Falling Walls Lab Kathmandu 2024

Falling Walls Lab is a unique pitch competition that provides young researchers and entrepreneurs with a platform to present their research project, business plan or social initiative. This year the DAAD joined hands with the Kathmandu University to bring the Falling Walls Lab for the first time to Nepal on 20 July 2024. The winner, Frienson Pradhan, will participate in the Falling Walls lab finale on 8 November 2024 in Berlin.

Winners of Falling Walls Lab Kathmandu 2024

Falling Walls Lab Kathmandu 2024, 20 July 2024

© Kathmandu University

There were ten excellent finalists and the winner was Frienson Pradhan, a bachelors student breaking the wall of pestilence!

Winner Frienson Pradhan with the Dy. Ambassador of the German Embassy in Kathmandu Dr Russek and Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa

Winners at FWL Kathmandu 2024

Winner Frienson Pradhan, Kathmandu University
Breaking the Wall of Pestilence: From Invasive Weed to Eco-Friendly Mosquito Control

Winner in 2nd Place:  Anjana Tamang, Tribhuvan University
Breaking the Wall of High Cost Fiber Machine

Winner in 3rd Place: Gaurav Adhikari, Tribhuvan University
Breaking the Wall of Food Security

Audience Choice Winner: Anup Godar, Kathmandu University
Breaking the Wall of LEO Experiment & Research

Members of the Jury

  1. Dr Katja Lasch, Director, DAAD Regional Office New Delhi
    Chairperson of the jury
  2. Dr Russek, Dy. Ambassador, German Embassy in Kathmandu
  3. Asst.Prof. Brijesh Adhikari, Dean, Kathmandu University
  4. Dr. Babita Paudel, Alexander-von-Humboldt Ambassador Scientist, Nepal
  5. Stuti Sharma, Programme, Goethe-Zentrum

 

Finalists 2024

  1. Anjana Tamang
    High-Cost Fiber Machine
    Tribhuvan University
    Industrial engineering graduate integrating agriculture and industry for sustainable community development.
  2. Anup Godar
    LEO Experiment & Research
    Kathmandu University
    A mechanical engineering student, leading the Payload Subdivision in “Udaan”, a student-led initiative on developing sounding rockets.
  3. Bimal Rajchal
    Delayed Wound Healing Due to Infection
    Tribhuvan University
    Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Bhaktapur Multiple Campus and PhD Scholar at Tribhuvan University.
  4. Frienson Pradhan
    Pestilence: From Invasive Weed to Eco-Friendly Mosquito Control
    Kathmandu University
    A B.Tech student in Biotechnology with a keen interest in vaccine development, drug design, and bioinformatics.
  5. Gaurav Adhikari
    Food Security
    Tribhuvan University
    Master’s student of Biotechnology, interested in exploiting omics for resilient agriculture systems.
  6. Gunjan Ghimire
    Trash Barrier in Bagmati River
    Chyau Bio Technologies Pvt Ltd
    A mechanical engineer with background in Brick Sector & Climate Adaption Technologies and member of the Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub.
  7. Khushbu Raut
    Sensor Based Smart Beehive
    Kathmandu University
    Working on sensor based smart beehives for sustainable honey production and increasing bee biodiversity.
  8. Sambedan Koirala
    Isolated and Unintegrated Datasets
    Kathmandu University
    Has set up and managed a school-level data collection system that collects and updates data from 8 million students across the country.
  9. Selena Maharjan
    Conventional Agriculture
    Purbanchal University
    A B. Tech student in Biotechnology from Kantipur Valley College.
  10. Suresh Chandyo
    Sewage Water Pollution
    Tribhuvan University
    A high school teacher who intends to pursue a career in biochemistry and contribute to the development of sustainable energy sources.

What is the Falling Walls Lab?

Falling Walls Lab is a pitch competition to present breakthrough ideas that create a positive impact on science and society.  Convince an international jury of scientists, entrepreneurs and founders in 3 minutes!

Application are invited from

  • University students
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Early-career researchers
  • Academics

Ideas from all disciplines are welcome. Please go through the detailed eligibility criteria before applying.

Prizes

There are 4 prizes to be won: Top 3 ideas, and the audience choice award

The winner of the best idea, i.e. the winner of Falling Walls Lab Kathmandu 2024 gets to

1. Pitch at Global Finale of the Falling Walls Lab in Berlin and meet 100 innovators from all over the world

2. Participate in and network internationally at the Falling Walls Conference in Berlin, listen to  world-renowned scientists and visionaries

More information on falling-walls.com/lab/the-prize/

Announcement and Application

Call for Applications
Falling Walls Lab Kathmandu 2024

 

Please note that A and B (read below) are the two necessary components for your application to be complete:

A. Video

Making the video

  1. You need to create a 2 to 3 minute video stating and explaining the problem as well as your solution.
  2. The aim of the video is to help the evaluators understand the problem and the solution clearly.
  3. It is important that they see and hear the applicant speak.
  4. No complex editing or professional film is required. It can be a simple video shot with a smartphone or a camera.
  5. As far as possible only the applicant should be seen in the video. If others are helping with the instrument, holding something etc., that is acceptable.
  6. While there can be animations in the film, a completely animated film will not be accepted
  7. There should be no voice-over/another person speaking on behalf of the applicant/machine voice.

Hosting and sharing the video

  1. Host the video on any platform (ex. YouTube, Vimeo etc.) or on any cloud server (ex. Google Drive, Dropbox etc.). Do make sure that the video remains available there till the results are announced. You will need to use the link to the video in your application form.
  2. The focus is on the concept and communication. The video will be used only for shortlisting and will not be shared with anybody except with the express consent of the applicant.

B. Online Application

  1. Fill up the online application form, remember to include the link to your video in it, and apply.
  2. Link for application: https: falling-walls.com/lab/apply/kathmandu

Your application is complete only when you do complete both, Step A and Step B.

Application Deadline: 15 June 2024

In case of questions:

Team DAAD and Kathmandu University look forward to your applications!