November 20, 2025 – At its most recent Annual General Meeting on Nov. 19, The Associates of the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba announced its International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) recipient for 2026, Reinhold Schmieding.
“IDEA Co-Chair Ash Modha [BA/98], Co-founder and CEO Mondetta, and I were introduced to Arthrex founder Reinhold Schmieding by Winnipeg’s own and world renowned Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Peter MacDonald. The Associates are about connecting the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and tapping into their life experience to share and inspire our business community along with the next generation of leaders in Manitoba,” says Paul Soubry [BComms(Hons)/84] NFI Group Inc. President and CEO, and Chair of IDEA.
“Starting an industry leading a global business in a foreign country without any outside financing in a market that didn’t exist. Reinhold and his team have developed over 25,000 products that pioneer arthroscopic and less invasive orthopedic surgery. This man is truly remarkable, and his quiet, humble approach to business, innovation and life is something we can all benefit from hearing about. He truly is a game changer for millions of people needing a better quality of life.”
Michigan native Reinhold Schmieding founded Arthrex, a surgical technology innovation company, in 1981 from a simple drafting table in Munich, Germany. Since then, he moved his company to Naples, Florida and developed more than 25,600 surgical devices and implants over the past 40 years, advancing minimally invasive surgery options worldwide.
“Reinhold Schmieding is a visionary who has proven that innovation guided by purpose can change the course of human healing,” says RBC Regional President Kim Ulmer. “Reinhold‘s story embodies the very principles found at the heart of IDEA – a boldness to dream, relentless curiosity, and the courage to lead.”
As a technology pioneer in arthroscopic surgery, and President and co-founder of the company, Reinhold has also helped develop some of the first instruments for arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery in the early 1980s with leading orthopedic surgeons from Europe and North America. He holds more than 2,000 patents for product and surgical techniques, introduces 1,000 new products and related procedures to the market every year and oversees more than 10,000 employees globally.
“At UM, we really encourage an entrepreneurial mindset that also considers social impact, or how to develop solutions that address challenges facing our society, just like Reinhold Schmieding has done,” adds UM President and Vice-Chancellor, Michael Benarroch. “He is an exceptional choice for this award, and we are honoured that our business community and students will benefit from the extensive knowledge and insights he has gathered over his years as a global leader in his industry.”
The 2026 Idea Dinner, presented by RBC, will take place on May 21, 2026.
About the Associates of the Asper School of Business:
The Associates are proud leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs moving the Manitoba economy forward. Comprising 365 senior executives, the Associates have been a driving force since 1982, advancing business education at the I.H. Asper School of Business. The Asper students are linked to the business community through mentorship programs, ongoing networking events and philanthropy. Giving back to the Asper School of Business and business community are the hallmark attributes of the Associates.
For more information on the event and interview requests: AnnaMaria Toppazzini, CEO, University of Manitoba Business School Foundation,
Associates of the Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, 204-981-4880 or email: ceo@associatesmb.ca
