Introduction
The 2026 Falling Walls Lab Taiwan competition is hosted by the German Institute Taipei, in cooperation with the DAAD Information Center Taipei, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Global Innovation Hub, and TU Dresden.
Applications are now open until July 31, 2026. The preliminary round will take place in Taipei on August 27, 2026, to select the representative for Taiwan.
About the Event
This event aims to promote scientific research and innovation exchange among the next generation, providing a platform for outstanding young scholars from all academic disciplines.
The winner of Falling Walls Lab Taiwan will represent Taiwan in the Global Finale this November. The winner will receive:
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Travel & Accommodation Subsidies: Covered flights and lodging to compete in Berlin, Germany.
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Summit Ticket: Free admission to the prestigious Falling Walls Science Summit from November 6 to November 9.
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Grand Finale Perks: Overall winners of the Global Finale will have the opportunity to speak at the Falling Walls Science Summit and win prize money.
Note: The summit will be attended by over 600 guests from 75 countries, featuring top scientists sharing their breakthrough research and demonstrating how these results break down the walls in science and society.
Eligibility
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Age: Must be at least 18 years old.
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Target Audience: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students, postdocs, young scholars, and scientific talents from all academic fields.
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Degree Requirements (if already graduated):
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Bachelor’s degree completed within the last 10 years.
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Master’s degree completed within the last 7 years.
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PhD completed within the last 5 years. (Please refer to the official website for definitive details).
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Participation: Applications must be submitted on an individual basis; team entries are not accepted.
Competition Format
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Language: English.
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Presentation: Participants have 3 minutes to pitch their research, clearly explaining the problem they wish to solve and their solution, focusing primarily on science, innovation, and development.
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Speaker: Must be the applicant themselves.