Innovation

Breaking barriers at the Falling Walls science summit in Berlin

Inspired by his single mother, who relied on recycling to feed her children, Sekelo Shude from Durban, South Africa, turned plastic waste into an entrepreneurial passion. This week, he presented his innovative idea at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, sharing the stage with some of the world’s top innovators in a jam-packed arena.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, a pivotal moment in history that not only unified Germany but also marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War. In 2009, Falling Walls convened its first conference, establishing a global platform to foster collaboration among the world’s leading innovators in science and society. Since then, the summit has grown exponentially, creating a vast network of labs that support ground-breaking talent across various fields.

In 2024, 100 winners from over 70 labs across 50 countries descended upon Berlin for the Falling Walls Science Summit. The event was a celebration of emerging innovators, many of whom are breaking down barriers both in their home countries and globally. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation, which has supported several labs in Africa—including in Zimbabwe, Mali, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cape Town—proudly showcased the continent’s incredible talent.

One standout talent was Sekelo Shude, who won the Cape Town Falling Walls Lab competition with his innovative approach to plastic waste. His project, titled “Breaking the Wall of Plastic Pollution,” turns discarded plastic into paving bricks. Sekelo and his team collect plastic waste from local landfills and community members who sell their recyclables to his buy-back center. At their production facility, the plastic is shredded, processed, and repurposed into durable paving bricks that can be used for roads or side-walks. This simple but effective solution not only tackles plastic pollution but also creates sustainable building materials and provides income opportunities for informal recyclers in South Africa.

Though Sekelo did not place in the top three, his inspiring presentation—his first ever outside South Africa—captured the attention of a global audience. His story of resilience in the face of adversity and his commitment to improving his community resonated deeply with those in the arena. Cape Town and South Africa were well represented at this prestigious event.

African innovators were well-represented at the summit. From Sekelo in South Africa to innovators from Zimbabwe, Mali, and Tanzania, the continent showcased an accomplished group of forward-thinking individuals. Notably, a Liberian student studying in Saudi Arabia earned second place overall with his innovative work, continuing the tradition of strong African representation at Falling Walls.

However, the event was also marked by sobering moments that highlighted the challenges facing the world today. Innovators who were unable to attend in person due to the ongoing conflicts engulfing Kyiv and Palestine delivered two of the presentations. These video-recorded messages served as a poignant reminder of the harsh realities that confront millions of young people across the world, who are trapped in war zones.

The news of recent election outcome in the U.S. and the collapse of the German coalition government further reminded attendees of the volatility of the current global political order. Against this backdrop, it would be easy to feel disillusioned. Yet, the Falling Walls summit provided a powerful counterpoint to pessimism. It was a celebration not only of the resilience of the human spirit but also of our diversity, and the endless capacity for innovation in the face of adversity.

Despite the challenges, all of the summit’s participants were there because they had found solutions to real-world problems.

Falling Walls offered a refreshing reminder that, no matter the barriers we face, there are those among us working tirelessly to break them down. As innovators from across the globe continue to collaborate, the summit reinforced the idea that hope, ingenuity, and determination are the driving forces that will shape the future.

In a world filled with uncertainty, the Falling Walls Science Summit was a shining example of what humanity can achieve when we come together to confront the challenges of today. There are still many walls left to break, but as these innovators have shown, the future remains full of promise.