The Closing Session should leave participants with a strong, forward-looking message while bringing the WAITRO Summit 2026 back to its central theme: “Leading the Path of Implementation.” Rather than concluding with another discussion of global challenges, the session will focus on what needs to change in the way research and innovation are funded, connected and implemented. The central question is: How can we build international research and innovation ecosystems that turn knowledge and promising solutions into lasting impact?

Three complementary perspectives will address this question:

• Luiz Felipe “Lupe” Leal, CNPq, Brazil — the perspective of research funding, international cooperation and the Global South.
• Michael Browne, CEO and Co-founder of Crowdhelix, United Kingdom — the perspective of international research collaboration, consortium building and a rapidly changing funding landscape.
• Prof. Dr. Sadullah Levent Kuzu, Director, Climate Change Regional Activity Centre (CC/RAC), United Nations Environment Programme / Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP)

Together, the three contributions create a progression from funding → partnerships → implementation and impact

Closing Remarks

• Dr. Benjin Luo, Secretary General of WAITRO
• Prof. Hasan Mandal, Rector of İstanbul Technical University (İTÜ)