100 Topics Shaping the Future
This year's Falling Walls Science Summit explores topics spanning AI, quantum technologies, medical research, science diplomacy, start-ups, sustainability, academic freedom and much more.
Browse the list of our top 100 topics below.
1Planetary Boundaries: Science in an Age of Geopolitics and Energy Disruption
2From Lab to Leader: How Europe Turns Start-Ups into Global Champions
3From Diversifying Supply to Reinventing Materials: Europe's Path to Critical Minerals Sovereignty
4Breaking the Wall to Industrial AI: From Industrial Data Labs to Fully Automated Industries
5Protecting Academic Freedom: Insights and Initiatives
6Who Funds the Ecosystem? Rethinking Investment in European Breakthrough Innovation
7The University of the Future
8Research Networks of the Future
9Satellite Research in Africa
10EU Innovation & Transfer Policies
11Imagining Healthy Societies: Disease Prevention as the Default
12Future of Health
13Science Diplomacy and Cooperation with Africa
14Innovation and Transfer Policies
15Secure Research
16High-Risk, High-Gain Research: What Is Needed?
17From Research to Academia to Spin-Out to Scaling Start-Ups
18From Science to Impact: A Shared Responsibility
19The Medical Therapy Access Gap
20From Curiosity to Commitment: Funding Big Science
21When Algorithms Run Business: Efficiency, Limits, Responsibility
22Beyond the Lab: Autonomous Systems in Action
23Why Researchers Choose Countries
24How Will Social Sciences & Humanities Address AI in the Future?
25Trusted Data Ecosystems for Biomedical Innovation
26From Industrial Stagnation to Manufacturing Renaissance: Europe's Physical AI Opportunity
27Industrialisation of Fusion Energy
28RNA Beyond Vaccines: New Frontiers in Medicine
29KIWi Policy Talk: Secure & Open – Getting the Balance Right
30Future Drug Development: Replacing Animal Models with AI
31International Big Science: Impact for Society
32Innovation Management and Collaboration
33Science Beyond SDGs: Power, Priorities, Progress
34Innovative Funding: Foundations Driving European Research
35Nature as Capital: The Economic Risk of Biodiversity Loss
36Innovation & Transfer: From Research to Market
37Evidence and Power: Why Facts Fail in Politics
38Radiotheranostics: Future of Therapy, Regulation & Access
39Europe's Research Alliances: Cooperation Under Pressure
40Astronomy, Space & Global Cooperation in Africa
41Science Diplomacy in Space
42Climate and Security Within the High-Tech Agenda
43Defence Research
44Brilliant Young Minds for Tomorrow
45Quantum Start-Up Ecosystems
46AI in Research
47Security Through Innovation
48Barriers and Opportunities for Multilateral Collaboration in Science and Innovation
49Biomedical Innovation & Translation
50Governing Innovation Ecosystems: National Strategies and the European Picture
51Energy Security
52Lab to Life: From AI Research to Real-World Impact
53Building Europe's Industrial AI Stack: Towards a Federated, Sovereign and Industry-Proof Foundation
54Start-Up Investments
55EU Quantum Sovereignty: Commercialising Quantum Applications
56European-Israeli Research Cooperation
57Research Security & Freedom
58International Top Scientists for Europe – ERC+
59Global Mobility of Young Scientists
60Science Diplomacy in a Fractured World
61Transatlantic Big Science Initiative
62Rebuilding Science in Ukraine
63Meet the Breakthroughs of the Year
64Strategic Advice for an International Research Platform
65Impact-Oriented Research Funding
66Physical AI as an Opportunity for German-Canadian Cooperation
67Leadership Dialogue
68Science Advice in Action: Evidence Meets Power
69Philanthropy & Science
70AI & Creativity
71Perspectives on German Science in 2040
72Top Quantum Start-Ups
73Building and Scaling Start-Up Talent
74From Evidence to Action: How SDG Research Can Shape Policy
75Top Talents for Innovation
76The Innovation & Start-Up Pipeline
77Digital Sovereignty and Competition: Opportunities for European Societies
78Science on the Frontline: Defence Innovation, Deterrence, and Diplomacy
79Societal and Ethical Implications of Scientific Research – Physics
80Societal and Ethical Implications of Scientific Research – Technology
81Societal and Ethical Implications of Scientific Research – Medical
82Science Diplomacy in the Near East: Is There a Chance?
83AI & Health
84Future of Medical Research
85Breakthroughs in Physical Sciences
86A New Era of Transatlantic Research Partnerships
87Polar Research
88What Can Brains Still Teach Machines?
89The Self-Driving Lab: Is Human Insight Becoming Optional?
90The New Geopolitics of Emerging Technologies
91The Future of Food as an Interdisciplinary Problem
92Governing Dual-Use Research in an Era of Strategic Competition
93Universities and the New Strategic Economy
94Designing Medicine for Bodies That Don't Fit the Average
95Advancing Rights, Reciprocity, and Shared Futures Through Indigenous Science Diplomacy
96Big Science, National Laboratories, and the Politics of Collaboration
97Falling Walls LAB – 100 Brilliant Minds
98Falling Walls ENGAGE – Building Trust in Science
99Falling Walls VENTURE – Deep-Tech Unicorns
100Falling Walls Female Science Talents – The Female Leaders of Tomorrow