Research

Manitoba finds its Berlin-bound innovator

Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 celebrates innovation, partnership and community

Group photo of Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 finalists, winners, judges and organizers in front of a Congratulations screen.
Estimated Read Time:
8 minutes
Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 finalists, winners, partners, sponsors, jury members and organizers celebrate an evening of breakthrough ideas at the University of Manitoba’s Smart Park Innovation Hub.
Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 finalists, winners, partners, sponsors, jury members and organizers celebrate an evening of breakthrough ideas at the University of Manitoba’s Smart Park Innovation Hub.
Estimated Read Time:
8 minutes
By

Poonam Chopra

Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 brought 11 bold finalists, a room full of supporters and big ideas to the University of Manitoba’s Smart Park Innovation Hub on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. In true Falling Walls style, each finalist had just three minutes to break down a wall. No pressure, right?

Hosted through a strong provincial partnership between IDEA START, the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg and, new this year, St. Boniface Hospital Research, the finale created a powerful platform for emerging innovators tackling real-world challenges in health, sustainability, technology, research and society. This year, outreach also extended to the University of Regina, reflecting the Lab’s growing regional reach and its potential to connect more researchers, students and innovators across the Prairies.

The event was made possible through the generous support of Research Manitoba as Event Sponsor, the Bioscience Association of Manitoba as Travel Sponsor, and the Science Innovation Hub, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, as Trophy Sponsor, helping give Manitoba innovators the stage they deserve.

The evening opened in a good way with a blessing from Elder Norman Meade, who grounded the program in respect, reflection and shared responsibility. Elder Meade spoke about accepting tobacco as a gift from Mother Earth and offering his blessing “from my heart to yours.” Connecting his teaching to the spirit of Falling Walls, he reminded the room that the walls we break are shaped by research, innovation and collaboration, but also by the spirit, mind, body and emotions we bring to work.

He also offered a powerful reflection on wisdom and knowledge, sharing that wisdom is something young people already carry, while knowledge is something we learn from one another. It was a fitting reminder for an evening centred on bold ideas, shared learning and the next generation of innovators.

Elder accepting tobacco before the blessing
Elder Norman Meade accepting tobacco from Janine Carmichael

The Mason Hoop Dancers, Kimberly, Charisma and Nikaya Mason, followed with a performance that brought energy, storytelling and cultural teaching to the stage. The three Cree sisters from southeastern Manitoba shared that hoop dancing is not only a storytelling dance, but also a healing dance. Through their performance, they spoke about unity, the circle of life and the importance of bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together through truth, understanding and reconciliation.

Their message connected beautifully with the purpose of the evening: meaningful change can begin with one voice, one idea and the courage to share it.

Three Mason Hoop Dancers perform with colourful hoops at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026.
Mason Hoop Dancers at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026

University of Manitoba President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Michael Benarroch welcomed guests and thanked Elder Norman Meade, the Mason Hoop Dancers, partners, judges and finalists. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of bringing entrepreneurship into universities and helping promising ideas move beyond the concept stage, while noting Manitoba’s growing innovation ecosystem continues to “punch above its weight.”

At UM, we are proud to help create the conditions for those ideas to move beyond the concept stage and contribute to Manitoba’s future.

Dr. Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Manitoba

Dr. Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Manitoba
UM President smiles at the podium during Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 at the University of Manitoba.

Speaking on behalf of the University of Winnipeg, Lauren Bosc reflected on the purpose behind the Lab, noting that the most important walls to break are the ones standing between a great idea and the world that needs it. She emphasized that impact is not an afterthought to good research, but the point of research, and that impact happens through partnerships between institutions, disciplines, researchers and communities.

For IDEA START and the broader innovation community, Falling Walls Lab Manitoba continues to show what partnership can make possible. It brings together students, researchers, founders, mentors, funders and ecosystem leaders around one shared goal: helping bold ideas move forward.

“Falling Walls Lab Manitoba is powerful because of the community behind it,” said Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, Associate Vice-President, Partnerships, Knowledge Mobilisation and Innovation at the University of Manitoba. “Our finalists bring forward bold ideas, but it takes partners, sponsors, mentors and supporters to help those ideas grow. This event reflects the strength of Manitoba’s innovation ecosystem and the important role we can play in helping local research, talent and innovation reach the world stage.”

Falling Walls Lab Manitoba shows the strength of Manitoba’s innovation ecosystem and the role we can play in helping local research and talent reach the world stage.
Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden standing in front of UM admin building
Dr Hans-Joachim Wieden in front of the Administrative building, University of Manitoba

Then came the pitches.

The jury had the not-so-small task of evaluating each three-minute pitch on breakthrough factor, relevance and impact, and presentation structure and performance. This year’s jury included Joe Cyr as Jury Chair, Dean Dr. Peter Nickerson, Dr. Jody Dexter, Dr. Jeffery Martin and Andrea Ladouceur, who brought experience from research, innovation, entrepreneurship and community impact to the judging process. In other words: big idea, real-world value and the ability to make the room care in under 180 seconds. Easy, right?

This year’s finalists brought forward ideas that were smart, timely and full of possibility. Four winners were recognized:

First Place: Dr. Saba Mohammadalinezhad Kolahdouz

Pitch title: Breaking the Wall of Brain-Body Disconnection

Dr. Kolahdouz’s winning pitch focused on stroke recovery at home and the broken communication loop between the brain and body after a stroke. Her platform, SynapPlay, combines interactive rehabilitation exercises with a wearable wrist device that sends sensory signals back to the brain during movement. By supporting the brain-body communication loop, the technology aims to help stroke survivors regain independence, reduce caregiver burden and extend rehabilitation beyond hospital walls.

As the first-place winner, Dr. Kolahdouz will represent Manitoba and Canada at the Falling Walls Lab global finale in Berlin in November 2026.

Behind every movement lost is a life waiting to be reclaimed. Our venture, SynapPlay, was born from a vision to bridge the gap between the brain and the body, because recovery is about more than restoring movement, it is about restoring independence, dignity, and hope for stroke survivors. This recognition brings us one step closer to transforming that vision into reality, and I am deeply honored to represent Manitoba and Canada on the global stage. I have come to realize that breakthroughs are rarely achieved alone; behind every bold idea is a mentor who dares you to think bigger than you thought possible. I am profoundly grateful to my mentor, Dr. Jai Shankar, for being that person for me.

Dr. Saba M. Kolahdouz stands with award presenters, holding her first place certificate and trophy at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026.
Dr. Saba Mohammadalinezhad Kolahdouz receives first place at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 for her pitch, “Breaking the Wall of Brain-Body Disconnection.” She will represent Manitoba at the Falling Walls Lab global finale in Berlin.
Dr. Saba Mohammadalinezhad Kolahdouz stands with an award presenter, holding her first place certificate and trophy at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026.
Dr. Saba M. Kolahdouz receives first place at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 for her pitch, “Breaking the Wall of Brain-Body Disconnection.”
I am deeply honored to represent Manitoba and Canada on the global stage. I have come to realize that breakthroughs are rarely achieved alone; behind every bold idea is a mentor who dares you to think bigger than you thought possible.

Saba M. Kolahdouz, Winner, Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026

Second Place: Juan Sebastián Sánchez

Pitch title: Breaking the Wall of Mining Waste Through Biomining

Sánchez presented a sustainability-focused idea using microbes to address one of mining’s biggest challenges: waste. His work explores how biomining can turn dangerous mining waste into a source of recoverable metals while also reducing contaminants. His memorable takeaway: some of our largest problems may require microscopic solutions. Mining waste, meet your match.

Second place winner stands with an award presenter, holding a certificate and trophy at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026.
The second place winner Juan Sebastián Sánchez is recognized at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 for “Breaking the Wall of Mining Waste Through Biomining,” a pitch exploring how biomining can help address mining waste and recover valuable metals.
Third Place: Rudra Patel

Pitch title: Breaking the Wall of Blood Cancer Prognosis

Patel’s pitch focused on chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the difficult “wait and watch” period many patients face after diagnosis. Drawing from his grandmother’s experience, Patel presented CLLarity, a simple, fast and low-cost test being developed to help predict disease progression and support earlier, data-driven treatment decisions. His goal is to turn “wait and worry” into confidence and clarity.

Third place winner stands with an award presenter, holding a certificate and trophy at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026.
The third place winner Rudra Patel recognized at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 for “Breaking the Wall of Blood Cancer Prognosis,” a pitch focused on improving confidence and clarity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia prognosis.
Audience Choice: Waseem Ahmed

Pitch title: Breaking the Wall of Expert Supervision

Ahmed won the Audience Choice Award for his pitch on expert supervision in industry and health care. His idea uses augmented reality and AI to provide real-time guidance when expert help is not physically available. The solution is designed to interpret manuals, monitor user actions and provide timely support, helping reduce errors and make expert guidance available anywhere, anytime. Clearly, the audience saw the potential.

Waseem Ahmed presents on stage at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 in front of a branded event backdrop.
Finalist Waseem Ahmed presents “Breaking the Wall of Expert Supervision” at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026, exploring how AI and augmented reality can support real-time expert guidance.
A wooden Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 first place trophy displayed on a white table.

 

Carrying a local story of their own, even the trophies had a Manitoba-made innovation angle. This year’s trophies were created using Manitoba elm offcuts from an architecture project, through the Faculty of Science, Science Innovation Hub, with support from Faculty of Architecture.

Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 trophies are displayed on stage ahead of the awards presentation.
Wooden Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 trophies displayed on a red event stage.

The evening closed with remarks from Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice-President Research and International at the University of Manitoba, who celebrated the finalists for advancing knowledge translation and thanked the jury, committees, volunteers and partners. He noted that Falling Walls Lab Manitoba is becoming one of the province’s leading pitch competitions for breakthrough research ideas, supported by UM’s commitment to helping innovators move ideas into real-world impact through IDEA START.

“Falling Walls Lab Manitoba is quickly becoming one of Manitoba’s leading platforms for breakthrough research ideas,” said Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice-President Research and International at the University of Manitoba. “Through IDEA START, the University of Manitoba is committed to providing wraparound support that helps researchers, students and innovators move ideas into real-world impact here at home.”

Through IDEA START, the University of Manitoba is committed to providing wraparound support that helps researchers, students and innovators transform ideas into real-world impact here at home.

Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice-President Research and International, University of Manitoba

Dr. Mario Pinto speaks at a podium during Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026.
Dr. Mario Pinto delivers closing remarks at Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026, celebrating the finalists, partners and growing momentum behind Manitoba’s breakthrough research ideas.

By the end of the evening, one thing was clear: Manitoba’s innovation community is not short on ideas, courage or momentum. From stroke recovery and biomining to blood cancer prognosis and AI-powered expert supervision, this year’s winners showed what can happen when research meets purpose, partnership and a three-minute timer.

With support from partners, sponsors, jury members, volunteers and attendees, Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 was more than a pitch competition. It was a celebration of collaboration, curiosity and the kind of ideas that make people lean forward in their seats.

Next stop: Berlin.

Boilerplate: Research

For nearly 150 years, UM has transformed lives through groundbreaking research and homegrown innovation. We push the boundaries of knowledge and do the hard work here in Manitoba to move our community and the world forward. With a spirit of determination and discovery, we are shaping a better future for our province and beyond.