Falling Walls Science Summit 2024 - The International conference on future breakthrough

We are excited to invite you to join us once again from 7-10 November in Berlin, as we explore the most cutting-edge breakthroughs and trends in science and society.

Since its inception, the conference has become a unique global platform connecting science, business and society through a shared commitment to create breakthrough solutions to challenges across borders and disciplines. Each year, twenty of the world’s most forward-thinking scientists and boldest visionaries take to our stage to showcase their scientific breakthroughs from the broadest possible range of disciplines.

As we look forward to this year’s Science Summit, we are pleased to announce the first confirmed speakers who will be joining us on stage to share their insights and expertise:

Amina Helmi, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute; Benjamin List, Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung; Tammy Ma, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Ulrike Malmendier, University of California Berkeley;  Marco Hutter, ETH Zurich; Fabrice Cotton, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences; Anupama Kundoo, Anupama Kundoo Architects.

Our three-day program will include inspiring keynotes, thought-provoking discussions, and exciting pitches from some of the most innovative minds in science and technology, exploring how scientific breakthroughs can pave the way towards a more equitable and sustainable future.

SHARING KNOWLEDGE AND BUILDING CONNECTIONS

The Falling Walls experience isn’t merely confined to our Lecture Hall though. Further inspiration awaits during the breaks: Through chance encounters over coffee, at the Forum Stageor in the Braindate Lounge, where you can dive into the entire width and depth of ideas pooled together by our community.

Representatives of the global avant-garde of researchers and thinkers, decision-makers from science, business and politics, and emerging talents convene on this day in Berlin. The conference gathers participants from all over the world to bring down walls between borders and disciplines by sharing knowledge and building new connections. Our biggest thanks therefore goes to all those who have made this trip to share their knowledge and inspiring stories. On this note, we would also like to thank each of our partnersfor their support along the way. We are particularly grateful to the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Helmholtz Association, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Berlin Senate.

THE SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGHS OF THE YEAR

We look forward to welcoming the people who are finding solutions to the greatest challenges of our time, and thus contributing to a better world, back to Berlin on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

• 7 NOVEMBER: FALLING WALLS PITCHES: A day of live pitches in the following categories: Emerging Talents (Falling Walls Lab) for the next generation of outstanding innovators. Science Start-Ups (Falling Walls Venture) for the science start-up community. Science Engagement (Falling Walls Engage) for inspiring science engagers.
• 8 NOVEMBER: FALLING WALLS CIRCLE – CHALLENGES AND FORESIGHT: Our format to connect science and society. Researchers, policymakers, business leaders, and society discuss the biggest challenges we face and the foresight that scientific breakthroughs can offer.
• 9 NOVEMBER: FALLING WALLS SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGHS OF THE YEAR: On the anniversary of the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, the Breakthrough Day provides a stage for outstanding research presented in inspiring presentations. For the 14th time, “the brightest minds on the planet” (BBC) will showcase their work.