Dr. Hans Joachim Wieden will join Luma Clarindo Lopes, winner of the 2025 Falling Walls Lab Manitoba in front of the Admin building.

WINNIPEG — In a proud moment for Manitoba’s innovation community, Dr. Hans‑Joachim Wieden, Associate Vice-President Partnership, Knowledge Mobilisation and Innovation, joins Luma Clarindo Lopes, winner of the 2025 Falling Walls Lab Manitoba, on her journey to Berlin this week for the Falling Walls Science Summit.

IDEA START, in partnership with the University of Manitoba (UM) and the University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg), hosted the Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2025, bringing together some of the province’s brightest minds in a celebration of innovation, research, and collaboration. The event’s success underscored Manitoba’s commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive innovation culture, making it a truly Manitoban initiative.

At the prestigious global summit, Luma will present her groundbreaking idea alongside 99 other Lab winners from around the world. She’ll be representing the University of Manitoba, our province and Canada alongside fellow Canadian finalists Annika Benson (Atlantic Canada), Artem Kushnirenko (Toronto), and Harry Wilton‑Clark (Edmonton), showcasing the strength and diversity of Canadian innovation on the world stage.

This participation underscores Manitoba’s growing footprint in research, development and innovation, reinforcing how platforms like Falling Walls can bridge local insight with international opportunity.

Empowering Manitoba’s Innovation Narrative

With Manitoba’s research and innovation sector rapidly evolving, the arrival of Luma and Dr. Wieden in Berlin represents more than mere attendance, it signals strategic alignment and ambition. As the province continues to build capacity in science‑driven enterprise, having a representative stand on the global stage advances our story and elevates local credibility.

Dr. Wieden commented:

“Berlin is not only a centre for science but a nexus of global collaboration. For Manitoba to have a voice among the world’s leading early‑career innovators is a powerful step. This platform enables us to put Manitoba squarely on the map of breakthrough research and enterprise.”

Spotlight on Luma Clarindo Lopes

Luma, whose innovative project earned her the Manitoba Lab winner title, is preparing to showcase her idea at the Fallings Walls Summit and engage with peers, mentors and global decision‑makers.

She shared:

“Representing Manitoba on this global stage is incredibly exciting. Meeting other finalists‑innovators from around the world, exchanging ideas and learning from diverse perspectives will be a career‑shaping experience. I’m proud to carry the province’s flag and eager for every minute of the journey.”

Strategic Value for Manitoba’s Ecosystem

Platforms like Falling Walls Lab offer powerful momentum for both individuals and regions. For early-career innovators, it’s a chance to gain global exposure, sharpen their pitching skills, and build international networks. For ecosystems like Manitoba, it means a stronger talent pipeline, greater visibility, and new opportunities for collaboration.

These ripple effects support broader provincial goals, from accelerating research-to-market pathways to attracting investment and deepening ties between academia and industry.

In this landscape, Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden plays a pivotal role. He’s not only helping Luma prepare for the global stage but also positioning Manitoba’s innovation story within a wider international narrative. His mentorship highlights a key truth: behind every standout idea is a community working toward lasting impact.

Canadian Cohort Joins Global Innovation Line‑Up

• Annika Benson (Atlantic Canada): Winner of the Falling Walls Lab Atlantic Canada, now advancing to present in Berlin to present her research on development and testing of a miniature, high-resolution, tracked ultrasound probe for brain surgery.
• Artem Kushnirenko (Toronto): PhD candidate and Lab Toronto winner, heading to Berlin to pitch his translational surgical analytics innovation.
• Harry Wilton‑Clark (Edmonton): First‑place winner at Lab Edmonton 2025 with a project on antisense therapy for rare diseases.

Together with Luma, they form a Canadian cadre taking local innovation to the world’s premier science summit.

In Summary

The trip to Berlin is not simply a travel opportunity, it is a tangible expression of Manitoba’s ambition to be recognized among global centres of innovation. With Luma Clarindo Lopes representing Manitoba on the world stage, accompanied by Dr. Hans‑Joachim Wieden, the province is charting a path from local ingenuity to global relevance. The journey will unfold not just in Berlin, but in how Manitoba leverages this spotlight to advance its innovation agenda.

Jointly hosted by IDEA START, University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, Falling Walls Lab Manitoba is part of a prestigious international competition that invites emerging researchers, students, and entrepreneurs to share their groundbreaking ideas designed to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

What can you expect?

A fast-paced environment where you’ll have just three minutes to present your concept to a panel of experts and a live audience. Whether your focus is on sustainable food systems, mental health technology, innovative policies, or energy solutions, all disciplines are welcome. This is about more than just science; it’s about transformative thinking.

Hans-Joachim Wieden, AVP, PKMI (IDEA START), University of Manitoba, expressed the essence of this event perfectly: “Our goal is to spotlight the next generation of thinkers from Manitoba—those pushing the boundaries of knowledge and impact. The ideas we hear here may shape the world tomorrow.”

The winner of Falling Walls Lab Manitoba will win $1000 CAD as well as earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the global finale in Berlin on November 7, 2025. This is part of the renowned Falling Walls Science Summit, where you’ll join Nobel laureates, research leaders, and innovators from around the world.

Who Can Apply?

• Students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and early-career professionals.
• Individuals from all academic disciplines and industries.
• You must hold or be pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Your idea must be original, solution-oriented, and relevant to today’s global challenges.

It takes just 10–15 minutes to apply. This is your opportunity to represent the Manitoba, Canada internationally — and connect with global minds shaping the future.

Don’t let this moment pass you by. The walls are falling—make your idea the next big breakthrough!

Apply now: https://umanitoba.ca/ideastart/falling-walls-lab-manitoba

Questions? Reach out: ideastartcommunity@umanitoba.ca

** Falling Walls Lab is a global initiative by the Falling Walls Foundation in Berlin, supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. It commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall by celebrating scientific and social breakthroughs that dismantle barriers to progress.

Participants from all disciplines are invited to apply between June 1 and July 15, 2025, for the chance to take the stage at the Desautels Concert Hall, University of Manitoba, on Thursday, September 11.

About Falling Walls Lab Manitoba

Originally inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Falling Walls Lab promotes interdisciplinary innovation worldwide. Since its Manitoba debut in 2022, the event has featured aspiring innovators pitching everything from novel vaccines to clean-energy solutions. In 2024, Nolan De Leon took the title and went on to represent the province in Berlin.

Falling Walls Lab is an internationally recognized competition that challenges presenters to “break down walls” — from scientific and technological barriers to social inequities. The winner of the Manitoba Lab will earn the opportunity to advance to the prestigious global finale in Berlin, Germany, where they will participate in the Falling Walls Science Summit.

Ready to Break Down Barriers?

Whether you’re a student, researcher, or early-career professional with a breakthrough idea, Falling Walls Lab Manitoba offers an unparalleled opportunity to showcase your innovation on both provincial and international stages.

Applications open June 1 and close July 15, giving aspiring changemakers a six-week window to prepare and submit their entries. Don’t miss your chance to represent Manitoba, connect with fellow innovators, and help break down the barriers by sharing your innovation to the world.

Register for the info session on July 8, Tuesday at 2PM

Stay tuned to the IDEA START website for dates and registration details. Apply today!

For inquiries, email ideastartcommunity@umanitoba.ca

Nolan De Leon, 2024 Falling Walls Manitoba winner.

Falling Walls Lab is an international competition, created by the Falling Walls Foundation, inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.  It promotes research and innovation in all disciplines, by posing the question, “Which walls will fall next?” 

Nolan De Leon (Dr.MD, PhD) won the grand prize sponsored by InfoMagnetics Technologies. The prize includes $1000 cash along with airfare and accommodations in Berlin, Germany to compete in the global Falling Walls competition finale Nov. 7 to 9 with their presentation, Breaking the Wall of Prenatal Diagnostics.

Megan Crooks (MA Clinical Psychology) won the second-place prize of $750 sponsored by Research Manitoba, with the presentation entitled, Breaking the Wall of Phantom Pain Prevention.

Anastasia Matsko (Dr.Med/PhD) was the third-place finalist winning $500 sponsored by QDoc Virtual Healthcare with the presentation Breaking the Wall of Dental Implants.

Sajad Saraygord Afshari (PhD, P.Eng, Postdoc), won the Audience Choice award of $500 sponsored by Red River College Polytechnic for the presentation, Breaking the Wall of AI-Powered Drone Work: Revolutionizing Wildfire Prevention.

“The Falling Walls Lab is an important opportunity to showcase the world-class research happening every day in Manitoba and I would like to thank the large community who came together to bring this celebration to life,” said Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, Associate Vice-President Partnerships Knowledge Mobilization & Innovation. “Students are the greatest drivers of change in addressing the pressing challenges faced by society and by empowering entrepreneurs and innovators across disciplines we can make these great ideas a reality.”

Congratulations to all the presenters for sharing their exciting research and being a part of this second Falling Walls Manitoba event:

• Mahdi Zakeri (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Bone Loss & Healing
• Abhinav Tiwari (Agriculture & Food Science): Breaking the Wall of Grain Drying
• Juanita Garcia (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Exercise in Spinal Injury
• Venkata Daggupati (Computing & Information Science): Breaking the Wall of Emergency Room Challenges
• Anastasia Matsko (Engineering & Technology): Breaking the Wall of Dental Implants
• Hussein Agoushi (Architecture & Urban Studies): Breaking the Wall of Community Silence
• Samantha Phrakonkham (Healthcare & Technology): Breaking the Wall of Eye Healthcare
• Sajad Saraygord Afshari (Engineering & Technology): Breaking the Wall of AI-Powered Drone Work: Revolutionizing Wildfire Prevention
• Amir Barzegar Behrooz (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Alzheimer’s Therapy
• Megan Crooks (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Phantom Pain Prevention
• Nolan De Leon (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Prenatal Diagnostics
• Carmine Slipski (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Oral Health Detection