Funding

Free · Partial / Stipend

Program dates

Nov 5, 2026 – Nov 11, 2026

Entrepreneurship•Germany · Berlin

Falling Walls Lab

Falling Walls Foundation

Application Deadline

September 15, 2026

Official Page

Falling Walls Lab is a global pitch competition run by the Falling Walls Foundation, a Berlin-based organisation whose annual Science Summit brings together researchers, industry and policymakers. Each entrant gets three minutes on stage to present one breakthrough idea — a research project, a venture, or a social initiative — in front of a jury. The competition runs in two stages. Local Labs are hosted by universities and research institutions around the world during a season that opens on 1 February and closes on 15 September 2026; in 2025 more than 2,750 applicants took part in 82 Labs across 60 countries. The winner of each Lab qualifies for the Global Finale in Berlin in November, where roughly 100 finalists pitch again, attend the Falling Walls Science Summit, and join a programme built around Germany’s research landscape. The three best finalists are named in the Emerging Talents category at Falling Walls Breakthroughs of the Year.

Benefits & funding

  • Applying and taking part in a Lab is free of charge.
  • The winner of each local Lab receives a six-day trip to the Global Finale in Berlin, 5–11 November 2026, with travel and accommodation covered.
  • Finalists get a ticket to the Falling Walls Science Summit, held 6–9 November 2026 at the Falling Walls Science House, Karl-Marx-Allee 34, Berlin.
  • An exclusive finalists’ programme covering the German research landscape, plus coaching and networking side events.
  • The top three finalists receive prize money of €1,000, €750 and €500, and present on the main stage at Falling Walls Breakthroughs of the Year, where the Emerging Talents winners are announced on 9 November 2026.
  • Travel and accommodation to the local Lab itself are not covered — neither the foundation nor the local organisers pay those costs.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be 18 or older at the time of application. There is no upper age limit.
  • At least one of the following must apply: currently enrolled at a university as a student; awarded a Bachelor’s degree no more than 10 years ago (2016 or later); awarded a Master’s degree no more than 7 years ago (2019 or later); awarded a PhD no more than 5 years ago (2021 or later).
  • Anyone who has already pitched at a Falling Walls Lab cannot apply again — the organisers treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
  • Applications are individual. Teams cannot enter together.
  • The application and the three-minute pitch must both be in English; all Labs are held in English.
  • No nationality or residency requirement. Lab organisers are not permitted to restrict participation to applicants from a particular country or region.
  • One idea, one Lab: each applicant may submit a single idea to a single location, ideally the nearest one.
  • No field restriction. Ideas from any discipline are accepted, and an idea does not have to be a finished product.

Can you apply?

Worth a closer look

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  • Education required

    Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor · Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled · PhD

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  • Age requirement

    ≥ 18 yrs

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Application process

  1. 1
    Check the age and study or degree conditions above, and confirm you have never pitched at a Falling Walls Lab before.
  2. 2
    Choose a location from the confirmed 2026 Lab list on the application page. New locations are added through the season, so a location missing today may appear later.
  3. 3
    Note that location’s own deadline. Each Lab sets its own date inside the season, so the closing date differs from city to city; the season itself runs from 1 February to 15 September 2026.
  4. 4
    Complete the online application form, which takes about ten minutes, upload a CV in PDF format, and accept the terms and conditions.
  5. 5
    Submit before your chosen Lab’s deadline. Applications close for the whole season on 15 September 2026.
  6. 6
    A selection committee reviews the applications after the deadline. Every applicant is told the outcome, and those selected receive event details from the local organiser.
  7. 7
    Pitch for three minutes on stage. The jury scores Breakthrough and Innovation at 50 per cent, Relevance and Impact at 40 per cent, and Structure and Performance at 10 per cent.
  8. 8
    The winner of each Lab travels to Berlin for the Global Finale in November.

Program timeline

  1. Lab season opens; applications accepted for confirmed locations

    Feb 1, 2026

  2. Varies by location

    each local Lab sets its own application deadline and event date within the season

  3. Season closes; last day to apply to any Lab

    Sep 15, 2026

  4. Finalists’ programme begins in Berlin

    Nov 5, 2026

  5. Falling Walls Science Summit opens

    Nov 6, 2026

  6. Science Breakthroughs of the Year announced, including the Emerging Talents category

    Nov 9, 2026

  7. Finalists’ programme ends

    Nov 11, 2026