Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2024 | Pitches

  • Today the Falling Walls Foundation awarded the final three titles for the Science Breakthrough of the Year 2024
  • The award winners are Apple Pui Yi Chui (Science Engagement), Constadina Rogers (Emerging Talents) und ActiTrexx (Science Start-Ups)
  • All Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2024 laureates will present their research on 9 November, at the Falling Walls Science Summit 
  • The Summit programme is also available online via livestream at falling-walls.com/science-summit/
     

Berlin, 7 November 2024. Which are the next walls to fall in science and society? Today, on the first day of the Falling Walls Science Summit 2024, the Falling Walls Foundation awarded the last three "Science Breakthrough of the Year" titles. The shortlisted participants in the categories Science Engagement, Science Start-Ups and Emerging Talents presented their projects live in front of the jury at the Falling Walls Science Summit. 

In the Science Engagement (Falling Walls Engage) category, awards are given to projects that promote the transfer and co-creation of scientific knowledge, foster two-way Science Engagement and actively involve society in scientific processes. During Pitch Day, 21 Falling Walls Engage participants from 15 countries presented their projects. This year, Apple Pui Yi Chui received the main title for her project, “Breaking the Wall to Engage Schools in Coral Restoration”. The Coral Nursery Education Programme, launched in 2020 in partnership with the Hong Kong SAR Government, involves students in coral restoration by transforming schools into nurseries.

In the Science Start-Ups category (Falling Walls Venture), ActiTrexx has been awarded the main prize in the Science Start-Ups category. The company has successfully treated its first patient with Actileucel, a pioneering cell therapy designed to prevent Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD) after stem cell transplantation. ActiTrexx is developing a platform of patent-protected cellular and biologic therapies that target the root causes of overshooting immune responses. This approach aims to reduce the need for immunosuppressants, offering new hope for patients. This year, 25 start-ups presented their projects from 12 countries at the Summit. 

In the Emerging Talents category (Falling Walls Lab), the Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year is awarded to students and early-career professionals for their innovative ideas. 100 participants from 58 countries got to present their ideas in front of a distinguished jury. This year’s laureates are Constadina Rogers with "Breaking The Wall of Plastic Accumulation" (University of Dalhousie, CA), Pewee Kolubah with "Breaking The Wall of Accessible Electricity" (KAUST, SA) and Netanel Loyfer with "Breaking The Wall of Cell-Free DNA" (Hebru University of Jerusalem, IL).