On 17 September 2026, the Jožef Stefan Institute hosted a delegation from UNESCO and the European Commission for a meeting held under the umbrella of science diplomacy. The discussions highlighted the role of scientific knowledge, research infrastructure and international cooperation in addressing global challenges. Together with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, we explored how Slovenia's scientific excellence can contribute to international dialogue and cooperation. Special attention was given to artificial intelligence and IRCAI, the UNESCO Category 2 Centre hosted at IJS, as an example of connecting science, policy and diplomacy in practice. The meeting also underlined the importance of promoting scientific facts and evidence-based dialogue. Building trust in emerging technologies starts with trust in the science, researchers and research infrastructure behind them.