About the Competition
The international idea pitching competition Falling Walls Lab Riga, Latvia will be held on 30 June 2026 at 2:00 PM in Auditorium 106 of the University of Latvia House of Science (Jelgavas Street 3, Riga). Everyone interested is invited to attend the event, where young talents from various fields will briefly and convincingly present their innovative ideas and solutions to current societal challenges, competing for the chance to represent Latvia in the global final in Berlin. Admission is free of charge. The event will be conducted in English.
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)
Mihhail Kilmet (Bielefeld University)
Viktors Bikovs (Riga Technical University)
Iveta Kažoka (University of Latvia)
Heyllin Tatiana Chavarriaga Arteaga (Evie Health)
Lahiru Alahakoon (Riga Technical University)
Ance Sproģe (Rīga Stradiņš University)
Jaana Merisaar (Tallinn University of Technology)
Jachin Edward Pousson (Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music)
Emīlija Skrupska (Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry)
Saqib Ali (Tallinn University of Technology)
Rasma Pīpiķe (Riga Technical University)
Vanda Voikiva (University of Latvia)
Abu Muhammad Mustakim Reza (Lithuanian Energy Institute)
Hanna Markova (University of Latvia)
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 and Innovation (50%)
Relevance and Impact (40%)
Structure and Performance (10%)
The Winner
The winner of Falling Walls Lab Riga, Latvia will qualify for the global final in Berlin on 6 November 2026 and will participate in the Falling Walls Science Summit 2026. All Falling Walls Lab finalists will also take part in an extended programme in Berlin that includes: professional skills development, networking opportunities and visits to leading research institutions. The winner’s travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the DAAD Information Centre in Riga.
About Falling Walls Lab
Falling Walls Lab is a global initiative that takes place in more than 90 cities worldwide this year. Each national-level competition winner qualifies to participate in the global final in Berlin. In Latvia, the competition is organized by the DAAD Information Centre in Riga in cooperation with the University of Latvia and the Latvian Association of Young Scientists.
For more information about the event:
https://www.daad.lv/en/2026/06/18/falling-walls-lab-riga-latvia-2026/.
For inquiries, please contact info.riga@daad.de