Driving a cultural change in science
Our goal: A cultural change in research towards more start-up enthusiasm, transfer and innovation. Together with over 150 universities, research institutions and business partners across Germany, we create new perspectives and promote the potential for innovation in research.
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS IN SCIENCE
Turning Research into the Future – with Entrepreneurial Spirit
Researchers have everything it takes to be an entrepreneur: Passion, problem-solving expertise and persuasiveness. However, the academic environment often lacks the impetus to think about research in an entrepreneurial way. This is precisely where Young Entrepreneurs in Science comes in.
Using methods such as Design Thinking, interdisciplinary teamwork, and direct dialogue with founders and innovators, we open up new perspectives for careers in research and ask: ‘How much startup is in your research?’
Building bridges together
We are not pursuing this goal alone. Young Entrepreneurs in Science creates regional networks for innovation and entrepreneurship in close cooperation with strong partners from science and industry. Industry partners strengthen their region as a centre of innovation by promoting highly qualified talent and encouraging young researchers to start their own business. By participating, academic partners increase the chances of success of their start-up activities and enhance the reputation of German universities and non-university research institutions as engines or hubs of innovation and research transfer.
How we bring start-up culture to research
Our tools: workshops, networks and individual support. In free workshops, we promote entrepreneurial thinking and action among master’s students, doctoral candidates and postdocs in a practical and interactive way. The Top-Talents-Track supports selected talents in developing their entrepreneurial ideas over a three-month intensive programme. With offers such as Train-the-Trainer and Train-the-Scout, we strengthen start-up consultants as ambassadors. Regular network meetings with academic partners promote exchange and cooperation for measures to raise awareness of start-ups.
How does it all work together? Take a look at our impact logic.

ADVISORY BOARD
Advisory Board
The YES Advisory Board consists of experienced experts from science and industry who advise and support Young Entrepreneurs in Science. Its goal is to promote the strategic direction of the initiative, develop innovative programmes, and strengthen the network between science and business.
The board helps to embed the entrepreneurship culture within the scientific community and accelerate the transfer of research results into marketable products and services.













FALLING WALLS FOUNDATION
Creating Connections – Uniting Science and Society
Young Entrepreneurs in Science is a project of the Falling Walls Foundation in Berlin, initiated in 2017 by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof Dr Jürgen Mlynek. The Falling Walls Foundation is a non-profit organisation that pursues the goal of communicating science and research to society and promoting inter- and transdisciplinary exchange. Since 2009, it has brought together high-calibre international guests from science, politics, business, and culture at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin every year on and around the day the Berlin Wall fell. The Falling Walls Foundation’s programme is complemented by Falling Walls Venture, Falling Walls Lab, Falling Walls Circle, Falling Walls Engage, Female Science Talents, Creative Bureaucracy Festival and the Berlin Science Week.
CONTACT
Fancy an exchange?
Contacts
PRESS
Enquiries
Welcome to the press area! Here you will find the latest information about Young Entrepreneurs in Science. Feel free to download our one-pager to get an overview. If you have any further questions or are interested in additional materials, we look forward to hearing from you.