FECYT supports researchers at the international final of Falling Walls Lab

Last November 8^th the international final of the Falling Walls Lab, a contest of young scientific talents, was held in Berlin. FECYT was there to support the candidates coming from Spain. Emre Ozan Polat, researcher at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) and winner of Falling Walls Barcelona, ​​presented his project based on nanotechnology to monitor vital parameters with flexible and transparent devices that adhere to the skin.

On the other hand, the winner of Fallling Walls Madrid, María de los Reyes Salas Fernández, of the University of Seville and the Max Planck Institute, presented her project on the latest advances in bird tracking techniques with the aim of more selective use of industrial pesticides. Both candidates competed with hundred international researchers, and were evaluated by a jury composed of international experts.

Both the Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation (SEIDI), and FECYT were in Berlin to support the candidates coming from Spain, represented by Teresa Díez Iturrioz, Advisor and Spokesperson of SEIDI, and Guillermo Orts, the Scientific Coordinator of FECYT in Germany.

Falling Walls Lab is a contest of scientific ideas that aims to break down the walls of global challenges in areas such as health, energy or poverty. The national finals of the Falling Walls Lab allow candidates from all around the globe to compete in Berlin each year for the "Young Innovator of the Year" award. In 2017, FECYT has supported the celebration of national finals of Falling Walls in Madrid and in Barcelona.

The winner of this year's international final of Falling Walls Lab was the researcher at the University of Vienna Agnes Reiner, for her project on early detection of ovarian cancer.

More information:

• Falling Walls Barcelona 2018
• Falling Walls Madrid 2018