The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) will participate in the Falling Walls Science Summit 2026 in Berlin, Germany, contributing to international discussions on funding high-risk research and sustaining scientific collaboration in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
On 7 November 2026, HFSP will host two discussions within the Falling Walls Circle, a forum bringing together international leaders from science, research funding, policymaking and other sectors to address major challenges facing science and society. Through a Plenary Table and an Executive Table, HFSP will contribute to the debate on how to support frontier research and strengthen international scientific cooperation.
From Risk to Discovery: Funding Frontier Science
7 November 2026 | 09:00–10:00 CET | Plenary Table
This public discussion will explore how funding structures, evaluation practices and international partnerships can support high-risk, interdisciplinary research while maintaining scientific rigour and allowing room for failure in the pursuit of breakthrough discoveries.
The panel will bring together six international speakers:
- Alejandro Adem (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada)
- Regina Dugan (Wellcome Leap)
- Martina Hirayama (Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation)
- Konstantin Novoselov (Constructor University Bremen / National University of Singapore / University of Manchester)
- Steven Schiff (US National Institutes of Health)
- Pavel Kabat (HFSPO Secretary General)
The session will be livestreamed, allowing audiences worldwide to follow the discussion.
Event details and livestream – Falling Walls Summit
Scientific Collaboration in a Fragmented World
7 November 2026 | 14:00–15:30 CET | Executive Table – By invitation only
This invitation-only discussion will address the challenges of maintaining international scientific cooperation amid growing geopolitical tensions. Participants will examine how to balance scientific openness with security concerns and strengthen the trust and governance needed to sustain cross-border collaboration.