FUTURE FORUM 2026

New York, NY - October 21

Hosted by the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York, the FUTURE FORUM is our flagship event, fostering dialogue and establishing lasting networks at the intersection of science, technology, and international collaboration. Since its launch in 2019, the forum has served as a platform for visionary leaders in academia, industry, and policy to exchange ideas and build transatlantic partnerships. The 2026 edition is dedicated to the DWIH network’s annual focus: Science for Society. This year’s FUTURE FORUM explores how science can engage more effectively with society at a time of rapid technological change, shifting public expectations, and increasingly complex information environments. Bringing together perspectives from Germany and the United States, the forum asks how scientific knowledge can inform public debate, how research can be communicated meaningfully beyond academia, and how stronger connections between science, media, policy, and society can be built.

The 2026 FUTURE FORUM: Science for Society is organized by the DWIH New York in collaboration with the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS). As one of the world’s leading scientific organizations, NYAS provides a natural setting for a transatlantic exchange on the evolving relationship between science and society.

The event is structured in two complementary parts:

• A closed-door expert workshop bringing together approximately 20 participants from Germany and the United States across science, science communication, media, policy, and related fields. Through facilitated discussions and interactive formats, participants will examine current challenges, compare perspectives across the Atlantic, and identify approaches for strengthening dialogue between science and society.

• A public evening program that brings key themes from the expert exchange to a broader audience through a moderated panel discussion and networking reception.

The FUTURE FORUM creates a space for researchers, communicators, journalists, policymakers, and other stakeholders to exchange perspectives across sectors and national contexts. Through its transatlantic network of universities, research organizations, funding bodies, and innovation partners, DWIH New York fosters dialogue and collaboration around questions at the intersection of science, innovation, and society.

As part of the DWIH network’s 2026 annual focus, “Science for Society,” the FUTURE FORUM considers not only how scientific knowledge is produced, but also how it reaches society, enters public discourse, and can contribute to informed decision-making and societal debate. We seek to explore how science diplomacy and tech innovation can work hand in hand to improve health outcomes globally. (FROM PREVIOUS YEAR TEXT: This year’s FUTURE FORUM is made possible through close collaboration with the Broad Institute in Cambridge, MA, a leading biomedical research center whose commitment to accelerating innovation dovetails with the DWIH NY´s mission to connect science, society, and policy on both sides of the Atlantic. The event is structured in two parts: 

• An expert-only Network Exchange featuring hands-on workshops focused on tech transfer, start-up incubation, and digital health foresight; 

• A public-facing program including a keynote address, panel discussion, and networking session designed to amplify dialogue across sectors. 

The FUTURE FORUM provides a critical space for institutions—universities, research organizations, venture capital firms, incubators, and municipal agencies—to collaborate on sustainable and scalable solutions. With 29 member institutions and deep partnerships across North America, DWIH New York leverages its transatlantic network to promote innovation ecosystems that are locally grounded and globally connected. 

As part of the 2025 Global Health focus, the FUTURE FORUM also explores the role of science diplomacy, a central pillar of the DWIH NY’s work. )