Supporting fundamental research in physics, chemistry & biology
The International Solvay Institutes are the direct descendents of the International Institutes for Physics and for Chemistry founded by Ernest Solvay in the early 20th century. As part of their mission to support and develop curiosity-driven research in physics, the Institutes have as their central mission the organization of the celebrated Solvay Conferences on Physics and Chemistry, and also on Biology since 2024.
These Conferences are probably the most famous conferences in the history of physics and chemistry, playing a major role in the development of science when Ernest Solvay initiated the first meeting between Einstein and Poincaré to discuss the theory of quantum mechanics. An astonishing number of Nobel Prize laureates have been associated since then with the Solvay Conferences.
This support to fundamental science is complemented by the organization of workshops, international chairs, colloquia and an international doctoral school. The Institutes also promote the popularization of science through the organization of annual "Horizon lectures" devoted to today's big scientific challenges.
Helping to popularize science and disseminate scientific knowledge through conferences and lectures that serve as a catalyst for scientific collaboration, curiosity-driven research and as a platform for discussion.
