The forum aims at offering and strengthening networking opportunities for researchers at risk and all those supporting them, at local, national or international levels. Researchers, policymakers, administrators and other stakeholders will discuss attacks on academic freedom, civil society and democracy in various regions of the world. Researchers at risk will share their expertise on and experiences with recognizing and resisting these trends.

The Philipp Schwartz Forum 2026 will take place at the Henry Ford Building of Freie Universität Berlin at Garystraße 35, 14195 Berlin (Entrance via Boltzmannstraße 8) and at the nearby building of the Department of Economics at Freie Universität Berlin at Garystraße 21.

A bus transfer service will be provided from Hotel Steglitz International, Albrechtstr. 2, 12165 Berlin and Motel One Berlin – Upper West, Kantstraße 163 – 165, 10623 Berlin. Alternatively, both locations can be reached easily by public transport. The nearest stops are “Freie Universität” and “OskarHelene-Heim” (U3) or “Lichterfelde West” (S-Bahn).

The opening plenaries on 9 April will be streamed live on the Humboldt Foundation’s YouTube channel.

Organised by

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation