Founded in 2022, the aim of the Elkana Forum is to bring together stakeholders in science, policy and other knowledge areas in a joint endeavor to identify and rethink the most relevant research questions for the coming decade. The Forum aims not only to contribute to an ongoing interdisciplinary scholarly discourse but also to serve as an opportunity for academic and scientific disciplines to reflect upon their roles in navigating the complexities of our times.

Yehuda Elkana (1934–2012) was a visionary historian and philosopher of science whose interdisciplinary approach had a deep and lasting impact. He founded or led several important European and Israeli research institutions, including the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, the Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem, the Cohn Institute at Tel Aviv University, and the Central European University in Budapest. His work emphasized the dynamic nature of knowledge and the importance of historical and philosophical perspectives in understanding scientific developments.