IQWiG Forum Berlin

The launch of our new event format

Science meets politics – that was the guiding theme of the first ‘IQWiG Forum Berlin’. With this new series of events, IQWiG aims to intensify the dialogue between science, politics and health policy stakeholders. After a welcoming address by Tino Sorge, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Health, Thomas Isenberg, Managing Director of ‘Deutsche Schmerzgesellschaft e.V.’ (the German Pain Society) and former Social Democratic Party (SPD) health politician in the Berlin House of Representatives (Berlin state parliament), and Karin Maag, impartial member of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) and former Christian Democratic Union (CDU) health politician in the German parliament (Bundestag), discussed with moderator Johannes Hillje how, where and when scientific institutions such as IQWiG can provide concrete support to policymakers. The presentations were framed by input from IQWiG’s Director Thomas Kaiser and Deputy Director Michaela Eikermann. It was a successful evening with thought-provoking contributions from the audience at the Baden-Württemberg State Representation in Berlin – we would love to come back!

Quotes from participants:

Important topic, interesting people to talk to, a great discussion; a really successful new format! We were very happy to be there, please say a big thank you and we look forward to the next time!

You always meet interesting people at IQWiG events.

A very successful event with interesting discussions on the interplay between science and politics!

An interesting new format, and in particular the subsequent in-depth discussion with various stakeholders proved very beneficial …

A great approach. Keep it up. Thank you!

Picture of Tino Sorge, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Health

Podium discussion with Karin Maag (centre), Thomas Isenberg (left) and Johannes Hillje as moderator

IQWiG Deputy Director Michaela Eikermann

From left to right: Stefan Sauerland, Head of IQWiG's Non-Drug Interventions Department, Jörg Meerpohl, Leader of Cochrane Germany and Nicole Skoetz, Director of the Institute of Public Health at the University of Cologne

Jutta Semrau and Eric Schneider, both German Federal Ministry of Health

There was opportunity for conversation both before and after the podium discussion

From left to right: IQWiG Chief Operating Officer Klaus Bründermann, IQWiG Deputy Director Michaela Eikermann, Tina Vogel, German Federal Ministry of Health, and IQWiG Director Thomas Kaiser

Looking back to the IQWiG Autumn Symposium 2025

Programme

Moderation: Johannes Hillje
From 5.30 pm	Admission
6 - 6.10 pm	Welcome address from Nina Warken, Federal Minister of Health
6.10 - 6.20 pm	How can science reach politics? A review of the IQWiG Autumn Symposium 2025 Thomas Kaiser, Director of IQWiG
6.20 - 6.50 pm	The political viewpoint and where IQWiG can now provide concrete support Janosch Dahmen, Health Policy Spokesman for the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group in the German Bundestag Tino Sorge, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health
6.50 - 6.55 pm	Outlook – Michaela Eikermann, Deputy Director of IQWiG
Followed by	Evening snack and get-together