Engineering and Technology

Discover the latest breakthroughs in Engineering and Technology at the Falling Walls Science Summit 2021.

Top-class researchers globally are pushing the boundaries to make some of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our times. We were looking for internationally recognised, established academics and leaders in the practical application of science and mathematics to every-day life (e.g. artificial intelligence, information technology, mechanical engineering), whose groundbreaking work contributes towards solving the world’s biggest challenges.

Meet all Finalists who qualify for the title of Science Breakthrough of the Year 2021 in Engineering and Technology.

Meet our finalists

jury 2021

Counting more than 100 jurors across 10 categories, each breakthrough is determined by a distinguished world-class Jury under the leadership of renowned experts in their respective fields. We are delighted that Helga Nowotny, President Emerita of the European Research Council, serves as the Chair of the Juries, presiding over the selection process at large.

The Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year 2021 in Engineering and Technology is selected by a distinguished Jury chaired by Joël Mesot.

Check out this year's jury

Past Finalists

Breaking the Wall of Solar Kerosene Stefan Brendelberger

Breaking the Wall of Efficient Batteries Yi Cui

Breaking the Wall of Transport Alessio Figalli

Breaking the Wall towards Ultra-Broadband Signal Processing Christian Koos

Breaking the Wall of Chemistry Teodoro Laino

Breaking the Wall of Safe Energy Storage Yi-Chun Lu

Breaking the Wall of Inefficient Drug Delivery Simone Schürle

Breaking the Wall to Wireless Medical Robots Inside Our Body Metin Sitti

Breaking the Wall of Housing People while Minimising Climate Change Karen Scrivener

Breaking the Wall of Building with Molecules Stefan Tautz

Breaking the Wall to Inclusive and Socially Sustainable Technology Melanie Jaeger-Erben

Breaking the Wall of Wave Power Inna Bravermann

Breaking the Wall of Cultural Heritage Marinos Ioannides

Breaking the Wall to Foldable Glass Alexander Glacki

Breaking the Wall of Salt Daniel Mandler

Discover the Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year 2020 in Engineering and Technology:

METIN SITTI – MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

Breaking the Wall to Wireless Medical Robots Inside Our Body
Conventional surgeries are associated with risks. The observations Metin Sitti made in nature, studying worms and jellyfish, inspired a range of versatile microrobots that can navigate and function safely inside the human body. This breakthrough revolutionizes the way we can deliver drugs, pump fluids, perform biopsies or clear clogged vessels.

Additional information for this category

When and where does the Falling Walls Conference 2021 take place?

After a fully digital Falling Walls Conference in 2020, we look forward to welcoming the people who are finding solutions to the greatest challenges of our time back to Berlin on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Please save the date: 7 – 9 November 2021.

7 November: Falling Walls Pitches
A day of live pitches in the following categories:
Emerging Talents (Falling Walls Lab) for the next generation of outstanding innovators.
Science Engagement (Falling Walls Engage) for inspiring science engagers.
Science Start-Ups (Falling Walls Venture) for the science start-up community.

8 November: Falling Walls Circle – Challenges and Foresight
Our new format to connect science and society. Researchers, policymakers, business leaders, and society discuss the biggest challenges we face and the foresight that scientific breakthroughs can offer.

9 November: Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year
On the anniversary of the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, the grand finale provides a stage for outstanding research presented in inspiring presentations. For the 13th time, “the brightest minds on the planet“ (BBC) will showcase their work.

Why should you want to take part?

If selected, your work will be presented to a distinguished Jury.
If chosen as one of the 10 Winners in Engineering and Technology, you will have the opportunity to feature your winning project in a short video in our content library.
If chosen as ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ 2021 in Engineering and Technology:
- You will be invited to present on stage in Berlin (or via livestream), and reach a global audience.
- We will use our expertise and years of experience in science communication and work with you to help make your research accessible and engaging to a wide audience, and to highlight its impact on society.
- You will be offered individual professional coaching to prepare you for your talk.
- You will have an opportunity to interact with a wide range of decision-makers, innovators and emerging talents from all over the world, working in many different disciplines and sectors, and join a community committed to bringing down barriers to address common challenges.

Who can take part?

Nominations are open to all sub-disciplines in Engineering and Technology, e.g. artificial intelligence, information technology, mechanical engineering.
The title of ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ in Engineering and Technology can be awarded to individual scientists as well as research groups. However, research groups will need to determine one person who represents the group and presents their work.
Participants confirm that their work has never been presented on the Falling Walls stage before.
Participants can be nominated again with a different project/research topic.

What are the selection criteria?

We are looking for individual scientists as well as research groups of outstanding quality who

have made excellent, ground-breaking, recent achievements in their respective fields, nationally and internationally, and who stand out for their innovative strength;
promise to have a significant long-term impact on the research landscape and to contribute towards solving global challenges, such as having a positive effect on nature and mankind, in line with the SDGs;
translate scientific topics and their complexities in a way that makes them accessible and attractive to large sections of society.

Nominations will be considered and evaluated within the category, but their potential for interdisciplinary problem-solving will also be assessed.

How does the nomination and selection process work?

STEP 1 NOMINATION

The call for nominations is closed. All submitted nominations are currently reviewed by us.

STEP 2 FINALISTS

If Nominees are selected, they will then become a Falling Walls Finalist. All Finalists will be officially announced on our website.

STEP 3 WINNERS

Our distinguished jury for Engineering and Technology, chaired by Joël Mesot, will select 10 Winners. Each Winner will have the opportunity to feature their winning project in a short video in our content library. A detailed briefing will be provided for this purpose.

STEP 4 THE SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGHS OF THE YEAR

The respective juries will select the Science Breakthroughs of the Year from the Winners of each category. On 9 November, the Breakthroughs of the Year will receive the opportunity to present their work to a global audience on the grand Falling Walls stage in Berlin.

Who can nominate?

We are asking leading academics and academic institutions, universities, research organisations, companies, private and public research centres, academies, research funders, foundations, and individuals to nominate the latest breakthroughs in Engineering and Technology. In rare exceptions, direct nominations may be considered. For more information on whether your project qualifies, please contact us at conference@falling-walls.com.

Who can I contact in case I have a question about this category?

Please contact the Conference Team at conference@falling-walls.com.