The International Security Forum Bonn 2020 is a high-level international event to ensure a dialogue on contemporary topics of foreign and security politics. The goal of the International Security Forum is to ensure a debate between experts and practitioners, to identify vital aspects of a successful European foreign and security policy, and develop holistic strategical solutions for pressing challenges. This year’s Forum will concentrate on the challenges posed by shifts in the transatlantic relations, discuss the findings of the Task Force “The Future of Transatlantic Relations”, evaluate the upcoming to the global geo-economic and geo-political challenges as well as those posed by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

The forum runs from the 1st of December until the 5th of December, due to the current situation it well be held digitally and on December 3, a special focus day will tackle with the question: “What to Learn from the Pandemic: Security in the light of COVID-19”:

Thursday, December 3, 2020 – Special Focus Day on “What to Learn from the Pandemic: Security in the light of COVID-19”

• 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Registration
• 9 a.m. – 9.30 a.m. Introduction and Welcoming Remarks
  Volker Kronenberg, Dean of the Faculty of the Arts and Director of CASSIS, University of Bonn
  Jens Spahn, Federal Minister of Health
• 9.30 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. Keynote Speech
  Ilona Kickbusch, Director, Global Health Centre, Geneva
• Session One: “Prelude: Health and Security Policy – A Neglected Relationship?”
  10.30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Panel Discussion I
• Session Two: “Outbreak: Tackling the Pandemic – Locking Down or Keeping (Too) Cool?”
  1 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Panel Discussion II
• Session Three: “Aftermath: The Geopolitics of the Pandemic – Trend Multiplier or Game Changer?”
  3.15 p.m. – 4.45 p.m. Panel Discussion III: “Aftermath: The Geopolitics of the Pandemic – Trend Multiplier or Game Changer?”
• 4.45 p.m. – 5.15 p.m. Keynote Speech
  Michael Meyer-Hermann, Professor, Head of Systems Immunology, Helmholtz Centre
• 5.15 p.m. Conclusion
  Maximilian Mayer, Professor, CASSIS, Bonn University 

Further information and the detailed programme can be found on the official website.