The international competition  “Falling Walls Lab Abu Dhabi", which was hosted by the United Arab Emirates for the first time, was launched on 24 September 2018, with the participation of a number of researchers, students and faculty members at the UAEU Science and Innovation Park.

Professor Ghaleb Al Hadrami Al Breiki, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (Provost), UAEU, stressed the importance of organizing this competition, which comes within the framework of enhancing scientific and commercial innovation and exchanging visions and ideas among senior researchers and professionals in various disciplines. UAEU Science and Innovation Park is organizing this competition for the first time with the support of the Falling Wall Foundation, the Bayer Foundations and Sartorius, to encourage undergraduate, master and postdoctoral students, young professionals, entrepreneurs and professors to showcase leading research projects, initiatives, ideas and business models in all disciplines.

Dr. Shawqi Kharbash, Chief Executive Officer, UAEU Science and Innovation Park, stated that 16 out of 43 participants were selected to present their innovative ideas. Three minutes were allocated to each participant to present his/her idea. The winner will be awarded a slot for the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin on 8 November 2018 and a ticket to the Falling Walls Conference on 9 November 2018, where a total of 100 applicants from different countries will receive the opportunity to present their research work, initiative or business model within three minutes in front of a high-calibre jury from academia, research and business.

The winners of Falling Walls Lab Abu Dhabi were as follows:

1st place: Mohamad Al Khaaldi (UAE), ZHC-Department of Health- Abu Dhabi

Breaking the Wall of Amputation (infected wounds)

2nd place: Nour AbdelRahman (Jordan), United Arab Emirates University

Breaking the Wall of the UAE’s hidden treasure (Anticorrosion material from the waste of Palm Trees)

3rd place: Asma Hassani (Algeria), United Arab Emirates University

Breaking the Wall of EBV infection in MS

The German-based Falling Walls Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to foster debate on research and innovation and support the latest scientific findings among a wide audience from around the world. Organized by the Conference on Falling Walls on 9 November each year, it is a global platform to challenge future leaders from more than 75 countries, with 20 of the world's leading researchers presenting their research in 15 minutes. The Foundation is supported by a number of bodies, including the German Ministry of Education and Research, the Robert Bosch Foundation, the Helmholtz Association, and many well-known academic institutions and companies.