From left: Dr. Wenlong Yuan, Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, Dr. Annemieke Farenhorst, Dr. Jitendra Paliwal, Luma Clarindo Lopes, Yujie Ren, Miranda Gislason, Santiago Villarreal Villarraga, Andrea Ladouceur, Javier Schwersensky, Joelle Foster and Moses Levy

The energy was electric inside the Desautels Concert Hall as 11 finalists took the stage at the 2025 Falling Walls Lab Manitoba Finale, competing in front of more than 200 audience members. Each had just three minutes to pitch their groundbreaking idea, all aiming to “break walls” and change the world.

For the first time ever, IDEA START, in partnership with the University of Manitoba (UM) and the University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg), hosted the Falling Walls Lab Manitoba Finale, bringing together some of the province’s brightest minds in a celebration of innovation, research, and collaboration.

The evening opened in a good way with Grandmother Karen Courchene, who offered her blessings and welcoming words. This was followed by a moving Indigenous drum performance by Singing Wolf, setting a tone of respect, tradition, and unity.

Adding to the evening’s significance, Hon. Minister Mike Moroz, Minister of Innovation and New Technology, attended as chief guest and underscored Manitoba’s growing innovation landscape:

“What a great event! The work being done here is incredibly important and will drive the economy in years to come. We are proud that IDEA START, in partnership with the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, is hosting this event, which not only showcases the ingenuity of our students and researchers but also reinforces our province’s commitment to fostering innovation at every level… Your bold thinking is exactly what we need to move forward.”

The event was smoothly emceed by Janine Carmichael (University of Manitoba) and Lauren Bosc (University of Winnipeg), whose engaging presence kept the evening flowing seamlessly.
Leaders from the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg, and IDEA START highlighted the collaboration that made the evening possible.

Hans-Joachim Wieden, Associate Vice-President, Partnership, Knowledge Mobilisation, and Innovation, University of Manitoba said:

“Innovation is not bound by geography or scale, what starts here in Manitoba has the power to reach anywhere in the world. This event is about collaboration, risk-taking, and putting ideas into the world where they can grow and inspire others,”

Dr. Jitendra Paliwal, Associate Vice-President, Research and Innovation, University of Winnipeg, added:

“To the students, I say this: love what you do and put your heart and soul into it. Congratulations on stepping onto this stage and breaking the proverbial walls of these institutions. To everyone here tonight, you are about to witness innovation and research that has the power to change the world,” 

Moses Levy, Director, IDEA START, said:

“Falling Walls Lab Manitoba reflects exactly what IDEA START stands for, giving innovators the stage, the support, and the confidence to transform bold ideas into real-world impact,” said 

Adding a special touch, Honorary Consul in Winnipeg for Germany, Jutta Essig, extended her best wishes to all participants, recognizing the global significance of the ideas presented, 

“I send greetings to the participants and wish you a successful event with congrats to all researchers, students and entrepreneurs having such a great platform to present their innovations.”

A lively jazz interlude by the The Emma Lewis Trio from the Desautels Faculty of Music, University of Manitoba gave the audience and finalists a chance to recharge before the winners were announced.

Winners of the 2025 Falling Walls Lab Manitoba

First Place: Luma Clarindo Lopes 
Breaking the Walls of Antibiotic Resistance
University of Manitoba

Luma claimed the top prize with her innovative approach to combatting antibiotic resistance, one of the greatest threats to modern medicine. Her work could enable rapid identification of resistance before treatment begins, saving lives worldwide. She will now represent Manitoba at the Falling Walls Global Finale in Berlin this November.
Reflecting on her experience, Luma shared:

“Being selected as a finalist was thrilling, and the coaching sessions were especially valuable in refining my pitch and boosting my confidence. On stage, I felt adrenaline but also confident in my preparation. Falling Walls is an incredible initiative that gives researchers and entrepreneurs a platform to share their ideas. It was inspiring to see such amazing and innovative ideas coming out of Manitoba.”

Second Place: Yujie Ren
Breaking the Wall of Intraoperative MRI Head Coil
University of Winnipeg
Yujie impressed judges with her reimagined MRI head coil design, promising sharper imaging during surgery and better outcomes for patients.

Third Place: Miranda Gislason
Breaking the Walls of Invisible Genomic Bias
University of Manitoba
Miranda addressed hidden biases in genomic datasets, ensuring advancements in genomics benefit all populations, not just a select few.

Audience Choice: Santiago Villarreal Villarraga
Breaking the Walls of Human Error in Wildfires
University of Manitoba
Santiago won over the audience with strategies to minimize human error in wildfire prevention and response, a timely idea in an era of escalating climate risks.

Innovation Takes Centre Stage

The 2025 finale was more than a competition; it was a celebration of Manitoba’s innovation ecosystem. With strong institutional partnerships, cultural traditions woven into the program, and world-class ideas on display, the event showcased Manitoba’s power to inspire and lead.

As the applause rang out, one message was clear: Manitoba’s innovators aren’t just breaking walls, they are building bridges to a brighter future.

Next stop: Berlin, where Luma Clarindo Lopes will carry Manitoba’s ideas to the world stage.

The event was made possible thanks to generous support from our sponsors:

• Event Sponsor: North Forge
• Awards Sponsor: Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba
• First Place Sponsor: University of Manitoba
• Second Place Sponsor: The University of Winnipeg
• Third Place Sponsor: Research Manitoba

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.

President Benarroch invites our entire campus community to participate in an event or two. “These events are for everyone,” says President Benarroch, “Even if you don’t see yourself as a traditional entrepreneur. At UM we nurture entrepreneurial thinking in every faculty as part of our pursuit of big ideas. Big ideas that help mitigate climate change, bolster human health, advance Reconciliation and so much more.”

Visit the Entrepreneurship and Innovative Thinking Month webpage for all event details and registration information.

Attend the IDEA START Open House, UM’s new entrepreneurship gateway, witness a live pitch competition in the Asper School, participate in lunch hour webinars, or attend a 2-day learning event to build your entrepreneurial thinking skills during reading week. And, so much more!

Explore the many opportunities that support and celebrate entrepreneurship and innovative thinking at UM.