Falling Walls
FALLING WALLS AT A GLANCE
Falling Walls is a unique international platform for leaders from the worlds of science, business, politics, the arts and society. It fosters discussion on research and innovation and promotes the latest scientific findings among a broad audience from all parts of society. It was initiated on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall in 2009 and asks now every November 9th: Which walls will fall next? The Falling Walls Foundation, a charity, is generously supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Helmholtz Association, the Berlin Senate and numerous other acclaimed academic institutions, foundations, companies, non-governmental organisations and prominent individuals.
MAIN PROGRAMME
The Falling Walls Conference (9 November, 9 am – 7 pm) is at the heart of the Falling Walls days in Berlin. In 2018, the conference will celebrate its 10th anniversary. On one day, 20 world-class researchers from all disciplines and parts of the world each showcase the breakthroughs they are working on in 15-minute talks. Among the speakers are Nobel laureates, artists, heads of states and governments. The conference attracts an audience from over 80 nations and is covered by the media globally. It starts with a Welcome Reception on the evening of 8 November. A Festive Dinner after the conference on 9 November rounds off the gathering.
EXPANDED PROGRAMME
The Falling Walls Lab (8 November, 9 am – 5.30 pm) is an interdisciplinary forum for outstanding talents and innovative thinkers. At a Lab, promising scientists and young professionals pitch their ideas to a high-calibre jury of academia and industry representatives – in 3 minutes each. Over the course of the year, international Falling Walls Labs are hosted by renowned academic institutions. 100 winners of all international rounds qualify for the Falling Walls Lab Finale and present in Berlin to become the next Falling Walls Young Innovator of the Year.
Falling Walls is a unique international platform for leaders from the worlds of science, business, politics, the arts and society. It fosters discussion on research and innovation and promotes the latest scientific findings among a broad audience from all parts of society. It was initiated on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall in 2009 and asks now every November 9th: Which walls will fall next? The Falling Walls Foundation, a charity, is generously supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Helmholtz Association, the Berlin Senate and numerous other acclaimed academic institutions, foundations, companies, non-governmental organisations and prominent individuals.
MAIN PROGRAMME
The Falling Walls Conference (9 November, 9 am – 7 pm) is at the heart of the Falling Walls days in Berlin. In 2018, the conference will celebrate its 10th anniversary. On one day, 20 world-class researchers from all disciplines and parts of the world each showcase the breakthroughs they are working on in 15-minute talks. Among the speakers are Nobel laureates, artists, heads of states and governments. The conference attracts an audience from over 80 nations and is covered by the media globally. It starts with a Welcome Reception on the evening of 8 November. A Festive Dinner after the conference on 9 November rounds off the gathering.
EXPANDED PROGRAMME
The Falling Walls Lab (8 November, 9 am – 5.30 pm) is an interdisciplinary forum for outstanding talents and innovative thinkers. At a Lab, promising scientists and young professionals pitch their ideas to a high-calibre jury of academia and industry representatives – in 3 minutes each. Over the course of the year, international Falling Walls Labs are hosted by renowned academic institutions. 100 winners of all international rounds qualify for the Falling Walls Lab Finale and present in Berlin to become the next Falling Walls Young Innovator of the Year.
The Falling Walls Circle (8 November, 12 – 6 pm) is the international meeting for science strategists and decision-makers. The invitation-only gathering brings together 60 leaders from around the globe, including presidents and CTOs of research organisations, science- and technology-driven global corporations, senior government officials, outstanding researchers and successful entrepreneurs. The high-profile participants shape the agenda of tomorrow by exchanging ideas and developing solutions for the most pressing issues in science and society.
Falling Walls Venture (8 November, 9 am – 5.30 pm) is an international platform for outstanding science based start-ups and their academic and business environment. Twenty leading academic institutions present their best new science-based companies to a distinguished jury who awards the “Falling Walls Science Start-Up of the Year”. Falling Walls Venture is generously supported by Boehringer Ingelheim, Evonik and Siemens as global partners and is organised in cooperation with international partner universities and research institutions.
OTHER ENGAGEMENTS
The Berlin Science Week is a 10-day international gathering that brings together people from the world’s most innovative scientific institutions to celebrate science, to connect and engage with the international science community and the public. It is dedicated to the global exchange of science and society to inspire a deeper understanding of our world.
The Berlin Science Week aims to give science, research, technology and innovation a greater visibility, our mission is to enable and strengthen a formidable international and interdisciplinary scientific network in the German capital.
Young Entrepreneurs in Science is a continuing education programme aimed at doctoral students of all fields at German universities, hosted in a workshop format. This initiative, developed in cooperation with partners working in the fields of science and economics, has the goal of communicating entrepreneurial skills and expertise to develop the drive for entrepreneurship amongst young scientists early on.
THE FOUNDATION’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jürgen Mlynek (Chairman) Former President, Helmholtz Association
Andreas Barner President, Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft
Carl-Henrik Heldin Chairman of the Board, The Nobel Foundation
Helga Nowotny Former President, European Research Council
Kõji Omi Founder & Chairman, The Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum Kyoto
Ernst Th. Rietschel Former Chairman of the Board, Berlin Institute of Health
Sebastian Turner Founder, Falling Walls Foundation
Otmar D. Wiestler President, Helmholtz Association
Ingrid Wünning Tschol Senior Vice President Strategy, Robert Bosch Stiftung
CONTACT
Falling Walls Foundation Tatjana König Managing Director
Email office@falling-walls.com
Phone +49 30 60 988 39 70
Web www.falling-walls.com
Falling Walls Foundation gGmbH Kochstraße 6–7 10969 Berlin Germany