Falling Walls comes to Groningen

Groningen, 11 July 2014   -   The University of Groningen has the honour of organizing the very first preliminary round of the global Falling Walls event to be held in the Benelux. Participants up to 35 years of age will be given 3 minutes to pitch their cutting-edge ideas for academic science, entrepreneurship or politics to companies, organizations and an expert jury. The winner will go through the final in Berlin.

Falling Walls is a ground-breaking, inspirational, interdisciplinary event for up-and-coming talent. It provides a platform for young academics and professionals to present their unique ideas, research projects or noteworthy initiatives. All disciplines are welcome: from agriculture to medicine and from economics to humanities. Applicants have until 31 July to register for the preliminary round in Groningen via www.falling-walls.com/lab/apply. A panel of experts will read all the applications before selecting 30 participants. The lucky few will meet up in the Infoversum 3D theatre in Groningen on 15 September to compete for the first prize: € 750 and an all-expenses-paid weekend in Berlin for the final, which is on Saturday 8 November.

Falling Walls started in 2009. The name of the event was inspired by the falling of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989. The Falling Walls conference is held every year, one day after the final on 8 November, to mark the anniversary. The main event attracts famous speakers, such as the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.