Five coins, one priority: where do we invest tomorrow? #
The Night of Research (Nacht der Forschung) 2025 once again turned the Grosse Schanze in Bern into a stage for science – with 10,000 visitors, 800 researchers and 80+ projects (5th edition). Between experiments, talks and interactive stations – and even a change of shift at the ProfBAR with 22 professors – we asked visitors a simple question: Imagine Bern had to redistribute 100 research francs today – which topics would get a boost – and why? In our mini-experiment, visitors could each distribute five symbolic gold coins among “research pots”. Not a vote, but a snapshot of opinion: What answers does the world of tomorrow need – and what does Bern as a centre of science need?
Three signals from many conversations #
1) Health – plus the mind.
Health remains the foundation. Remarkably strong: the call for psychological research – resilience, mental health, prevention.
2) Climate & sustainability as a cross-cutting theme.
Not one area among others, but a pacesetter: from energy to biodiversity – “the clock is ticking” was a recurring motif.
3) Society & communication matter.
Alongside the major natural sciences, people & society, communication – and even theatre studies – were named as levers: making findings understandable, opening up perspectives.
Two productive tensions #
Breadth vs. focus: Many would put “one coin in every box” – at the same time, there is a growing need for clear priorities.
Today vs. the day after tomorrow: Acute problems are pressing, but long-term research remains indispensable. Good strategies achieve both.
What we make of it #
For us at the UniBE Foundation, research is a social contract. Micro-impulses like these help to sharpen priorities through dialogue – between science, the public and funders. We bring these voices together, support researchers and thus strengthen Bern as a centre of knowledge and research.
➡️ Watch the video and distribute your five coins: Where would your research franc go – and why?
