Berlin Freedom Conference

Science thrives on free inquiry, open debate and independence. Yet academic freedom and scholars around the world are under mounting pressure – especially in authoritarian systems. Researchers are being silenced, and scientific results are being discredited. The Berlin Freedom Conference addresses exactly this: how autocrats restrict freedom globally and how democracies can respond.

On 10 November 2025 at the Gasometer Berlin, more than 800 leading figures from science, politics, civil society, business, culture and the media will gather. Speakers include democracy scholar Larry Diamond, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, digital pioneer and former minister Audrey Tang, and economist Prof. Dr. Michael Hüther, alongside human rights defenders such as Rushan Abbas and Leopoldo López. This diversity shows: the freedom of science is part of a broader struggle for democracy and human rights.

The conference combines keynotes, debates and interactive Q&As, ensuring the audience can play an active role. It creates a space where scientists, dissidents and policymakers can engage directly.

For Berlin Science Week, this is an ideal complement: while Science Week showcases cutting-edge research, the Berlin Freedom Conference highlights the conditions it depends on – free societies where knowledge can truly flourish.