Deadline: 12-Jul-2026
Falling Walls Lab Lilongwe invites students and early-career professionals to present innovative ideas that break barriers in science and society. The programme provides a platform for emerging innovators from all academic disciplines to deliver a three-minute pitch before a distinguished audience.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and meet specific academic or career-stage eligibility requirements. Falling Walls Lab does not provide grants or research funding, and participation is limited to individuals who have not previously taken part in a Falling Walls Lab.
Programme Overview
Falling Walls Lab Lilongwe is a pitch competition for students and early-career professionals with innovative ideas.
The programme gives emerging innovators the opportunity to present solutions, research, projects or concepts that address challenges in science, society and beyond.
Participants deliver a short three-minute pitch to share their breakthrough idea with an audience and jury.
Main Objective
The main objective of Falling Walls Lab Lilongwe is to provide a platform for emerging innovators to present ideas that break barriers in science and society.
The programme aims to:
- Support early-career innovators
- Promote interdisciplinary ideas
- Encourage science and social innovation
- Provide pitching experience
- Increase visibility for new ideas
- Connect innovators with wider networks
- Highlight creative solutions across academic disciplines
Key Focus Areas
Falling Walls Lab is open to ideas from all academic disciplines.
Key focus areas include:
- Science innovation
- Social innovation
- Breakthrough ideas
- Research communication
- Entrepreneurship
- Interdisciplinary solutions
- Student innovation
- Early-career professional development
- Public pitching
- Ideas that address societal challenges
What Participants Do
Participants present their idea through a three-minute pitch.
The pitch should clearly explain:
- The problem being addressed
- The innovative idea or solution
- Why the idea matters
- How it breaks a barrier in science or society
- The potential impact of the idea
The format is short, focused and designed to help participants communicate complex ideas clearly.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to students and early-career professionals from all academic disciplines.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
Applicants must also meet at least one of the stated academic or career-stage requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following conditions:
- Be currently enrolled at a university as a student
- Have received a Bachelor’s degree no more than 10 years ago
- Have received a Master’s degree no more than 7 years ago
- Have received a PhD no more than 5 years ago
These requirements help ensure that the programme supports students and early-career innovators.
Medical Degree Equivalency
The programme includes specific rules for medical degrees.
An MD, meaning a medical degree excluding a doctoral dissertation, is considered equivalent to a Master’s degree.
A Dr. med., meaning a medical degree including a doctoral dissertation, is considered equivalent to a PhD.
Applicants with medical degrees should use these equivalencies when checking eligibility.
One-Time Participation Rule
Participation in Falling Walls Lab is limited to one time only.
Individuals who have previously participated in any Falling Walls Lab are not eligible to apply again.
Applicants should confirm that they have not participated before submitting an application.
Funding and Travel Support
Falling Walls Lab does not provide grants or research funding.
Applicants should note that:
- The programme is not a grant scheme
- It does not fund research projects
- Travel and accommodation for international Falling Walls Labs are not covered unless specifically stated by local organisers
- Travel costs to and from local Labs are not covered
- No ticket purchase is required when applying to an international Falling Walls Lab
Applicants should plan accordingly before applying.
What Makes a Strong Pitch?
A strong Falling Walls Lab pitch should be clear, focused and memorable.
It should explain the idea in simple language and show why it is innovative.
Strong pitches usually include:
- A clear problem
- A practical or original solution
- A strong opening
- Simple explanations
- Evidence of relevance
- A clear impact statement
- A confident conclusion
The pitch should be easy for a broad audience to understand.
Why Falling Walls Lab Lilongwe Matters
Falling Walls Lab Lilongwe matters because it gives young innovators a platform to share ideas that can create change.
Many students and early-career professionals have strong ideas but limited opportunities to present them publicly.
This competition helps participants improve communication skills, gain visibility and connect with people interested in innovation, research and social progress.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear application and a strong three-minute pitch idea.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should check that they are at least 18 years old and meet one of the academic or career-stage requirements.
They should also confirm that they have not previously participated in Falling Walls Lab.
Step 2: Choose a Breakthrough Idea
The idea should address a barrier in science, society or another relevant field.
It may come from research, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, community work or interdisciplinary thinking.
Step 3: Define the Problem
Applicants should clearly identify the problem their idea addresses.
The problem should be specific, relevant and easy to understand.
Step 4: Explain the Solution
The pitch should explain the proposed solution in direct language.
Applicants should focus on what makes the idea new, useful or impactful.
Step 5: Show Why It Matters
Applicants should describe the potential benefit of the idea.
This may include scientific value, social impact, practical application, community benefit or future development potential.
Step 6: Prepare for a Three-Minute Pitch
Applicants should practice delivering the idea within three minutes.
The pitch should be concise, structured and engaging.
Step 7: Understand Funding Limitations
Applicants should remember that Falling Walls Lab does not provide grants, research funding or automatic travel support.
They should apply with a clear understanding of what the programme offers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Applying after having already participated in Falling Walls Lab
- Submitting without meeting age or academic eligibility requirements
- Treating the programme as a grant or research funding opportunity
- Presenting an idea that is too broad or unclear
- Failing to explain the problem being solved
- Using technical language without explanation
- Not showing how the idea breaks a barrier
- Ignoring the three-minute pitch format
- Assuming travel or accommodation costs will be covered
- Applying without checking local organiser instructions
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Present a clear and original idea
- Explain the problem simply
- Show why the idea is innovative
- Connect the idea to science, society or public benefit
- Demonstrate potential impact
- Use concise and accessible language
- Fit the three-minute pitch format
- Avoid unnecessary technical detail
- Show confidence and clarity
- Respect all eligibility and participation rules
FAQ
1. What is Falling Walls Lab Lilongwe?
Falling Walls Lab Lilongwe is a three-minute pitch competition for students and early-career professionals to present innovative ideas that break barriers in science and society.
2. Who can apply?
Students and early-career professionals from all academic disciplines can apply, provided they are at least 18 years old and meet one of the academic eligibility requirements.
3. What are the academic eligibility requirements?
Applicants must be currently enrolled at a university or have received a Bachelor’s degree within the last 10 years, a Master’s degree within the last 7 years, or a PhD within the last 5 years.
4. Can previous Falling Walls Lab participants apply again?
No. Participation in Falling Walls Lab is limited to one time only.
5. Does Falling Walls Lab provide grants or research funding?
No. Falling Walls Lab does not provide grants or research funding.
6. Are travel and accommodation costs covered?
Travel and accommodation expenses for international Falling Walls Labs are not covered unless specifically stated by local organisers. Travel costs to and from local Labs are also not covered.
7. Is a ticket required to apply?
No ticket purchase is required when applying to an international Falling Walls Lab.
Conclusion
Falling Walls Lab Lilongwe offers students and early-career professionals an opportunity to present innovative ideas through a three-minute pitch competition.
The programme welcomes applicants from all academic disciplines who meet the age, education and participation requirements.
Applicants should prepare clear, impactful and well-structured ideas that demonstrate how they can break barriers in science, society or other fields of innovation.
For more information, visit Falling Walls Foundation.