Falling Walls Lab Vienna 2026 – Wanted: ideas that change the world!
Falling Walls Lab is an international pitch competition that offers students and young professionals from all disciplines a stage for groundbreaking ideas. In just three minutes, the participants present their innovative research projects to an interdisciplinary audience.
hanks to an initiative by Austrian Cooperative Research, Complexity Science Hub, Fraunhofer Austria, Christian Doppler Research Society, Ludwig Boltzmann Association, Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference and xista innovation GmbH, this inspiring format is now coming to Vienna. Lab Vienna is also supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency and the Austrian Institute of Technology.
Who can apply?
The Falling Walls Lab is aimed at young scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators from various disciplines who wish to present their research activities, business models or projects. Specifically, people who are currently enrolled at a university and/or have a doctorate, whose Bachelor’s degree was awarded no more than 10 years ago, whose Master’s degree was awarded no more than 7 years ago or whose doctorate was awarded no more than 5 years ago can apply.
How does it work?
Apply here for the Falling Walls Lab Vienna, Austria à https://falling-walls.com/falling-walls-lab-vienna-austria
- Application deadline: 29 May 2026
- Pitching Training: 7 September 2026 (10:00–18:00) at LOFFICE in Vienna
- Vienna final: 9 September 2026 at the FFG Forum in Vienna and on 11 September 2026 at Technology Talks Austria
The ten best candidates will compete live at the FFG Forum in Vienna on 9 September 2026. A high-calibre jury will select three projects. The winner will then be chosen by audience vote at Technology Talks Austria 2026 and will represent Austria at the global final in Berlin in November! Technology Talks Austria is considered Austria’s most important technology conference. It will take place on 10 and 11 September 2026 at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna and is organised primarily by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology.
The Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft invites all finalists of the Falling Walls Lab Vienna to an in-person full-day Pitching Training on September 7 (10:00–18:00) at LOFFICE in Vienna, led by science communicator and presentation expert Bernhard Weingartner (Science Slams initiator). The training is designed to help participants sharpen their messages, structure compelling pitches, and communicate their breakthrough ideas with clarity and impact. Through practical exercises and targeted feedback, the training aims to optimally prepare participants for presenting their work at Falling Walls Lab Vienna 2026.
