When democracies falter, universities and researchers are often the first targets. Those who demand conformity fear those who ask critical questions. Conversely, this means that strong, resilient democracies need science. And also: science needs a democratic environment to flourish. Democracy and science are based on the same fundamental values: evidence, openness, dissent, and the capacity to learn.

Today, we are witnessing worrying developments worldwide: democracies are coming under pressure, authoritarianism is gaining traction, hostility towards science is increasing, and academic freedom is being curtailed.

This places a responsibility on all of us. Science is not only a pillar of democracy; it can – and must – also actively contribute to making democracies more resilient.

We need universities that teach their students not only what is true, but also why it is true – and how to question it. We need excellent research that actively applies its findings to administration and politics, business and civil society, thereby contributing to solving the major challenges of our time. We need educational institutions that open up opportunities for people and ensure educational equity. And we need science that makes knowledge accessible and understandable to the general public.

This is the image of science that the Vienna Science Ball has conveyed since its establishment. Now a fixture of the Viennese ball scene, the Vienna Science Ball is a place of encounter and joy, of curiosity and discovery, of openness and inclusion. I look forward to a dazzling ball night!

Since April 2025, Eva-Maria Holzleitner is Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research. After studying social economics at Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU), she worked as a research assistant at JKU and as an assistant in the HEAL (Heuristic and Evolutionary Algorithms Laboratory) research group at the Hagenberg University of Applied Sciences. From 2017 to 2025, the Federal Chairwoman of the SPÖ Women’s Organization was a Member of Parliament.