[A blue and white background Description automatically generated] This message is sent on behalf of Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, Associate Vice-President (Partnerships, Knowledge Mobilization, and Innovation) Dear all, Please see below the call for nomination for a very exciting international opportunity to showcase UMs ingenuity. This is an initiative powered by IDEA START in collaboration with the German Falling Walls foundation. Best, Hans-Joachim ==================== Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden (he/his) Associate Vice-President Partnership, Knowledge Mobilisation & Innovation University of Manitoba 407 Administration Building 66 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada .................................................................. Dear Deans/Directors/Department Heads and Associate Deans (Research)/Research Liaison Officers, Greetings from IDEA START. We would like to sincerely thank you for your valued support and engagement in last year's Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026. Your partnership played an important role in strengthening the visibility, participation, and overall success of the initiative across our academic community. We are pleased to invite your faculty to participate in Falling Walls Lab Manitoba 2026 by nominating outstanding students and researchers to represent your institution at this globally recognized innovation competition. Falling Walls Lab challenges emerging innovators to present a breakthrough idea in just three minutes, with the Manitoba winner advancing to the international finale in Berlin. We would also be honoured to have you join us for the Falling Walls Lab Manitoba Finale on June 10, where nominees will present their breakthrough ideas and the Manitoba winner will be selected. RSVP for the finale here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/falling-walls-lab-manitoba-2026-tickets-1984641... Following the success of last year's Lab, the 2026 edition is expanding significantly. In addition to our continued partnership with the University of Winnipeg, we are working toward formal collaboration with Brandon University and Université de Saint-Boniface, positioning this year's Lab as a truly province-wide initiative and making it larger and more visible than ever before. We kindly request your support in nominating 2-5 exceptional students, postdoctoral fellows, or early-career researchers from your faculty who demonstrate innovation, research excellence, and strong communication potential. Participation provides nominees with:

* International research visibility * Connections with industry and government leaders * Professional pitch training and mentorship * Opportunity to represent Manitoba on a global stage Your nomination plays a critical role in identifying and elevating Manitoba's next generation of breakthrough thinkers. Included for your reference:

* One-Pager Overview - Competition details and eligibility * Apply Here - https://falling-walls.com/falling-walls-lab-manitoba-canada * Nomination Form - https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=C92AT4wzTE6KFJBEaWL3uHfm... Applications close March 31, 2026, and early nominations are encouraged to allow sufficient preparation and coaching time. We would be happy to provide promotional materials or brief faculty presentations to support outreach within your unit. Thank you for your continued leadership in strengthening Manitoba's innovation ecosystem. We look forward to celebrating nominees from your faculty this year. Warm regards, Rajeev Koyal (he/him) IDEA START Program Manager University of Manitoba W: https://umanitoba.ca/ideastart E: rajeeev.koyal@umanitoba.camailto:rajeeev.koyal@umanitoba.ca M: +1.431.323.5116