New Attendance Record for Futurium

Dr Stefan Brandt, Director of Futurium, said: “We’d already had a record year in terms of visitor numbers in 2022. The fact that 2023 saw a further increase of more than 50 per cent is a matter of delight for us. Our visitors engage in discussions with one another on the content presented at Futurium and actively participate in our workshops and events. We want to continue on this path by encouraging people to think about issues of the future and by giving them the courage to shape it.”

Just as the number of visitors is growing, the circle of partners cooperating with Futurium on issues of the future is growing too: Futurium welcomes as its newest partners the Joachim Herz Foundation and the German Research Foundation (DFG). Nicole Schneider, Commercial Managing Director, said: “Openness and a broad view of the future are important to us at Futurium. This is true for the exhibition and our hands-on activities, but also for the 15 players from society, politics, research and business that Futurium works with. We are therefore delighted to welcome the German Research Foundation and the Joachim Herz Foundation as new partners. The future-oriented activities and perspectives of both of these strong partners will be a great enrichment for Futurium in terms of content.”

Joachim Herz Foundation

The non-profit Joachim Herz Foundation promotes education, science and research. It is primarily active in the fields of the natural sciences and business and personal development, with a particular focus on supporting transfer and innovation. Other priority areas are application-oriented research at the interfaces between the natural sciences and engineering, as well as transatlantic exchange in projects between German and US partners. The Joachim Herz Foundation was established in 2008 and is one of the largest foundations in Germany.

Professor Sabine Kunst is Chairwoman of the Joachim Herz Foundation and is looking forward to the collaboration: "Futurium gives us an idea of how we could live in the future and shows how science and research can help shape this future. I am delighted that the Joachim Herz Stiftung is now part of this space for experimentation and innovation as a new partner, and I am convinced that we can enrich the dialogue with our ideas for research and education."

German Research Foundation (DFG)

The German Research Foundation (DFG) is Germany’s largest funding organisation for research and its central institution for the self-administration of science. Its main task is to fund research projects that develop within the scientific community itself and which are selected according to scientific quality criteria. With an annual budget of 3.9 billion euros, most of which comes from the federal and state governments, the DFG currently funds more than 30,000 projects. The focus here is on knowledge-driven research.

"Science communication has become a core element of the dialogue between science, politics and society. The DFG has also continuously expanded its activities in this area in recent years, be it through our funding programmes for scientists and their projects, through new events and formats in our own science communication or through our involvement in the joint initiative of science organisations 'Science in Dialogue'. The participation in Futurium is now a further step that should provide additional impetus for science communication," emphasises DFG President Professor Dr Katja Becker. "As a new shareholder, we want to use this opportunity to emphasise the central role of the knowledge-driven research that we fund for science and innovation and for our future. This is particularly promising, not least because Futurium reaches a large number of young people and visitors who are otherwise not in direct contact with science."

Festival "Raw Materials"

After the final spurt of our current annual theme of “Democracy”, Futurium will be kicking off its “Raw Materials” theme year with a festival starting on 4 May 2024. With new exhibits in the exhibition and Lab, new workshop and event formats and new digital offerings, Futurium aims to draw attention to the global and local challenges connected to the current use of raw materials. Furthermore, approaches from science, research and practice will be presented with regard to the question of what a more sustainable use of raw materials – and thus a “resource-lighter” future – might look like in concrete terms.

Event highlights in the first quarter of 2024

The first highlight of the year will be taking place on 17 January at 17:30: in the company of Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Member of the Bundestag, and guests from society, science and research, the “Science Year 2024 – Freedom”will be launched at Futurium with a programme of stage events. To mark the 75th anniversary of the German Basic Law, the Year of Science aims to encourage the general public to discuss the value and meaning of freedom. Especially in times of crises, we as a society need a common understanding of freedom – one that we need to keep fighting for and achieving in a constructive way.

On 2 March, we invite visitors to join us at Futurium for a sound experience: from 19:00, musicians of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin will be bringing the entire building to life in a walking concert. Musical contributions by composers ranging from Benjamin Britten to Steve Reich will be setting Futurium in a new light and making it possible for visitors to experience the exhibits in a completely new way. The musicians will be performing in changing formations in the exhibition and Lab. The evening will be rounded off with a grand musical finale in the foyer.

On 3 March at noon, the music continues: together with Ohrenkuss magazine, we invite our visitors to join us for readings with musical accompaniment on the future topic of “Mobility”. In the Forum, Futurium’s event area, authors with Down syndrome will be presenting their wishes, dreams and questions. The event will be translated into German sign language.

Programme of events from January to March 2024

You can find the programme of events from January to March 2024 online.