Breaking barriers: Meet the 2025 Falling Walls Lab Manitoba winners
Where bold ideas, academic collaboration, and global ambition collided
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
Research at the University of Manitoba is partially supported by funding from the Government of Canada Research Support Fund.