The Opening Week 2025 is dedicated to the topic of “Cooperating”, seen from four different socio-political and scientific perspectives. In times marked by uncertainty and profound transformation, one question becomes increasingly urgent: How can we live, act, and solve problems together? From climate crises and geopolitical conflict to technological upheaval and social fragmentation, we are no longer facing isolated challenges. Today’s crises are deeply interconnected, reinforcing one another in complex, unpredictable ways. These polycrises cannot be addressed by any single nation, discipline, or individual alone.
So what does cooperation mean in a world of accelerating change? How do we build trust across borders, cultures and generations? What does it take to share knowledge, shape technology responsibly, or defend and revitalize democracy?
The Opening Week invites you to explore cooperation as a creative, political, and deeply human force. Across four key themes, we will question and reimagine how societies come together and how each of us can become part of that process.

You can choose from one of the following topics:

1. Understanding Origins | The foundations of cooperation
2. Shaping Innovation and AI | Cooperation in economy and technology
3. Building Knowledge | Science as a cooperative process of discovery
4. Forging Alliances | Cooperation across borders and communities