Background

The Falling Walls Foundation is a non-profit organisation in Berlin, dedicated to the support of science and the humanities. It was established in 2009, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. At its heart is the question ‘Which are the next walls to fall?’ as a result of scientific, technological, economic and sociological breakthroughs.

Each year, the foundation supports scientific organisations around the world to host a Falling Walls Lab. This international forum promotes interdisciplinary connections between aspiring academics, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and professionals, known for their excellent work. Participants are given three minutes to present their research work, business model or initiative to a broad audience from science and industry, including a distinguished jury who selects the most innovative and promising idea.

Falling Walls Lab is a challenging and inspiring format for emerging bright minds, giving them a unique chance to become the next big success story in innovation. Each year, nearly 100 international Labs are held with more than 1000 presenters, 100 of whom make it to the final in Berlin. In 2019, Australian researcher Rhys Pirie took out first place at the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin and was named 2019 Young Innovator of the Year. Read more about his success and a follow-up interview six months after winning the competition.

Details

The Australian Academy of Science has been hosting the Falling Walls Lab Australia competition since 2016 in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canberra.  EURAXESS has partnered with the Academy on this event since 2020.

A jury of distinguished academics and businesspeople, usually led by Australia’s Chief Scientist, select the winners of Falling Walls Lab Australia. The top three ranked presenters of the Falling Walls Lab Australia receives a set prize-money and support from the Academy for their participation in Berlin Falling Walls Conference—an event that brings together a global audience and people who are finding solutions to the greatest challenges of our time and thus contributing to a better world on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in November each year. In 2020 and 2021, Academy partner EURAXESS provided high-quality online science communication training to the three winners, led by European experts with the opportunity to have one-on-one consultation with the experts. The winners’ videos are also shared with the influential audience of judges and participants of Falling Walls Berlin, and on the Academy’s social media platforms to over 2.4 million followers.

On Wednesday 1 September 2021, the Academy hosted online the sixth Falling Walls Lab from Canberra. See more about the 2021 Falling Walls Lab Australia.

Eligibility

To be considered in the Falling Walls Lab Australia, a candidate must be nominated via State Labs. Candidates should be research active in any field of the natural sciences, including technology, engineering and medicine, or arts, humanities and social sciences.

For further information contact

Australia
International Programs
Australian Academy of Science
GPO Box 783
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6201 9412
Email: fallingwalls@science.org.au

Past Australian finalists

The following researchers were named winners of the Falling Walls Lab Australia and participated in the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin.

2021 winners

Find out more about the 2021 winners

2020 winners

Find out more about the 2020 winners

2019 winners

Rhys Pirie was named 2019 Young Innovator of the Year at the Falling Walls Lab Berlin Finale. Rhys is the first Australian to win the global Lab. Find out more about the 2019 Falling Walls Berlin Finale here.

Find out more about the 2019 winners

2018 winners

Find out more about the 2018 winners

2017 winners

Find out more about the 2017 winners

2016 winners

Find out more about the 2016 winners