Department of Slavic and Baltic Studies, Finnish, Dutch and German
Sweden joins global Falling Walls network with first national lab
Falling Walls Lab is a global platform that encourages early-career students and researchers to present their innovative ideas that break down barriers in science and society, inspired by the spirit and freedom symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall.
From left to right: Svante Weyler, Maria Larsson, Carl-Henrik Heldin, Yanmiao Fan (3rd place), Alireza Madannejad (2nd place), Ella Karlsson (1st place), Janine Aloe, Tim Hirschberg, Susanne Drakborg and Heta Kosonen. Photo: Anke Salmgren von Schantz (German Embassy Stockholm).
This year, Falling Walls Lab Sweden was one of 84 international Labs held around the world. Each national winner advances to the global finale in Berlin, where participants from all over the world present their ideas to an international audience of scientists, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders.
Eight presenters from a wide range of disciplines—covering topics from climate-change mitigation to language learning—took on the challenge of delivering a three-minute pitch of their innovative ideas.
A top-class jury asked insightful questions and provided expert feedback. Among the jury members were Professor Carl-Henrik Heldin of Uppsala University, former Chair of the Board of the Nobel Foundation, and Maria Larsson of Stockholm University, alongside Heta Kosonen (UNICEF), Susanne Drakborg (Web-IQ), and Svante Weyler (Weyler Förlag).
The jury selected Ella Karlsson (KTH) as the winner for her presentation of Permly, an app designed to simplify the process of obtaining work permits and thereby break down the walls of bureaucracy. Ella will represent Sweden at the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin this November.
The event opened with welcome remarks from distinguished guests: Lisa Ericsson, CEO of KTH Innovation and host of the evening at KTH’s inspiring venue; Burghard Brinksmeier, representing the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany; and Kristina Birke Daniels, Director of the Nordic Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
The inaugural Falling Walls Lab Sweden was organized through the collaboration of Uppsala University, Stockholm University, DAAD, and OeAD, with the support of the Falling Walls Foundation. Their joint effort brought together a vibrant community of researchers, students, and innovators committed to challenging the status quo and shaping the future. The event was hosted by Tim Hirschberg from Uppsala University and Janine Aloe from the Section for German at Stockholm University.
