Programme
All sessions take place at the ETH Main Building, Audimax (HG F 30), unless indicated otherwise.
The symposium will open on the evening of 10 September at ETH Zurich with a keynote address by Prof. Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Over the following two days, interactive panels will address the role of universities in bridging research and real-world impact, the need for locally adapted yet globally informed approaches in housing, health and climate change adaptation, as well as how emerging technologies like AI can support - rather than endanger - peace and humanitarian efforts.
A poster exhibition will showcase research by early-career scholars. Workshops will provide opportunities for in-depth exploration of specific topics such as policy impact evaluation, effective and equitable research collaboration, and strategies for scaling development innovations.
10 September: Keynote: 18:00-20:00
11 September: 9:00-20:30
12 September: 9:00-12:00, Workshops: 13:15-15:30
A detailed programme will follow.
Session: Science and Engineering for Global Impact
This session explores how academic institutions can serve as catalysts for transformative global change at the intersection of science, engineering, and society. Key questions include:
- What role can universities play in driving innovation for global sustainable and equitable development? With foreign aid declining and geopolitical tensions rising, what new responsibilities might universities need to take on in global development and humanitarian efforts?
- What examples exist of university-led technologies or initiatives that have directly improved lives, especially in low-income settings? Or do we just need to wait for a trickle-down effect of scientific innovations to be adapted for the needs of vulnerable populations?
- Do we need dedicated global engineering centers at universities, and where should these be located?
Session: Science and Technologies That Changed the World
This session discusses the profound ways science and technology have reshaped our world - raising living standards, but also posing new challenges. It asks how we can steer future innovations toward a more inclusive and equitable global impact. Key questions include:
- What are some of the most transformative technologies in history, and how have they shaped global development and human well-being? Which technologies have significantly reduced poverty and improved lives and which have widened inequalities or left the poor behind?
- Are the impacts of technologies determined by their inherent technological features, or by the institutions, policies, and power structures that govern their use?
- Looking forward, which emerging technologies—AI, robotics, biotech, 3D printing—hold the potential to either bridge or deepen global divides? Looking forward, what are the big questions researchers should address over the next 50 years - where do we need technological and social innovations to improve the lives of the70% living from less than 10 $ a day?
Session: From Pilot to Scale
This session examines the journey from innovation to widespread impact, exploring what it takes to scale research-based solutions in complex global development contexts. Key questions include:
- What are real-world examples of research-based innovations that successfully scaled—and those that failed? Why where some successful and others failed?
- Why is scaling so difficult in the context of global development, and what factors most influence success?How can early-stage innovators design for scale from the beginning?
- What roles do researchers, private sector, international organizations, and donors each need to play to increase the chances of reaching impact at scale? What type of collaborations do we need?
Session: Inclusive Adaptation to Climate Change
As climate impacts intensify, the need for effective and inclusive adaptation becomes ever more urgent. This session explores the dynamic interplay between locally grounded responses and global frameworks, asking how we can craft adaptation strategies that are both context-specific and scalable. Key questions include:
- What are examples from practice and research that show how adaptation is ultimately local?
- How do we balance specificity with scalability?
- What can global approaches to research bring to this topic?
- What do practitioners need from researchers (and vice versa) to make this work in real contexts?