European Science Councils Meet in Bern
Bern, 12.11.2026 — The Swiss Science Council welcomes representatives of European science, technology and innovation councils.
On 12 and 13 November 2026, the Swiss Science Council (SSC) will welcome the presidents and heads of secretariats of European science, technology and innovation councils (STI councils) to Bern. This annual meeting provides an opportunity to discuss current challenges in science policy and evidence-based policy advice.
New challenges for science and politics
The framework conditions for education, research and innovation are currently undergoing profound change. Geopolitical tensions, technological developments such as artificial intelligence, economic uncertainties and societal changes are raising new questions for policymakers and the scientific community. What role can scientific expertise play in this context? Do scientific advisory bodies need to evolve to remain relevant and effective under changing circumstances? These questions are at the heart of this year’s meeting in Bern.
Panel discussion and workshop
The event kicks off on Thursday evening with a panel discussion on the topic ‘Challenges for Science Policy Today and the Role of Scientific Expertise’. Participants include the President of the SSC, Sabine Süsstrunk; international science policy expert Jakob Edler from the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI); and Swiss Councillor of States Fabien Fivaz.
On Friday, representatives of the European councils will discuss various models of evidence-based policy advice in Europe and beyond during a workshop. The discussion will be based on a comparative study of science policy advisory systems commissioned by the SSC from Fraunhofer ISI and scheduled for publication in early 2027.
The challenges facing science and innovation systems today do not stop at national borders. Exchange with our European partner organisations helps us learn from one another and to reflect together on the future of science policy advice