Falling Walls Lab Okinawa 2026

SHARE YOUR IDEA AND WIN A TRIP TO BERLIN!

The Falling Walls Lab is an interdisciplinary format to showcase the next generation of top researchers developed and hosted annually by the Falling Walls Foundation in Berlin in November. In 3–minute talks, outstanding talents and innovative thinkers share their research projects, business models and social initiatives with an interdisciplinary audience and jury. Academic institutions worldwide are invited to host their own Falling Walls Lab and to send their winner/s to the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin.
https://falling-walls.com/lab/about/

OIST is hosting the Falling Walls Lab Okinawa 2026, which will take place on Tuesday, September 15.

Why participate?

Gain experience in presenting your research as a 3-min pitch and in an interesting manner. The winner of Falling Walls Lab Okinawa receives a paid trip to the Finals in Berlin in November.
There they can meet other finalists, researchers from around the world, business executives, and even Nobel laureates at the Falling Walls conference.

Application is now open:
https://falling-walls.com/falling-walls-lab-okinawa-japan

Further details can be found on the poster.

Application Deadline
16 August 2026

Why attend?

Falling Walls Lab is a great opportunity to hear about cutting-edge research projects in an easily accessible format. Anyone is welcome to join the event as spectator.

Event Date and Time
15 September 2026, 13:30 JST

Schedule (tentative)
13:30 – 13:45 Welcome
13:45 – 14:45 Session 1 (10 speakers)
14:45 – 15:15 Networking Break
15:15 – 16:15 Session 2 (10 speakers)
16:15 Group Photo
16:15 – 17:00 Jury deliberation 
17:00 – 17:30 Award Ceremony
(17:30 – 18:30 Networking Gathering for participants and jury)

Eligibility Criteria

Age
You must be 18 years or older when submitting your application. There is no upper age limit for applicants.

Education
You must fulfil at least one of the following formal requirements:

•     You are currently enrolled in university and/or are currently a postdoc
•     You received a Bachelor’s degree no more than 10 years ago
•     You received a Master’s degree no more than 7 years ago
•     You received a PhD no more than 5 years ago

*An MD (medical degree excl. a doctoral dissertation) is considered equivalent to a Master’s degree. A Dr. med. (medical degree incl. a doctoral dissertation) is considered equivalent to a PhD.

NO Prior FALLING WALLS Lab experience
Participating in a Falling Walls Lab is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As such, once you take part in an international Lab, you are no longer eligible to apply for a future Lab. If this is the case, it is recommended to consider taking part in a different Falling Walls format, such as Falling Walls Venture (for start-ups) or Falling Walls Engage (for science engagement projects).

Hosts

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) Tokyo
EURAXESS Japan

※ Please note that this event may be recorded and the videos uploaded. In addition, photos may be taken during the event. These are intended for publication online (the OIST website, social media, etc.)※