Science for society
How can science be strengthened as an indispensable resource for a more just, well-informed society and for evidence-based action? And how can it be aligned even more closely with society’s actual needs? These questions lie at the heart of the annual topic for 2026 of the global network of German Centers for Research and Innovation (DWIH): Science for Society.
Science requires openness. Only when it is free from external constraints can it fully unfold its potential as a driver of innovation. At the same time, science bears a responsibility toward society. Ideally, it does not take place in an “ivory tower,” but instead responds to the concrete needs of a global community facing increasingly complex challenges and seeking to base its decisions on sound evidence. To make this possible, it is essential to place greater emphasis than ever before on the audiences science serves. The major questions of our time cannot be answered merely in and for society, but above all with society. This can only succeed if research becomes more participatory.
International networking plays a crucial role in this context. Science is a global team effort that benefits enormously from multicultural and multi-perspective frameworks. With its broad expertise and worldwide presence, the network of German Centers for Research and Innovation both reflects the reality of today’s globally interconnected research landscape and serves as an important platform for sustaining urgently needed international cooperation, even in times of challenging geopolitical shifts.
Science in the Service of Society
The DWIH network connects local expertise with global exchange. Through a diverse program of events and interdisciplinary collaborations, it makes an important contribution to the question of how science can be aligned more clearly than ever with socially relevant issues. Science communication plays a key role here, alongside engagement with local knowledge systems and the development of participatory research approaches.
Further information on the work of the network and the 2026 thematic focus can be found on the DWIH network website.
New York City is a globally significant hub for the exchange of science, business, culture, and politics. As the home of the United Nations, internationally renowned cultural institutions, think tanks, industry, alumni and expat networks, and thanks to its high concentration of universities and its proximity to Washington, D.C., the city offers ideal conditions for strengthening the transfer of research findings into policy and business.
This is clearly evident, for example, at the New York Academy of Sciences, which explicitly defines its mission as promoting “innovative solutions to societal challenges” through research, education, policy, and advancing “science for the public good.” Prestigious universities such as Columbia University likewise frame their mission explicitly as the “pursuit of knowledge in service of society” and offer, among other resources, science advocacy toolkits – materials designed to translate scientific knowledge into social and political contexts. Another example is the Harlem Health Promotion Center, which works with local stakeholders on community-based health issues. At New York University, centers such as the Urban Future Lab, the Urban Democracy Lab, and the CUSP Center for Urban Science + Progress bring together research, teaching, and civic engagement to advance more livable cities.
High-Visibility Public Formats
In 2026, DWIH New York will address the theme Science for Society through its established dialogue format FUTURE FORUM, which regularly brings together stakeholders from research, innovation, business, and policy. The proven STEP USA University Program will also contribute to this focus in 2026 by supporting German university-based startups and spin-offs in scaling their businesses in the U.S. market, while helping them communicate their ideas effectively to broader audiences and thus making an important contribution to knowledge transfer.
DWIH New York not only benefits from its geographic proximity to many relevant stakeholders and institutions, but also draws on a dense network of long-standing partnerships that have been carefully built and maintained over time. Science communication will also feature prominently on the agenda. In this context, DWIH plans to broaden its reach by integrating museums, cinemas, and exhibition spaces, as well as cultural events and relevant partner organizations, extending beyond the U.S. East Coast, into its program.
The year 2026 will also bring WIH New York special opportunities to make science more visible through high-profile public formats and spaces for societal debate. The 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, 75 years of German-Canadian scientific relations, and the FIFA World Cup will make the country a particularly dynamic setting in which innovation, cooperation, and international attention converge.