The annual Falling Walls Foundation Science Summit in Berlin is an unforgettable experience that combines scientific excellence, global perspectives and personal inspiration. Artem Kushnirenko represented Toronto at the most recent Summit with his groundbreaking project on automation of surgical knowledge translation.
Over four days, the Summit brought together researchers, innovators, and science communicators from around the world to share ideas, to challenge conventions, and celebrate the breakthroughs that aim to “break down walls” in science and society. All career levels are represented through the Venture, Engage, Breakthrough and Lab sessions.
Canada contributing to an international exchange of ideas
To earn his place in Berlin, Artem competed at the Falling Walls Lab Toronto three-minute pitch competition in August. He presented his work as a PhD candidate in Medical Biophysics at UofT alongside other students and recent graduates willing to break the walls that hinder endless scientific possibilities.
As a Falling Walls Lab Finalist in Berlin, Artem was among 100 top students from 58 countries, addressing many modern-day issues that need a solution. He developed advanced surgical analytics that transform real time surgical operation room data into training insights for clinicians and robots, a practical innovation that scales clinical impact.
“Thank you to the Falling Walls Summit and its incredible sponsors for creating a stage where bold ideas can truly break through. I am grateful for the chance to be part of a community that turns global challenges into opportunities for impact.” Artem said following his trip to the Summit in Berlin.
Artem was kindly sponsored by the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York, the Department of Cell and Systems Biology, Life Sciences Ontario and Research and Health Sciences Education at Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
Canadian researchers were a strong presence in Berlin and fully supportive of each other, Artem says. “We were all rooting for Harry Wilton-Clark (University of Alberta) when he earned third prize for Breaking the Wall of Rare Disease Therapies.” Wilton-Clark designed small molecules that act as genetic “band-aids,” concealing disease-causing mutations to restore healthy gene expression.
Professor Alex Mihailidis from University of Toronto’s International Partnerships was part of the Canadian contingent in Berlin. “I found the Falling Walls Conference to be a powerful example of science diplomacy in practice,” Mihailidis says. “What stood out most to me was the way the program intentionally brought together researchers, industry leaders, funders, and policy actors from across regions and political contexts, creating a genuinely neutral space for dialogue around shared global challenges.”
Canadian Science Communicator Jesse Hildebrand presented his work with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants as part of Falling Walls Engage where he focused on Breaking the Wall to Classrooms with Global Connections.
An international summit of stunning science
Dorothee Bär, German Minister for Research, Technology and Space gave the opening keynote speech at the Summit, asserting that “Research has the power to unite from a common mindset to a joint mission. Research builds bridges even across the deepest divides”.
The program featured scientific talks with panel discussions, and social events. The Summit not only showcased cutting-edge research, but also created a comfortable space for networking between scientists at different stages of their careers, investors, policymakers, and others.
One of the most striking scientific moments for the Toronto Falling Walls Lab team came from Science Breakthrough winner Melina Schuh, who presented the first high-quality ex-vivo recordings of human ovulation. The presentation was an inspiring reminder that in science, anything is possible with enough determination and persistence.
The culmination of the summit for Artem was the keynote lecture by the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Laureate, Katalin Karikó. She shared her career journey through decades of research, including periods of rejection, limited funding, and professional uncertainty. Her message to the audience was simple and deeply motivating: “If you want to do it – you will find a way, if you don’t – you will find excuses.”
In addition to traditional scientific talks, the Summit featured the Ig Nobel Prize Show, combining humor with science to celebrate research that “first makes you laugh and then makes you think”. It demonstrated how science can be communicated in ways that are both rigorous and accessible to the broader audiences.
Overall, the Falling Walls Science Summit 2025 was a “one of a kind” experience, combining science, business, and interdisciplinary communication. Experiences like this not only illustrate the importance of research at a global level, but also motivate young scientists to aim higher, work harder, and contribute to advancing global knowledge.
Falling Walls Breakthrough submissions for established researchers are now open for nominations. Interested institutions or scientists should submit their nominations by April 15th, 2026 for a chance to speak at the 2026 Falling Walls Science Summit.