Berlin is the capital of research. The editorial staff of DER TAGESSPIEGEL newspaper has identified 100 individuals who are making a significant impact in Berlin’s Open Knowledge and Innovation Space this year. Through innovative research, excellent teaching, and their commitment to science and society, they are shaping the future of science—from questions of everyday life and the resilience of democratic societies to future digital technologies and legal and economic contexts, all the way to the life sciences, global change, and sustainable development. The protection of academic freedom and the prospects for young research talent are also among the topics that demonstrate how diverse, innovative, and solution-oriented science is in responding to the challenges of our time.