Event Report: ALLEA General Assembly 2026

Event Report: ALLEA General Assembly 2026, ‘Towards a Futureproof European Research Area – Boosting Trust, Integrity, and Resilience’

©ALLEA, Piotr Terlecki

Reflections from the ALLEA General Assembly 2026: Academies Explore Pathways to a Futureproof European Research Area

From 26-29 May 2026, ALLEA organised a series of events as part of its 2026 General Assembly in Warsaw, Poland, in collaboration with long-standing member, the Polish Academy of Sciences. This year, the ALLEA General Assembly was co-located with the meeting of the European National Young Academies (ENYA), bringing together early-career researchers and senior scientists for a wide-ranging discussion on several pressing issues at the nexus of science, policy, and society. A summary of the various events is found below.

Satellite Event on Supporting Ukrainian Science

Kicking off the ALLEA General Assembly 2026, the satellite event, ‘Supporting the Ukrainian Research Ecosystem through International Exchange and Collaboration’, brought together Academy representatives, research organisations, policymakers, and members of the Ukrainian scientific community to discuss the future of Ukrainian science and the role of international cooperation in supporting its resilience and recovery.

A key focus of the event was the European Fund for Displaced Scientists (EFDS), launched by ALLEA and the Breakthrough Prize Foundation in 2022. Since its inception, the programme has supported around 140 scholars and generated lasting benefits through research outputs, international collaborations, and strengthened professional networks. Survey results presented during the event demonstrated that the programme successfully enabled researchers to continue their work while maintaining strong links with Ukrainian institutions and contributing to the broader Ukrainian research ecosystem.

Participants agreed that support efforts are increasingly moving beyond emergency assistance towards long-term ecosystem development.

The event marked a transition from emergency support measures towards a long-term agenda focused on resilience, recovery, international integration, and the future role of science in Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Discussions highlighted the need to preserve scientific talent, rebuild research infrastructure, strengthen support for researchers and institutions operating in Ukraine, and expand international cooperation through joint funding schemes, institutional partnerships, and access to research facilities. Speakers also emphasised the strategic importance of the Ukrainian scientific diaspora as a driver of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and future recovery efforts.

The event also marked the official launch of the EFDS Alumni Network, which will foster continued engagement among former grantees and support collaborative initiatives in the years ahead. Many of the recommendations emerging from the discussions were subsequently reflected in the Appeal of the ALLEA General Assembly in Support of Ukrainian Science, adopted on 28 May 2026, which calls for sustained international action to strengthen a resilient, modern, and globally integrated Ukrainian research system.

Read a more detailed report of the event discussions here.

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Satellite Event on Reforming Research Assessment

On 27 May 2026, ALLEA and the Global Young Academy (GYA), on behalf of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), convened the satellite event, Values in Transition: An Intergenerational Dialogue on Research Assessment Reform, alongside the ALLEA General Assembly at the Staszic Palace in Warsaw. Bringing together early-career researchers, senior academics, and research policy stakeholders, the workshop created a dedicated space for open exchange on the values, expectations, and priorities that shape contemporary research assessment systems.

The workshop was kicked off by a video presentation by Cristina Martinez, Research Assessment Policy Lead at the European Commission (EC), who shared the EC’s perspective on policy efforts to build more inclusive assessment models that ensure “no researcher is left behind”. This was followed by short impulse talks by a panel of speakers. Marcin Palys, Chair of the Polish General Council for Science and Higher Education and Steering Board Member of CoARA discussed how to align European, national, and institutional actions on research assessment reform; Anna Christa, Programme Officer at the German Research Foundation (DFG) and Co-Chair of the CoARA Working Group on Improving Practices in the Assessment of Research Proposals shared about the role of funders in changing assessment practices; Carina Geldhauser, senior scientist at ETH Zurich and GYA Executive Committee Member, discussed the opportunities and risks specific to early career researchers in the research assessment reform space; and finally, Mathijs Vleugel, Head of the Helmholtz Open Science Office and Chair of CoARA’s National Chapter in Germany, shared a practical and value based approach to reform at the institutional level.

The presentations were followed by facilitated discussions, which allowed participants to explore how different career stages influence perceptions of research excellence, impact, fairness, and success. Conversations highlighted both shared aspirations and differing experiences within the research ecosystem, underscoring the importance of ensuring that assessment systems recognise diverse contributions while supporting high-quality research, equitable career progression, and societal impact. The event demonstrated the value of intergenerational dialogue in advancing research assessment reform. The insights generated during the workshop will help inform ongoing efforts within CoARA and the wider research community to build assessment frameworks that are fair, future-oriented, and responsive to the evolving needs of researchers and society.

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Public Conference

On 27 May, academy delegates of both ALLEA and ENYA, researchers, policymakers, funders, and journalists gathered at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw for the ALLEA Public Conference, Towards a Futureproof European Research Area: Boosting Trust, Integrity, and Resilience. The conference provided a timely forum for discussing how Europe can strengthen its research ecosystem in an increasingly complex geopolitical and societal landscape.

Keynote by Robbert Dijkgraaf

In his keynote, Global Science in a Fractured World, Robbert Dijkgraaf, President-Elect of the International Science Council (ISC), argued that science is experiencing a paradoxical moment: it has never been more successful nor integral to societal wellbeing, yet it faces growing political, social, and geopolitical pressures. He highlighted the unprecedented opportunities created by advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum technologies, and global scientific collaboration, describing the current era as one in which humanity is no longer simply discovering the world but increasingly shaping it. At the same time, academic freedom, public trust in science, and international cooperation are increasingly under strain from disinformation, political polarisation, short-term policy priorities, and increasing restrictions on scientific exchange. Drawing on examples from climate science, public health, and technology governance, he emphasised that the growing influence of science on society has also generated resistance, making it essential for researchers to engage more actively with policymakers and the public – to “descend from the ivory tower of academia and participate in the ‘black hole’ of politics”. As he succinctly put it, “Trust in science and trustworthy relationships cannot simply be expected. They must be nurtured and renewed.”

Dijkgraaf’s central message was that the scientific community must actively defend the values that underpin research: openness, academic freedom, international collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making. He particularly cautioned against viewing all international scientific cooperation through a security lens, arguing instead for a balanced approach that protects sensitive knowledge while preserving the global networks necessary to address shared challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and emerging technologies. “

Looking to Europe, he suggested that the continent is uniquely positioned to serve as a stable and trusted hub for global science, thanks to its commitment to collaboration, institutional diversity, and democratic values. He concluded that academies and scientists have a critical role to play in “pushing back against the pushback” by advocating for science, fostering international dialogue, and ensuring that research remains a force for cooperation and societal resilience in an increasingly fragmented world.

You can take a look at Prof Dijkgraaf’s Keynote Presentation here or watch his keynote here.

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Panel Discussion: Towards a Futureproof European Research Area – Boosting Trust, Integrity, and Resilience

The Keynote was followed by a panel discussion featuring Barbara Prainsack (European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies; University of Vienna), Emilija Stojmenova (University of Ljubljana), Caroline Sutton (International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers – STM), Krzysztof Pyrć (Foundation for Polish Science), and moderated by Andrzej Rychard (Polish Academy of Sciences).

The discussion explored what it will take to defend and sustain the core values of the European Research Area – academic freedom, institutional autonomy, openness, integrity, and public trust – in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment. Drawing on perspectives from research ethics, digital governance, research funding, and scholarly publishing, the panellists emphasised that resilience in science depends not only on strong institutions but also on maintaining trust, protecting research integrity, and ensuring that scientific knowledge remains open, inclusive, and connected to society. The discussion also highlighted emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence, misinformation, and growing pressures on international scientific cooperation. Key insights from the panel include:

The need to appropriately distinguish between policy and politics and the dangers of politicising science. Professor Prainsack emphasised that when politicians talk about resilient science systems, they often equate this with economic efficiency, and that is not just short-sighted but could come at the cost of core scientific values. She spoke of the need to continue to invest in all kinds of science and disciplines, including the basic sciences, rather than exclusively focusing on economically valuable or competitive research.
Prof Stojmenova highlighted the importance of building and boosting digital infrastructure in Europe to safeguard the sovereignty and resilience of European research, while encouraging the shift to open science practices. She then cautioned that public trust in science was being attacked from different directions, for instance due to information overload and algorithmic bias, and advised scientists to be more transparent and communicative about the scientific method and process in order to build and maintain trust in science.
Prof Pyrć continued the discussion on trust in science by emphasising the need to create a scientifically literate society with greater investment in education. He further highlighted that the international cooperation that has allowed for scientific progress was increasingly being threatened by politicians and reiterated the need to recognise science as a global and collaborative endeavour.
Dr Sutton described science as a ‘self-correcting system’ that has mechanisms to account for and correct errors, but highlighted that it was equally important to communicate effectively with the public that these mechanisms exist, and that they are evolving, in order to build trust.

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ALLEA Madame de Staël Prize Ceremony & Lecture

The Public Conference also hosted the conferring of the 2025 Madame de Staël Prize on Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council, in recognition of her pioneering contributions to developmental biology and her outstanding leadership in European research. The ceremony began with a laudatory speech by Nobel Laureate, Christiane Nüsslein–Volhard, who introduced Dr Leptin with several anecdotes from her early years as a scientist, painting a picture of her as a rare talent who combined excellent research with service to others.

The laudatory speech was followed by the Madame de Staël Prize Lecture by Dr Leptin, which called for everyone to fight for the collaborative nature of science with the recognition that “knowledge is not sustained only by individuals but by institutions, standards, memory, and trust”. In her Laureate Lecture, Dr Leptin also reminded listeners that Europe’s strength lay in its diversity of thought and the intellectual exchange across borders both geographic and ideological, and that “science relies on conversations across distance”. The Lecture also called attention to the long-term importance of investing in frontier research and fundamental science, highlighting that the visible breakthroughs often rely on “long invisible history.” Dr Leptin shared that values like integrity, trust, and academic freedom are not simply abstract themes but the preconditions for good science, and concluded by calling for “curiosity, independence, intellectual exchange, and a Europe made through conversation rather than command”.

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ALLEA Business Meeting

During the annual Business Meeting on 28 May, delegates from ALLEA’s Member Academies convened to address matters concerning the organisation’s governance, strategic priorities, and upcoming activities. This was followed by a joint session with the young academies, which saw ALLEA and ENYA delegates come together for an intergenerational dialogue on topics of both scientific and societal relevance, including, trust in science, research integrity, science diplomacy, and academic career mobility.

To learn more about ALLEA’s activities and efforts to facilitate closer relations between knowledge production in the academies and the needs of both society and policymakers, read the latest Activities Report.

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SAPEA-YASAS Workshop on Equitable Science Advice

Who gets a seat at the table when scientific evidence informs policy decisions?

This question was at the heart of the in-person workshop on 28 May, co-organised by SAPEA and YASAS, which explored why diversity matters not only in who provides scientific advice, but also in whose knowledge, experiences, and perspectives are represented in decision-making processes. Bringing together experts from research, policy, and science advice, the discussion highlighted the need to move beyond narrow definitions of expertise and ensure that advisory systems are inclusive, transparent, and responsive to society’s diverse needs, which in turn affects their legitimacy and relevance.

Speakers examined both the opportunities and challenges of building more diverse science advice ecosystems, including barriers to participation, the importance of interdisciplinary perspectives, and the role of institutions in creating more equitable processes. A recurring message was that diversity is not simply a matter of representation – it is essential for improving the quality, legitimacy, and societal relevance of science advice. The discussion offered valuable reflections for researchers, policymakers, and organisations seeking to strengthen trust in evidence-informed policymaking and ensure that a wider range of voices can contribute to shaping public decisions.

For the full event summary and key insights from the discussion, see the detailed report.

About the ALLEA General Assembly

The ALLEA General Assembly annually convenes academies of sciences and humanities from almost 40 countries across the Council of Europe region. General Assemblies are hosted by ALLEA Member Academies and the programme typically consists of the internal Business Meeting of academy delegates, and a public conference that explores pressing topics at the intersection of science, policy, and society. The Business Meeting addresses governance, strategy, and policy matters and is restricted to Member Academies’ delegates.