An interdisciplinary focus: the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
For over seven decades, the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings have been bringing together Nobel laureates and early-career researchers from all over the world. The focus is on direct, personal exchange: young researchers are given the opportunity to engage in conversation with leading figures in their field, to network internationally and to gain fresh inspiration for their own research.
The 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings took place in Lindau from 28 June to 3 July 2026. Unlike in previous years, this anniversary event was deliberately not limited to a single discipline but focused on interdisciplinarity: around 75 Nobel laureates and several hundred early-career researchers came together to work collaboratively on current scientific questions across disciplinary boundaries.
This year, two early-career researchers supported by the Wilhelm Sander Foundation were also able to take part in the meeting: Philipp Jie Müller and Seungbin Han. We warmly congratulate them both and look forward to supporting them on their future scientific journeys.
Further information on the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting can be found on the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings website
Property management in foundations: between tradition and professionalisation
In many places, foundations’ property portfolios have grown organically over decades – and in some cases over centuries. They served as a secure investment, a means of securing long-term returns, or directly to fulfil the foundation’s purpose. In the past, property management could be limited to letting flats as they became vacant, carrying out ad hoc repairs and, in individual cases, modernisation, as well as simple management models (settling operating and heating costs). Decisions were made with sound judgement, but rarely with a strategic focus on returns, liquidity and risk against the backdrop of foundation-specific requirements.
By Ernst G. Wittmann
Foundations and start-ups: the driving force behind medical research
On the Bavarian State Government’s decision regarding the VC4Start-ups initiative.
Private foundations play a crucial role in ensuring that medical research in Germany can progress – often in areas where government or industry funding approaches its limits. In Bavaria in particular, it is evident how strongly the interaction between foundations, universities and new initiatives shapes the climate for innovation. Recent political decisions are providing further impetus and opening up new avenues for medical breakthroughs and start-up funding.
By Ernst G. Wittmann
Transparent Animal Testing Initiative
As a foundation supporting innovative medical research, the Wilhelm Sander Foundation is part of the “Transparent Animal Testing Initiative”. We are committed to transparent and proactive communication regarding when and why animal experimentation is used. Even though alternative methods are becoming increasingly important, science is currently still unable to dispense entirely with animal experimentation in certain areas of research. This makes strict legal requirements, careful assessment and the consistent application of the 3Rs principle all the more important in order to limit animal testing to the absolute minimum. Through our support for the initiative, we aim to contribute to a transparent, evidence-based discussion and strengthen the dialogue with the public.