Falling Walls is a unique international platform for leaders from the worlds of science, business, politics, the arts and society. It was initiated on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. Inspired by this world-changing event on 9 November 1989, the question of every Falling Walls gathering is: Which walls will fall next? Falling Walls fosters discussion on research and innovation and promotes the latest scientific findings among a broad audience from all parts of society. 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.
THE FALLING WALLS CONFERENCE (9 November) is at the heart of the Falling Walls days in Berlin and was held for the first time in 2009. 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 is considered to be one of the foremost places of high-level exchange between science, business and other sectors of society. In 2017, the conference will be taking place for the ninth time. 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.
The Falling Walls Lab (8 November) is a forum for the next generation of outstanding academics and professionals from all over the world and awards the “Falling Walls Young Innovator of the Year”. 100 scholars are each invited to present their work to a distinguished jury of high-ranking representatives from science and business for three minutes. Throughout the year, international Falling Walls Labs are organised all over the globe. The winners of each international Falling Walls Lab qualify for the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin.
Falling Walls Venture (8 November) Falling Walls Venture is an international forum for outstanding science based start-up companies, venture capitalists and strategic investors as well as their wider academic and business environment. Twenty leading academic institutions and venture capitalists present their most outstanding science based enterprises to an audience and a distinguished jury. Falling Walls Venture is organised by the Falling Walls Foundation and generously supported by its global partners Siemens and Evonik. The event is also supported by ASTP-Proton, A.T. Kearney, as well as international partner universities and research institutions.
The Falling Walls Circle (8 November) is the international round-table meeting on science strategy for decision makers. The invitation-only meeting brings together 60 presidents and CEOs of research organisations, science driven global corporations, science publishing houses, senior officials from governments and the EU, start-ups and early career researchers. The selected panel of high-profile participants will discuss crucial questions concerning the future of science policy and strategy.
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
Falling Walls Foundation:
Tatjana König, Managing Director, Chausseestraße 8e, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Email: office@falling-walls.com
Phone: +49 30 60 988 39 70