Count Lennart Bernadotte of Wisborg and two local physician in Lindau, Germany brought together seven Nobel Laureates in Medicine/Physiology and 400 physicians in 1951. The gathering was so successful that they decided to make it an annual event. The next couple of meetings in successive years was also very successful. But in 1954, the Count had a realization: the young blood was missing. From then on, he began to include a sizeable number of students from various German universities. For over half a century this annual conference is being held regularly in the picturesque island city of Lindau at the eastern end of Lake Constance right north of the Swiss Alps. Here is the common border of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The medieval city and its surroundings are rich in central European cultural heritage. Several hundred scientists, research scholars and students from all around the world meet about 20 Nobel Laureates for one week at the end of June/beginning of July. The purpose is to sustain world knowledge by inspiring and motivating the young students to adopt careers of research. Each year a subject is chosen from among the three subjects; Physics, Chemistry and Medicine/Physiology. These annual events are organized and conducted by the Committee for the Meetings of Nobel Prize Winners in Lindau, headed by Sonja Countess Bernadotte at Wisborg, Sweden and Mainau Castle Germany.

The meetings formally open on Monday and last till Friday inclusive. In the evening of the opening Monday, an informal social get-together unites all participants for first small group discussions, followed by dinner and dancing. Plenary sessions in the mornings of Monday through Thursday feature round table debates or lectures by Laureates on actual research topics and general science. Small group discussions are arranged between Laureates and students/young researchers each afternoon. On Friday, all participants take a cruise across Lake Constance with a visit to the Island of Mainau providing ample opportunities for further informal personal interactions between Laureates and participants. The meeting formally closes Friday noon at Mainau Castle; home of the Count Bernadotte family.