"What are the next walls to fall in science and society?". This is the challenge at the heart of Falling Walls Lab, the international pitch competition that every year brings together students, researchers, and professionals from all over the world to test the most innovative ideas.
Participating in Falling Walls Lab Milan, Italy means bringing your project into a competitive and international context, confronting researchers, students, and entrepreneurs through a direct and essential format: three minutes to explain which "wall" or problem you want to break down and how.
The Italian stage will be held in English on the Bicocca stage, in front of an international audience and a jury of professionals. The first-place winner will represent Italy at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, from November 6 to 9, 2026, competing with finalists from other Labs around the world in front of experts from the academic and business world from over 100 countries.
Up for grabs for the winner: a round-trip flight to Berlin, board and lodging for the duration of the event, and tickets for the Falling Walls Science Summit 2026 worth €3,000.
The event will be held on May 21, for the seventh consecutive year, at the University of Milano-Bicocca, in partnership with Fondazione U4i, MUSA scarl, Università degli Studi di Milano, Università Bocconi, Università degli studi di Bergamo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Università degli studi di Padova, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Politecnico di Bari, Università Ca' Foscari di Venezia, Università Cattolica di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, Università di Torino, Ambasciata italiana a Berlino, Social Innovation Teams, BiM, Netval, MITO Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Scientifica Venture Capital and Forest Valley.
Who can participate and eligibility criteria
Students and professionals from all disciplines can apply, who are at least 18 years old at the time of application and meet at least one of the following requirements:
- You are currently enrolled at university
- You are currently a postdoc
- You obtained a Bachelor's degree no more than 10 years ago
- You obtained a Master's degree no more than 7 years ago
- You received a PhD no more than 5 years ago
- An MD (medical degree, excluding the doctoral thesis) is considered equivalent to a Master's; a Dr. med. (medical degree with doctoral thesis) is considered equivalent to a PhD.
Information about the event
Falling Walls Lab Milan, Italy 2026 will take place on May 21 at the Bicocca Pavillion, in viale Piero e Alberto Pirelli 10. The event is open to the public, subject to registration. Details and the link for participation will follow shortly.
For questions and information: [email protected]