Our mission

Trough a joint appointment between the World Economic Forum and leading academic institutions, we give early-career academics the opportunity to work at the intersection of academic research and public-private partnerships across a broad range of disciplines.


We enable Fellows to develop policy frameworks, industry agendas and solutions that push the boundaries of how we think about and respond to global challenges. 

Research topics

Hoffmann Fellows are driving evidence-based research across the following topics:

Green Building

Innovating building design and construction research to reduce GHG emissions and increase wellbeing.


Food Innovation 

Exploring the drivers, barriers and approaches impacting the food ecosystem.

Forest Economy

Developing landscape level approaches integrating conservation and restoration in the forestry sector.

Circular Manufacturing

Assessing regulatory needs and sustainability potential of manufacturing networks in circular value chains.

Natural Capital

Standardizing frameworks in support of mainstreaming the use of natural capital for decision makers.


Clean Air 

Leveraging digital technologies and data to improve air quality in urban areas globally.


Earth Science

Furthering the understanding of Earth systems tipping points and positive tipping points to accelerate rapid decarbonization.

Ocean Innovation

Supporting new ocean innovation ecosystems, equitable access and fair representation of underrepresented groups.


Water Innovation

Developing a strategy to transform the global water innovation agenda.

Climate Resilience

Supporting policy makers and corporate leaders to better manage climate risks, determining associated risks and opportunities.

Visual Technologies

Exploring technologies to communicate peer-reviewed science and changes in our natural world.

Precision Medicine

Identifying barriers inhibiting access to gene therapies and collaborative solutions to drive equitable access. 

Social Innovation in Climate Adaptation

Spotlighting social innovators’ collaborations with the private sector and quantifying market opportunities.

Health Systems Financing

Engaging policymakers to scale value-based care reforms across digitally enhanced health systems.


Partnerships for Nature and Climate

Analysing the intersection of climate philanthropy and low-carbon technology deployment in Asia.

Part of the Centre for Nature and Climate

Accelerating net-zero climate action, regenerating food, water and ocean systems, and promoting circular economies.