The Impact of Science and Technology Diplomacy on National Branding and the International Standing of Countries: A Comparative Study of Iran and South Korea
In recent decades, science and technology diplomacy has emerged as a central pillar of contemporary international relations and a strategic instrument for enhancing countries’ soft power and national branding. As globalization intensifies competition among states not only in economic and military domains but also in symbolic and reputational arenas, scientific capacity and technological innovation have increasingly become key markers of international prestige. Countries are no longer evaluated solely on the basis of hard power indicators; instead, their ability to generate, disseminate, and internationalize knowledge plays a decisive role in shaping their global image and credibility. Within this context, science diplomacy—defined as the intersection of scientific cooperation and foreign policy objectives—has gained prominence as a tool for improving international standing, fostering trust, and strengthening national brands.
The central problem addressed in this study is the uneven ability of countries to translate scientific and technological achievements into positive national branding and sustainable soft power. While some states have successfully integrated science diplomacy into broader national branding strategies, others—despite notable scientific growth—have failed to achieve comparable international recognition and reputational benefits. This research seeks to examine the role and impact of science and technology diplomacy in shaping international image and national brand credibility through a comparative analysis of Iran and South Korea. The choice of these two cases is analytically significant: both countries have invested heavily in higher education and scientific production, yet they display markedly different outcomes in terms of global perception, innovation rankings, and soft power influence.
The primary objective of the study is to identify how science diplomacy contributes to national branding and international standing, and why South Korea has been more successful than Iran in leveraging scientific capacity for soft power gains. Specifically, the research aims to (1) analyze the institutional and policy frameworks of science diplomacy in both countries, (2) assess the relationship between scientific output, international cooperation, and national brand indicators, and (3) extract policy-relevant lessons for improving Iran’s science diplomacy and international image.
Methodologically, the study adopts a descriptive–analytical approach combined with a comparative case study design. Data were collected from documentary sources, including international reports and databases such as the Global Innovation Index, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, WIPO, and global soft power rankings, covering the period from 2000 to 2025. In addition, academic literature and policy documents related to science diplomacy, national branding, and soft power were systematically reviewed. The comparative framework enables an examination of similarities and differences in policy orientation, institutional coherence, and outcomes between Iran and South Korea.
The findings reveal a clear divergence in the way science diplomacy has been conceptualized and operationalized in the two countries. South Korea has pursued a coherent, long-term strategy that integrates science and technology diplomacy into its broader national development and branding agenda. Through sustained investment in research and development, the internationalization of universities, strategic partnerships with leading scientific institutions, and active participation in global research networks, South Korea has successfully positioned itself as an innovation-driven and technologically advanced nation. Importantly, science diplomacy in South Korea has not operated in isolation; it has been systematically linked to other elements of the national brand, such as cultural diplomacy, creative industries, and high-tech exports. This synergy has contributed to South Korea’s strong performance in global innovation indices and its growing soft power appeal.
In contrast, Iran presents a more complex and constrained picture. Over the past two decades, Iran has experienced significant growth in scientific output, as evidenced by the expansion of higher education institutions, increased publication rates, and improvements in certain quantitative science indicators. However, these achievements have not translated into a commensurate enhancement of Iran’s national brand or international scientific image. The study identifies several interrelated factors underlying this gap. Structural and institutional fragmentation, the absence of a coherent and unified science diplomacy strategy, limited international academic engagement due to sanctions, and the politicization of scientific cooperation have collectively weakened Iran’s ability to convert scientific capacity into soft power and reputational gains.
Moreover, the findings suggest that Iran’s science diplomacy has largely remained inward-looking and production-oriented, focusing on quantitative outputs rather than international visibility, collaboration quality, and narrative construction. Unlike South Korea, Iran has not effectively connected scientific achievements to a broader storytelling framework that could enhance its national brand. As a result, international perceptions of Iran remain heavily influenced by political and security discourses, overshadowing its scientific and technological potential.
The comparative analysis highlights that science and technology diplomacy functions most effectively when embedded within an integrated policy framework that aligns scientific development with foreign policy objectives, public diplomacy, and national branding strategies. South Korea’s experience demonstrates that purposeful coordination among government agencies, universities, research institutes, and the private sector is essential for maximizing the soft power returns of scientific investment. In this model, science diplomacy acts as both a credibility-building mechanism and a bridge between domestic innovation systems and the global knowledge economy.
The study concludes that science and technology diplomacy can play a decisive role in improving countries’ international standing and national brand credibility, provided that it is strategically designed and coherently implemented. For Iran, the South Korean experience offers valuable lessons. These include the need to develop a clear and unified science diplomacy strategy, strengthen international scientific cooperation beyond political constraints, enhance the global visibility of Iranian research institutions, and better utilize the capacities of the Iranian scientific diaspora. By shifting from a fragmented and reactive approach to a coordinated and proactive model, Iran can more effectively harness its scientific potential to improve its global image and soft power.
Overall, this research contributes to the literature on science diplomacy and national branding by demonstrating that scientific capacity alone is insufficient to generate soft power. What ultimately matters is the ability to strategically translate knowledge production into international credibility, trust, and symbolic influence. The findings underscore the importance of policy coherence, institutional integration, and narrative construction in transforming science and technology into a sustainable component of national brand strength.
Keywords: Science and technology diplomacy; national branding; soft power; international standing; South Korea; Iran; scientific cooperation; Global Innovation Index.