Falling Walls Lab

From Cape Town to Berlin — Innovators called to break barriers

Last year, in a packed arena in Berlin, 26-year-old Sekelo Shude stood before an international audience of scientists, researchers and innovators pitching an idea born in the informal settlements of Durban and shaped by the resourcefulness of his single mother.

His project — “Breaking the Wall of Plastic Pollution” — turns discarded plastic into paving bricks, collected from local landfills and informal recyclers. It’s simple, effective, and profoundly impactful: reducing plastic waste, creating income opportunities, and producing sustainable materials for roads and pavements. Though Sekelo didn’t win the top prize, his story — one of resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to community — resonated well beyond the Summit’s walls.

Now, a new call has gone out: Applications are open for the Falling Walls Lab Cape Town 2025, and South Africa’s next generation of changemakers is being urged to step forward.

Falling Walls Lab is not just a competition. It’s a global platform that brings together the brightest young minds in science, entrepreneurship technology, and social innovation. Participants from more than 70 countries pitch ideas aimed at breaking down the “walls” that hold society back — whether they be environmental, economic, political, or scientific.

At its core, Falling Walls is about turning bold ideas into real-world impact — challenging the status quo, pushing the boundaries of knowledge, and imagining solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing problems. Innovators are called to submit their application via an online portal on the Falling Walls website. Selected finalists are invited to Cape Town to present a three minute pitch of their world changing idea within any academic field of research. A winner with the best and most practical idea will earn the chance to represent Cape Town, present their pitch at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, sharing the stage with some of the most talented young innovators in the world.

Supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the Cape Town Lab is part of a wider network of Labs held across Africa. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation has long championed ideas that strengthen democracy, inclusion, and economic opportunity. For the Foundation, platforms like Falling Walls are essential for empowering young Africans to lead from the front.

South Africa is brimming with talent. But far too often, that talent lacks access to the spaces where ideas can be seen and scaled. Falling Walls Lab offers just such a space.

Who Should Apply?

The call is open to students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from all disciplines. Whether you’re rethinking chemical solutions, healthcare delivery, working on food security, exploring AI for social good, or developing climate solutions — if your idea breaks a wall, this is your stage.

Winners from local Labs, including Cape Town, will join a global cohort of innovators in Berlin in November 2025. More than just exposure, the experience offers mentorship, networking, and a springboard to real-world impact.

Sekelo’s journey from Durban to Berlin is proof that ideas born in the margins can move the world. His story is a reminder that breakthrough thinking doesn’t always come from high-tech labs or billion-dollar start-ups — sometimes, it starts with a problem, a passion, and the courage to do things differently.

If you’ve got an idea worth sharing, now is the time.

Applications for Falling Walls Lab Cape Town 2025 are now open. To apply, visit https://falling-walls.com/falling-walls-lab-cape-town . Deadline: 18 July 2025.

Share your ideas and be heard. Which wall will you break next?