The Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, from 13–19 April 2026, provide an opportunity to place science at the centre of global discussions on debt, growth, and development finance. In a context of constrained fiscal space and overlapping global crises, science and innovation are essential drivers of productivity, resilience, and long-term economic stability. Yet they are often treated as sectoral issues rather than as core elements of macroeconomic strategy.

As part of the Science Summit series organised by the Science For All Foundation, this side event will examine how development finance and capital markets can be better aligned with policy priorities to strengthen scientific capacity, while underscoring the macro-critical role of science, technology, and AI across health, food security, nutrition, biodiversity, and climate in driving sustainable and inclusive development.