Evidence in need - how science reaches politics

How can science influence political decision-making processes effectively and sustainably? How can science and politics cooperate effectively? And how can the tension between scientific independence and political practice be resolved? All these are questions we want to explore at this year's IQWiG Autumn Symposium.

To kick off the event at the "smartvillage" in Cologne-Mülheim, two keynote speeches by speakers from the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) will provide initial impetus for evidence-based policy-making. This will be followed by a dialogue entitled: "What does politics need from science?" Among other things, the dialogue will focus on the question of how independent scientific political advice can be more firmly established, particularly in the health sector. And it will also be discussed how scientific actors and institutions can be better equipped to provide policy advice.

The programme of the 20th IQWiG Autumn Symposium will also include impulses from abroad: Tanja Kuchenmüller from the WHO in Geneva has long been involved in the generation, implementation and application of research findings in policy and practice and has entitled her presentation "Bridging the Gap". In his contribution, Paul Cairney, a political scientist at the University of Stirling in Scotland, addresses the question of why scientific findings do not always find a sympathetic ear among political decision-makers - and how this can be dealt with in future.

Afterwards, Thomas Kaiser, Director of IQWiG, will sharpen the scientific view of the topic in an exchange with various speakers: What are the key methods and success factors for evidence-based policy advice? What works and what doesn't - and what are the "No Goes”? The final discussion at the Autumn Symposium will focus on what science can do in concrete terms to ensure that politics really listens to it. Guests with perspectives from health policy will have their say, as will researchers and communication consultants, the media and patient representatives. The audience is also invited to get involved.