New leadership will advance shared wet lab and co-working spaces for innovators and research-based startups.
IDEA START, the University of Manitoba’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, welcomed Dr. Iqra Azam as its new Incubator Space Lead.
Dr. Azam holds a PhD in biology from the University of Saskatchewan and brings more than seven years of experience in research, innovation and laboratory operations. In her new role, she will lead the development and day-to-day operations of IDEA START’s shared wet lab and co working facilities. She will work closely with researchers, entrepreneurs and industry partners to ensure the spaces operate safely, effectively and in response to the needs of emerging ventures.
Her appointment comes as the IDEA START Incubator Space enters its next phase of growth, including the development of wet lab capacity alongside the co-working space already operating in the Innovation Hub building at Smartpark.
“This role is an opportunity to help researchers and entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into tangible outcomes," said Dr. Iqra Azam, Incubator Space Lead at IDEA START. "By providing access to the right facilities, equipment and operational support, we can help innovators test, refine and advance their work without having to navigate those barriers alone.”
The IDEA START Incubator Space provides UM students, faculty, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, staff and alumni with a dedicated environment in which to develop their ventures while working alongside other innovators.
“The University of Manitoba has no shortage of talented researchers, students and aspiring founders with ideas worth pursuing," said Moses Levy, Director, IDEA START. "What has been missing is a dedicated space where they can consistently work, collaborate and access the support needed to move those ideas forward. The Incubator Space fills that important gap.”
The co-working area includes two office rooms with up to six dedicated workstations, a six-seat meeting room for interviews and client meetings, and a mini-lounge for guests. Participants also receive high-speed internet, printing and presentation tools, access to a kitchenette and 24-hour key access.
Beyond physical workspace, participants receive priority access to IDEA START programming and resources. These include weekly IDEA Clinics, mentorship, a resource library, fundraising connections, access to angel investors and venture capital firms, and the IDEA START Innovate platform, which connects users with the university’s broader innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
A Micro-Certificate in Applied Innovation is also being planned for participants seeking a more structured and credentialed learning experience.
The Incubator Space is connected to the SMART PARK's Innovation Hub space, which includes a bookable atrium and multipurpose room that can accommodate up to 120 people for events, workshops, seminars and community gatherings.
Entry into the Incubator Space is application-based, with submissions reviewed monthly by a dedicated committee. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Successful applicants receive an initial six-month term with access to space and its support at no cost. Participants demonstrating progress may apply for one additional six-month extension, for a maximum participation period of 12 months.
Workstations are allocated as they become available. Applicants who are accepted while awaiting a workstation can begin accessing IDEA START programming and other support immediately. Their formal six-month term begins once a seat becomes available.
Participants are also expected to remain engaged with the broader UM entrepreneurship ecosystem, including the IDEA START Venture and Innovation Community.
The next phase of the Incubator Space will include a Level 2 biosafety wet lab. The facility is currently under development and is not yet operational.
Once open, the wet lab will provide 10 bookable bench spaces for innovators working in biotechnology, life sciences, health sciences and related research areas.
“Promising research can lose momentum when it has advanced beyond its original university laboratory but is not yet ready for commercial or industrial facilities," said Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, Associate Vice-President, Partnerships, Knowledge Mobilization and Innovation. "The wet lab will help bridge that critical transition, giving research-based ventures access to the infrastructure they need to continue developing, validating and de-risking their innovations.”
The planned wet lab will be located close to the existing co-working area and currently includes four chemical fume hoods, three biosafety cabinets, carbon dioxide incubators, autoclaves, an ice machine and cold storage reaching temperatures as low as -80 C.
Developing and operating the wet lab, alongside the existing dry lab facilities, will be a central part of Dr. Azam’s role. She will support participants in accessing laboratory infrastructure, equipment and operational resources, helping research-based startups progress from early prototypes toward proof of concept without needing to secure external laboratory space.
The IDEA START Incubator Space is located within a broader cluster of innovation organizations at Smartpark. Nearby partners include the Partnerships, Knowledge Mobilization and Innovation Office, Lab2Market Prairies Hub and North Forge Technology Exchange.
Please join IDEA START in welcoming Dr. Iqra Azam to the team.
UM innovators interested in joining the Incubator Space can find program information and the application form on the IDEA START website.
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.
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