The Hamburg Science Summit 2026 will explore how Europe can navigate the tension between openness and sovereignty in a multipolar world. What role can science diplomacy play in sustaining dialogue across political divides? How should Europe shape its scientific and economic relations with partners beyond the US and China? And how can synergies between science, civil innovation and defence be harnessed to strengthen Europe without undermining academic freedom and collaboration? Bringing together leading figures from academia, policy, business and think tanks, the Summit will discuss how science and innovation can help Europe find its place in a polycentric landscape.

• Meet leading voices such as Timo Pesonen (European Commission), Joanna Drake (European Commission), Mona Nemer (Chief Science Advisor, Canada), Michiel Scheffer (EIC), Bettina Rockenbach (Leopoldina), Sylvia Schwaag Serger (Swedish Academy of Engineering), Wolfgang Wick (German Science and Humanities Council), Robert Schlögl (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation), and Kumsal Bayazit (Elsevier).

• Join high-level roundtables hosted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and Scientific Advice Mechanism, the European Innovation Council, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the German Science and Humanities Council, the Max Planck Society, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Springer Nature, and Table.Briefings.

• Join the presentation of the €1 million Körber European Science Prize – one of Europe’s most prestigious research awards – on 18 September at Hamburg City Hall.

Thursday, 17 September 2026

09:00-09:30 | Welcome coffee

09:30-09:45 | Welcome address

• Eva Nemela (Member of the Executive Board, Körber-Stiftung)
• Maryam Blumenthal (Senator for Science, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg)

09:45-10:15 | Keynote

• Bettina Rockenbach (President, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina)

10:15-11:15 | Opening panel

Europe in a multipolar world: Partnerships, power, and the role of science
Plenary table | Moderated by Terry Martin

• Joybrato Mukherjee (President, German Academic Exchange Service​​​​)
• Andrzej Szeptycki (Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Republic of Poland)
• Sylvie Matelly (Director, Jacques Delors Institute)

Europe is rethinking its international partnerships. Changes in US security policy and the continuing war in Ukraine have altered Europe’s security environment, while transatlantic trade disputes and China’s growing industrial dominance are changing the balance of economic power. At the same time, countries across the Global South and middle powers are asserting their interests more confidently and seeking a greater role in shaping the rules of international cooperation. How should Europe position itself in this environment? Which partnerships should it prioritise, and what political, economic and technological assets can strengthen its capacity to act? Science and innovation are increasingly part of these debates. They contribute to competitiveness, resilience and technological capabilities, but may also create opportunities for cooperation across political divides. What role can science diplomacy play in relations with difficult partners, and how should science and innovation be integrated into Europe’s international strategy more broadly?

11:15-11:45 | Coffee break

11:45-12:45 | Parallel sessions

Beyond the horizon: Space technologies in an era of change
Plenary table | Hosted by Table.Briefings | Moderated by Ralf Nestler (Table.Briefings)

• Timo Pesonen (Director-General for Defence Industry and Space, European Commission)
• Josef Aschbacher (Director General, European Space Agency) requested
• Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla (Chair of the Excecutive Board, DLR – German Aerospace Center; Vice President, Helmholtz Association)
• Thomas Reiter (Director-General for Space and Security, German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space)

For decades, space exploration and research were driven by international partnerships and publicly funded space agencies. Today, this model is undergoing profound change. Europe has largely ended cooperation with Russia, technological ties with China have become more limited, and even cooperation with the United States has become more difficult. At the same time, commercial actors are transforming the sector. Reusable rockets and serial production have reduced costs significantly, while commercially operated space stations are expected to become a reality in the coming years. These developments are accompanied by a growing emphasis on dual use. While space has always been closely tied to defence, synergies between civilian and military technologies are increasingly being promoted – with expected benefits for both sides, but also concerns about the limits of such cooperation. From a European perspective, this raises difficult questions: Which international partnerships should Europe prioritise in the future? How can it close the technological gap to other leading space powers? And what opportunities and risks arise from the commercialisation and dual-use character of modern space technologies?

Europe’s scientific multilateralism: Cooperation or retreat?
Roundtable | Hosted by the Max Planck Society and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

• Christian Doeller (Vice President, Max Planck Society)
• Robert Schlögl (President, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)
• Eloísa del Pino (President, Spanish National Research Council)
• Denise Pires de Carvalho (President, Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education)
• Bogumiła Kaniewska (President, Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland; Rector, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań)
• Duane Jethro (University of Cape Town)

• Valérie Verdier (Chair and CEO, French National Research Institute for Development) requested

The geopolitical environment for science and innovation is changing rapidly and fundamentally. The increasingly disruptive role of the United States in science, technology and security policy, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and China’s growing research and innovation capacity are challenging established assumptions and structures. In response, Europe’s scientific communities are debating different strategic options: Should Europe continue to retreat from existing forms of openness and focus on bilateral relations with major scientific powers? Or should it reinforce scientific multilateralism based on openness, academic freedom, international cooperation and rules-based structures? The roundtable, jointly hosted by the Max Planck Society and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, will discuss the future of scientific multilateralism as a strategic European option in times of geopolitical tension and growing pressure on democratic systems. Particular attention will be given to the role of science systems in the so-called Global South, the potential of intra-European alliances such as the Weimar Triangle, emerging strategic partnerships and middle powers in the global science system, and future criteria for the design of international mobility and research cooperation.

Peer review in crisis? Managing quality, trust and workload in research assessment
Roundtable | Hosted by Springer Nature

• Ritu Dhand (Chief Scientific Officer, Springer Nature)
• Sylvia Schwaag Serger (President, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences)
• Johannes Grave (Vice President, German Research Foundation)
• Natalie Khali (CEO and Cofounder, Reviewer3)
• Emanuela Volpi (Editor-In-Chief, Molecular Cytogenetics)

Peer review is at the core of scientific publishing and research funding, yet the system is under growing pressure: research output has expanded rapidly and become more geographically diverse, while generative AI allows manuscripts and grant proposals to be produced faster and at greater scale. At the same time, the peer review system has not yet adapted. Editorial boards and reviewer pools remain narrow, concentrating the reviewing burden on a limited number of researchers and institutions, and peer review itself still receives limited recognition. Hosted by Springer Nature, the roundtable brings together editors, funders, researchers and technology providers to discuss how the peer review system can remain sustainable under conditions of growing scale and technological change. Particular attention will be given to the future role of AI in peer review, new systems of recognition for reviewing activities, and the question of how reviewer pools can become more internationally diverse and representative.

Back to the future: anticipating change in science and innovation
Roundtable | Hostey by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) – European Commission

• Thomas Hemmelgarn (Deputy Director Innovation in Science and Policymaking, JRC)
• Andrea Renda (Director, Centre for European Policy Studies)
• Ana Casaca (Global Director Innovation, Galp; Board Member, European Innovation Council)
• Further speakers: TBD

Decision-makers have to make choices under uncertainty. Research organisations define research agendas, funding agencies develop programmes, governments establish regulatory frameworks, and companies make investment decisions. Yet the factors that shape the outcomes of these decisions are often uncertain. Will fusion energy ever become commercially viable? If so, which of the competing technological approaches will prevail? How will artificial intelligence develop, and what effects will it have on science, innovation and society more broadly? Which raw materials will be available in the coming decades, and at what cost? Hosted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, this roundtable will discuss how research organisations, funding bodies, governments and companies can incorporate uncertainty into decision-making. It will focus on how emerging developments can be identified before their implications become fully visible, what kinds of evidence can support decisions under conditions of incomplete knowledge, and how longer-term perspectives can be integrated into science and innovation policy.

12:45-14:00 | Lunch

14:00-15:00 | Parallel sessions

Energy and global conflict: can green tech and new alliances de-risk Europe’s energy supply?
Plenary table | Moderated by Damita Pressl

• Mechthild Wörsdörfer (Deputy Director-General for Energy, European Commission)
• Martin Raiser (Senior Representative for European Economic Cooperation, World Bank)
• Tim Gould (Chief Energy Economist, International Energy Agency) requested

Energy has long been discussed in terms of climate and sustainability policy. Today, it is once again at the centre of geopolitics. Russia’s war against Ukraine exposed the costs of external energy dependencies, while the conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have demonstrated how developments beyond Europe’s control can disrupt energy supplies and input prices, with immediate consequences for inflation rates, the economy – and, ultimately, social stability. At the same time, Europe is investing heavily in renewables and energy infrastructure. New technologies are also attracting growing attention, from advanced storage systems to fusion energy. In addition, Europe is seeking to diversify its international partnerships and reduce dependencies on individual suppliers. Will these policies be sufficient to mitigate future energy shocks? As public debt rises and borrowing costs increase, can Europe mobilise the capital needed to restructure its energy system? And what role can science and innovation play in strengthening Europe’s energy resilience?

Science under pressure – How to enhance the resilience of science systems
Roundtable | Hosted by German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

• Bettina Rockenbach (President, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina)
• Cherry Murray (International Secretary, US National Academy of Science)
• David Harel (President, Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities)
• Anatoly Zagorodny (President, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine)

Science systems worldwide are facing mounting pressures. Armed conflicts and geopolitical rivalry, political polarisation, disinformation, and the politicization of scientific knowledge are challenging science to operate in accordance with its own standards of quality and excellence. In several contexts, scientific institutions are subject to direct political interference, including attempts to delegitimize evidence, restrict academic freedom, and instrumentalize research for ideological purposes. Recent crises have underscored both the indispensable role of science for democratic societies and the vulnerability of scientific institutions under stress. Against this background, this roundtable – hosted by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina – will explore how the resilience of science systems can be strengthened, with particular attention to the safeguards needed to protect scientific integrity, institutional autonomy, and academic freedom in times of disruption.

Fostering security-relevant research: opportunities and new strategic partnerships
Roundtable | Hosted by German Science and Humanities Council

• Wolfgang Wick (Chairman, German Science and Humanities Council)
• Thierry Coulhon (President, Institut Polytechnique de Paris / Udice – French Research Universities)
• Graham Gagnon (Vice President, Dalhousie University / Canada U15; Member, Science and Research Defence Advisory Council, Government of Canada)
• Izabela Albrycht (Director, Cybersecurity Centre, AGH University of Krakow; AGH University Lead for NATO DIANA)
• Solvita Denisa-Liepniece (Head of Strategic Communication, State Chancellery, Republic of Latvia)
• Further speakers: TBD

The global order is in a state of upheaval. Science and innovation have become strategic assets as geopolitical contestation intensifies. While countries such as the United States and China can leverage their scientific and technological capabilities to advance their security interests, other countries rely on coalitions and alliances. As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently emphasised: “Middle powers must act together because if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” Hosted by the German Science and Humanities Council, this roundtable explores how middle powers such as Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom, together with smaller partners such as Estonia, can strengthen their capabilities in security-relevant research. Which areas are especially suitable for cooperation, and which risks and challenges are associated with such efforts? What role can EU funding and the European Union more broadly play in fostering security-relevant research? And what does a build-up of security-relevant research mean for individual countries and scientific organisations?

Hightech Agenda Germany
Roundtable | Hosted by Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and Körber-Stiftung
This roundtable is accessible by personal invitation only.

• Malte Heyne (Chief Executive Officer, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce)
• Eva Nemela (Board Member, Körber-Stiftung)
• Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz (Director-General for Technological Sovereignty and Innovation, German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space)
• Georg Krausch (Vice President, German Rectors’ Conference)
• Further speakers: TBD

The German federal government’s Hightech Agenda Deutschland aims to accelerate the transfer of new technologies into application and strengthen Germany’s position in key fields of innovation. This ambition is accompanied by growing expectations regarding technological sovereignty, resilience and international competitiveness. What role can universities, research institutions and companies play in implementing the Hightech Agenda? How can regional innovation ecosystems position themselves successfully to attract funding under the Hightech Agenda? And how can innovation processes between science and industry be accelerated and better aligned? Organised by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and Körber-Stiftung, this invitation-only roundtable will bring together selected high-level representatives from academia, industry and research policy. The discussion will be held in German under the Chatham House Rule. Attendance is by personal invitation only.

15:00-16:00 | Parallel sessions

Strategic priorities for science and innovation
Forum debate | Moderated by Maryline Fiaschi (CEO, Science|Business)

• Mari Sundli Tveit (President, Science Europe; Chief Executive, Research Council of Norway)
• Stefan Dobrev (Chair of the Board, EIT – European Institute of Innovation and Technology)
• Fabrice Lemoine (Vice President, University of Lorraine / Udice – French Research Universities)
• Further speakers: TBD

Europe’s science and innovation landscape is changing. Security concerns, technological competition, geopolitical tensions, and changing funding and investment models are impacting research and innovation agendas across Europe. This creates new challenges, but also new opportunities. In this session, participants are invited to share what they believe should be the top priorities for the science and innovation community in the years ahead. Should greater emphasis be placed on technological innovation – perhaps at the expense of curiosity-driven research? On strengthening academic freedom and the resilience of science systems? On improving funding and regulatory frameworks? Or on something else entirely? This session aims to identify the questions, trade-offs and blind spots that should shape Europe’s science and innovation agenda. The discussion will be driven by contributions from the audience and aims to capture the issues that the community considers most urgent.

Scaling up innovation, moving out of incubation
Roundtable | Hosted by European Innovation Council (EIC)

• Michiel Scheffer (President of the Board, European Innovation Council)
• Axel Müller-Groeling (Executive Board Member, Fraunhofer Society)
• Eszter Kantor (Head of International Affairs, Proxima Fusion)
• Martin Schichtel (Founder and CEO, Kraftblock GmbH)
• Jiajun Cen (Founder and CEO, Aquabattery)

Innovation needs to scale up to bring substantial benefit. However, upscaling processes typically face challenges: commercial traction, industrialised production – and capital. Hosted by the European Innovation Council (EIC), this session focuses on energy innovation, where all three challenges are important: Commercial traction depends on industrial consumers, public procurement and, as in the case of batteries, end users. Industrialisation requires engineering and installation capabilities, supplier networks and broad value chains. Finally, scaling up innovation depends on investments, and capital requirements are often substantial. The roundtable will explore successes in meeting these challenges and the remaining issues in scaling up energy innovation in Europe. As energy is essential to Europe’s strategic autonomy, the discussion will also explore possible next steps for strengthening Europe’s capacity to scale up innovative energy technologies.

Knowledge transfer and innovation in Europe: from academic insight to societal impact
Roundtable | Hosted by Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) – European Commission

• Rudolf Hielscher (General Manager, Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA), European Commission)
• Mangala Srinivas (Deputy Chair, Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, European Commission)
• Douglas Robinson (Policy Advisor, Science and Technology Policy Division, OECD)
• TBD (European Council of Academies of Applied Sciences, Technologies and Engineering)
• Further speakers: TBD

Europe produces excellent science, but too often the path from academic insight to innovation, uptake, and societal impact remains slow, fragmented, or overly dependent on individual initiative. This roundtable, hosted by the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM), explores how knowledge transfer and innovation from academia can be better organised across Europe, and what barriers still prevent researchers, universities, companies, and policymakers from working together effectively. We will discuss how to create the right incentives, institutional structures, partnerships, and policy frameworks to help academic knowledge move more rapidly and responsibly into practice. The aim will be to move beyond the familiar call for “more innovation” and ask what Europe actually needs to change in order to make innovation uptake easier, fairer, and more effective.

Defence innovation – new partnerships between research and security policy
Roundtable | Hosted by Stifterverband and Körber-Stiftung
This roundtable is accessible by personal invitation only.

• Matthias Schmolz (Managing Director, Stifterverband)
• Eva Nemela (Board Member, Körber-Stiftung)
• Further speakers: TBD

The changing security environment has brought new attention to the role of science and innovation in strengthening Germany’s civil and military security. At the same time, significant gaps remain between scientific capabilities and the needs of security policy. In response, the German Council of Science and Humanities has called for more structured exchange between academia, policymakers and security stakeholders in Germany. How should these new forms of cooperation be structured, and what mandate should they have? Which actors should be involved? And what organisational model would be best suited to support a regular, institutionalised and action-oriented dialogue? Organised by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft and the Körber-Stiftung, this invitation-only roundtable will bring together selected high-level representatives from science, policy, innovation and the security sector. The discussion will be held in German under Chatham House Rules. Attendance is by personal invitation only.

Ad hoc discussions on participant topics
Open meet-ups

Open meet-ups are informal ad hoc discussions in small groups without moderation. They provide an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss initiatives, and connect with peers who share similar interests. Based on participants’ suggestions during registration, up to five topics will be selected and announced here shortly before the Summit. Dedicated meeting points will be arranged on site for each selected topic.

16:00-16:30 | Coffee break

16:30-17:00 | Keynote

• Speaker: TBD

17:00-18:00 | Closing panel

Open science in a multipolar world: the future of openness in Europe and beyond

• Mona Nemer (Chief Science Adviser, Canada)
• Joanna Drake (Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission)
• Linda Doyle (Chair of the Board of Directors, LERU – League of European Research Universities; Provost, Trinity College Dublin)
• Kumsal Bayazit (CEO, Elsevier)

Openness has long been a defining principle of science and innovation. Yet this model has come under pressure in recent years. In a more contested geopolitical and geoeconomic environment, concerns about security, competitiveness, and technological sovereignty are reshaping the conditions of international cooperation. This creates a structural tension: how can science and innovation communities preserve the benefits of openness without undermining the strategic interests of their respective countries, most crucially in areas such as defence and security? As this tension begins to translate into concrete questions of governance and decision-making, it remains unclear how openness will be defined in the future. What could a new model of “strategic openness” look like, in Europe and beyond? How should the balance between openness and control be set – and by whom? What criteria should guide decisions on cooperation, restriction, or selective engagement? How can such decisions be legitimised across a diverse science and innovation landscape? And, ultimately, how should openness itself be understood: as a strategic asset – or as a potential vulnerability?

18:00-18:30 | Transfer to dinner venue

18:30-21:30 | Conference dinner
Penthouse Elb-Panorama | Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 113, 20359 Hamburg

Friday, 18 September 2026

11:00-12:30 Körber European Science Prize (registration and ID required)
Award ceremony | Hamburg City Hall, Great Hall
The winner of the 2026 Körber Prize will be announced on 23 June. Further information.

12:30-14:00 Körber European Science Prize (registration and ID required)
Reception​​​​​ | Hamburg City Hall