Since 2005, the international retina research community has been meeting in Potsdam for an interdisciplinary dialogue known as the „Potsdam Meeting.“
This international research colloquium has become an established fixture in the European research calendar, attracting numerous participants each year—particularly young early-career scientists.
The primary goal of the Potsdam Meeting is to strengthen and inspire the next generation of scientists in the field of retinal research.
The symposium aims to showcase the current state of retinal research well beyond Germany’s borders and to continuously expand the network of retina researchers.
A key focus is to ensure that communication—especially among early-career researchers—takes place in an interdisciplinary exchange with established scientists across all areas of the retina field, and that this dialogue is actively developed and deepened.
Over the past years, the successful establishment of the Potsdam Meeting has significantly strengthened and sustainably promoted the entire research field as well as the development of young scientific talent.
To continue contributing to positive progress in retinal research, it is essential to foster ongoing interdisciplinary interaction between clinical practice and basic science, to further expand the established national and international networks, and to integrate additional disciplines in order to broaden the therapeutic research spectrum.
Ultimately, it is vital to ensure that young scientists in Germany and across Europe remain inspired by the diverse areas of retinal degeneration research and are motivated to shape their careers in this important field.