Falling Walls Lab Riga, Latvia 2026 in Two Weeks
About the Competition
The pitch competition brings together students, young researchers, early-career professionals and innovators from all fields who present their innovative ideas in a concise and convincing three-minute pitch – ideas with the potential to change society, science, and the world as a whole.
Event Programme
14:00 – Opening remarks
Opening remarks will be said by Guntars Kitenbergs (Vice-Rector for Research), Oskars Teikmanis (Chair of the Board of the Latvian Association of Young Researchers) and Ieva Dzelme (Head of the DAAD Information Centre in Riga).
14:20 – Pitches
15:20 – Networking and coffee break
15:40 – Pitches
16:40 – Networking and coffee break
17:15 – Award ceremony
Participants
This year’s competition will have participants from different countries around the world, representing a diverse range of fields of science:
- Ana Lucia Manrique De La Torre Ugarte (Oria XR)
- Gilles Deles-Vēliņš (University of Latvia)
- Jānis Bičevskis (DIVI Grupa)
- Iveta Kažoka (University of Latvia)
- Lahiru Alahakoon (Riga Technical University)
- Hanna Markova (University of Latvia)
- Jaana Merisaar (Tallinn University of Technology)
- Jachin Edward Pousson (Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music)
- Emīlija Skrupska (Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry)
- Rasma Pīpiķe (Riga Technical University)
- Vanda Voikiva (University of Latvia)
- Abu Muhammad Mustakim Reza (Lithuanian Energy Institute)
Criteria
Participants will be evaluated by a jury consisting of representatives from academia and private sector from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland: Tatjana Pladere (Jury Chair, Department Head of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Latvia), Ramunė Kasperė (Professor, Vice-Dean for Research, Kaunas University of Technology), Mateusz Szatkowski (Assistant Professor, Wrocław University of Science and Technology), Māris Būmanis (Executive Board Member, Latvijas Finieris group), and Keiu Virro (Junior researcher, Tallinn University).
The winner will be determined based on the following criteria:
- Breakthrough & Innovation (50%)
- Relevance & Impact (40%)
- Structure & Performance (10%)
The Winner
The winner of Falling Walls Lab Riga, Latvia will qualify for the global Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin on 6 November 2026, held as part of the Falling Walls Science Summit. Finalists will also participate in an extended programme including networking opportunities, professional development activities, and visits to leading research institutions. Travel and accommodation costs from Riga to Berlin will be covered by the DAAD Information Centre Riga.
About Falling Walls Lab
Falling Walls Lab is a global initiative that takes place annually in more than 70 cities worldwide. In Latvia, the competition is organized by the DAAD Information Center Riga in cooperation with the University of Latvia and the Latvian Association of Young Scientists.
If you have any questions, please contact us at info.riga@daad.de.
