Annual Report 2025 - Report - Page 6
Résumé and Outlook From Council and Foundation
Lindau’s Way of Embracing
the World
Over the past 74 years, the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings
have evolved into a truly global event – a transformation
we owe to the Nobel Laureates whose enthusiasm and
commitment make these Meetings so special. At our two
Meetings in 2025 – Chemistry in June and Economics in
August – we had the privilege of welcoming 32 and 22 Laureates respectively back to the shores of Lake Constance.
Furthermore, the group of Young Scientists continues
to grow both in number and in international diversity:
at the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Chemistry,
604 Young Scientists represented 85 nationalities and 60
countries of affiliation. For the 8th Lindau Nobel Meeting
in Economic Sciences, we welcomed 275 Young Scientists
representing 55 nationalities and 46 countries of university affiliation.
We are particularly proud that so many of our Young
Scientists maintain their connection with the Lindau
Nobel Laureate Meetings and become part of our global
network of alumni – about 17,500 since 2000. To all of
them, we wish continued success in their careers, whether
in science, business, or the public sector (in fact, each of
these sectors accounts for approximately one third of our
alumni).
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For some, the Meeting has even proven to be a turning
point in their careers. For instance, the 2024 Mainau Declaration on Nuclear Weapons, initiated by Nobel Laureate
David Gross, inspired Young Scientist Sarah McKee to
shift the focus of her research and dedicate herself to
space arms control at PRIF – Leibniz Institute for Peace
and Conflict Research. In turn, Natacha Valla, who has
since become Dean at Sciences Po in Paris, wrote to us
after a reception hosted by the German Ambassador in
Paris earlier this year: “The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings are one of the most fascinating experiences for
young researchers.” She fondly recalled meeting “John
Nash many years ago, and we remember it as if it were
yesterday. Long life to the Lindau Meetings.”
Last summer, we had the honour of inducting Mario
Draghi into our Honorary Senate. His words deeply resonated with us: “On many key issues, we are divided about
what to do. There is discontent about the direction in which
we are heading. And there is considerable unease about the
future.” Time and again, it is discord that sets the tone at
international gatherings. Shocking statements by political
or thought leaders always make for good headlines. And
sometimes, they may even set off productive discussions.
