FOR APPLICANTS

Falling Walls Lab is a global pitch competition that brings together students, early-career researchers and innovators from all disciplines to present their breakthrough ideas in just 3-minutes on stage. 

Falling Walls Lab challenges participants to communicate the essence and impact of their work, offering a fast-paced, inspiring format with a global reach. It supports participants in driving their innovations and develop their communication skills, fostering collaboration and creating a space for impactful and sustainable community to thrive.

Throughout the year, leading academic institutions worldwide host international Falling Walls Labs, showcasing the talent, diversity, and passion of their region’s brightest minds. 

In three minutes each, participants pitch their solutions to some of today's most pressing challenges, giving them the chance to connect with peers, and receive feedback from experts in academia, business, and society.

Winners of each Lab –a total of 100 each year– qualify for the Global Finale in Berlin, attend the Falling Walls Science Summit, and participate in an exclusive programme exploring Germany’s research landscape.  At the Global Finale, they compete to become the Breakthrough Winner in the Emerging Talents category of Falling Walls, with the opportunity to pitch again on the grand stage of the Falling Walls Science Summit.

Since its launch, Falling Walls Lab has become a truly global movement: in 2025 alone, more than 2,750 applicants participated in 82 Falling Walls Labs across 60 countries, demonstrating the programme's reach, impact, and spirit of innovation.

Whether you are a researcher, innovator, partner, or supporter, Falling Walls Lab celebrates ideas that break walls and shape the future. Interested in participating? The Lab season is open until 15 September 2026.

FIND A FALLING WALLS LAB NEAR YOU & APPLY TODAY!

Falling Walls Lab aims to engage a broad range of people from diverse professional backgrounds at the beginning of their careers. We welcome university students as well as early- and mid-career professionals from all disciplines.

To ensure a fair and focused selection process, we have established eligibility criteria that help us identify participants within our target group while creating a level playing field for everyone involved.

Age: Applicants must be 18 years or older, when submitting an application. There is no upper age limit.

Education: They must fulfill at least one of the following formal requirements:

• currently enrolled at university as a student
• awarded a Bachelor’s degree no more than 10 years ago
• awarded a Master’s degree* no more than 7 years ago
• awarded a PhD* no more than 5 years ago

Please note:

• Applications must be submitted in English
• No prior Falling Walls Lab experience: Presenting at a Falling Walls Lab is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Past participants are no longer eligible to apply for a Lab.
• It is not allowed to limit the participation to applicants from a specific country/region, a single or the hosting university, a specific degree (e.g. PhD students only), or theme.

*An MD (medical degree excl. a doctoral dissertation) is deemed equivalent to a Master’s degree. A Dr. med. (medical degree incl. a doctoral dissertation) is deemed equivalent to a PhD. The global diversity of academic degrees is acknowledged.

All Falling Walls Labs are held in English. All applications and three-minute pitches must therefore be submitted and presented in English.

No. Applications must be submitted by individuals.

Since individual achievements (e.g. academic background and experience) are part of the evaluation process, group applications are not permitted.

If your idea is part of a team or group project, please select one representative to apply and present the idea. The applicant should clearly describe their individual contribution to the project in both the application and the pitch.

Participating in a Falling Walls Lab gives you the opportunity to:

• Present your breakthrough idea in a three-minute pitch
• Connect with a global community of innovators
• Network and explore potential collaborations
• Gain international visibility for your idea
• Each Falling Walls Lab winner receives a trip to the Global Finale in Berlin, Germany (travel and accommodation included) and a ticket to the Falling Walls Science Summit.
• Breakthrough Winners (the top 3 of 100 finalists in Berlin) additionally receive a cash prize and the opportunity to present their idea on the grand stage of the Falling Walls Breakthroughs of the Year.

Applications are submitted online via our website and typically take about 10 minutes to complete.

To apply:

1. Select the Falling Walls Lab location you would like to apply to. Please take into consideration that we cannot cover any travel/accommodation costs to the respective Lab, so choose the location closest to you.
2. Complete the application form.
3. Upload your CV (PDF format).
4. Agree to the Terms & Conditions and submit your application.

After submitting, you will receive a confirmation mail.

One the application deadline has passed, a selected committee reviews all applications. All applicants will be informed about the outcome. Selected participants will receive further information from the local Lab organisers regarding the event.

No. Please apply to only one Lab, ideally the location closest to you.

If you are not selected, you may consider applying to another Lab that is still open for applications and accessible to you.

Please note that travel and accommodation costs for international Labs cannot be covered.

No. Participation in a Falling Walls Lab is free of charge.

However, please note that the Falling Walls Foundation and our international Lab organisers cannot cover travel or accommodation costs to international Lab events.

A jury evaluates all pitches based on three criteria:

• Breakthrough & Innovation (50%): How innovative is the proposed idea?
• Relevance & Impact (40%): How relevant is the idea within its field and beyond?
• Structure & Performance (10%): How clear, convincing, and well-structures is the presentation?

Participants are not required to disclose proprietary or confidential information during their pitch.

Instead, the focus should be on clearly explaining the problem and the core concept of the proposed solution.

Since Falling Walls Labs are public events, participants should only share information they are comfortable presenting to a wider audience.

At the same time, we expect that applicants present only ideas that are theirs/ their teams's, and that Ihey are not claiming other peoples’ intellectual property as their own.

No. Participation in a Falling Walls Lab is a one-time opportunity.

If you have already participated in a Lab, you are no longer eligible to apply again. However, you may consider other Falling Walls formats, such as:

• Falling Walls Venture (for science-based start-ups)
• Falling Walls Engage (for science engagement projects)
• Female Science Talents (for female leadership in science, business and society)

If your question is not answered here, please contact us at: lab@falling-walls.com