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.
Brazil boasts outstanding higher education institutions and a strong research sector, but at the same time faces major social and environmental challenges. Science is expected to deliver solutions, yet levels of trust in science are declining. In response, Brazil is increasingly prioritising good science communication, as well as funding programmes designed to address social and environmental issues.
Brazil boasts outstanding higher education institutions and a strong research sector, particularly in the fields of health, environment, agriculture and climate – but at the same time faces major social and environmental challenges. On the one hand, there is growing interest in the question of how science can help resolve a range of social challenges, from poverty, injustice and healthcare inequalities to climate risks and loss of biodiversity. On the other hand, the search is underway for strategies to counteract the declining confidence in science that is also evident in Brazilian society. Fake news and disinformation in digital spaces are making it more difficult to access trustworthy information.
This is where high-quality science communication has a key role to play, and many Brazilian institutions are making great strides in this area. For example, the Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência (SBPC) has stated that its core remit is not solely to promote science and education, but also to share scientific knowledge and foster citizen engagement. The SBPC’s annual conferences, at which DWIH São Paulo is represented, have always been aimed at the general public – including children and young people.
Innovation and funding policy
In recent years, Brazil has taken a more systematic approach to expanding policies and funding instruments in the areas of innovation and knowledge transfer. Pioneering programmes such as PIPE (Innovative Research in Small Business), which is administered by the São Paulo Research Foundation FAPESP, support efforts to translate the outcomes of scientific research into products and services, while open-science requirements are systematically widening access to publications and data. At the same time, dynamic innovation clusters have emerged in several Brazilian states, including Porto Alegre, Recife and the São Paulo metropolitan area, and are achieving successes in fields such as biotech, health, agriculture and social innovation.
This gives rise to a broad spectrum of areas for the DWIH São Paulo to address in 2026. These include developing joint formats for science communication, sharing best practice, ensuring more international networking of start-up ecosystems and facilitating structured dialogue between science, civil society and industry. The DWIH hopes this will focus wider attention on the results of scientific research, foster innovation with social impact and further deepen exchange between Germany and Brazil on shared global challenges.