Falling Walls Lab is a global pitch competition where early-career researchers present breakthrough ideas in 3-minute pitches to an expert jury and international audience. The ScienceAbroad | GIF edition is an official qualifying Lab within the international Falling Walls network.

Eligibility is defined by the Falling Walls Foundation. Applicants must be 18 years or older and meet one of the following:

• Currently enrolled as a student (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD),

• Highest degree received no more than 10 years ago,

• PhD thesis approved no more than 5 years ago (with possible extensions for parental leave under Falling Walls rules).

All Falling Walls Labs, including this one, are conducted in English. All pitches and materials must therefore be in English.

You must clearly present your idea, its impact, and why it is a breakthrough, in 3 minutes exactly. Presentations should be accessible to a broad scientific audience and avoid overly specialized field jargon.

Applications and registration are handled directly through the Falling Walls official portal:
https://falling-walls.com/falling-walls-lab-scienceabroad-israel

No. There is no participation fee for this Falling Walls Lab.

No. Applicants may submit only one idea and may apply to only one Lab location per season.

After the application deadline, your submission will be reviewed by a jury. Selected applicants will be invited to participate in the online Lab event where they will present their pitch.

Presentations at Falling Walls Labs are evaluated based on:

• Breakthrough factor (innovation)

• Relevance/Impact

• Structure and performance of the pitch.

You should focus on communicating your idea at a conceptual level. Due to the public nature of the Lab event, participants are advised only to share information they are comfortable making public.

The winner earns an officially reserved place at the Global Lab Finale during the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin in November 2026 and joins other Lab winners from around the world.

If your question isn’t answered in this FAQ, please email FallingWalls@scienceabroad.org.il or contact [email protected] directly

No. Participation in the Falling Walls Lab does not automatically guarantee participation in a delegation to Berlin. Any additional activities or delegations are subject to separate arrangements. The only guaranteed opportunity associated with the Lab is for the winner, who receives an officially reserved spot at the Global Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin.