tech-diplomacy.org/

⚇ (Website) Djerassi Residence Artist Program - https://djerassi.org/

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CONNECT WITH MARTIN RAUCHBAUER:

⚇ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinrauchbauer/en

CONNECT WITH DANIELLA:

⚇ Podcast Website: https://the-global-lens.captivate.fm/

⚇ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellasussman/

⚇ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellasussmanglobal/