Falling Walls Engage

Falling Walls Engage is a global platform for science engagement based in the EU, operated by the Falling Walls Foundation gGmbH in cooperation with the Hannover Re Foundation. The award is aimed at individuals, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and companies engaged in the areas of social cohesion, democracy, education, training and further education, research, innovation, science, as well as labor and social affairs. As part of the ongoing funding opportunity, pioneering projects are presented and honored to strengthen trust in science and promote the exchange between research and society. Participation and capacity building are at the forefront, aiming to establish sustainable and scalable formats of citizen science and science communication.

Participants benefit from an international network that includes Engage Hubs on four continents and enables both local and global collaborations. Within the framework of the Engage Pitches, fifteen finalists present their innovations at the annual Falling Walls Science Summit and qualify for the title "Science Breakthrough of the Year." The application documents consist of an online application form or a nomination, with projects evaluated based on their level of innovation, potential for societal engagement, as well as sustainability and scalability. Through participation, actors gain international visibility and access to mentoring, workshops, and peer-to-peer exchange to sustainably anchor science engagement as a strategic component of scientific and societal development.