Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Excella

Turning "Innovation" Into Systems That Actually Perform

In a region that lives and breathes technology, it’s easy to mistake innovation for novelty – something shiny, experimental, and detached from the realities of mission work. Excella has built its brand by resisting that temptation. Founded in 2002, the Northern Virginia firm has spent more than two decades proving...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

The UNF Step Lab - A Major Contributor To The STEM Education Ecosystem

The UNF Step Lab - A Major Contributor To The STEM Education Ecosystem

The UNF Step Lab, housed in the UNF College of Education and Human Services, positions UNF to continue to be a major contributor to the STEM Education ecosystem in the Northeast Florida community. It is a place where regional preK-12 students, teachers, university faculty and students, and community/business partners can...

Global Innovation Spotlight

SMARTHEAD

SMARTHEAD-The World’s First Platform Where 100% Of Companies Are Active In Sustainability

The World’s First Platform Where 100% Of Companies Are Active In Sustainability

SmartHead is the world’s first platform for companies of all sizes to manage and communicate their sustainability initiatives effectively through their own digital Sustainability Profile. It is based on 4 main pillars: Data management, communication, sharing best-practices, and collaboration. DIGITAL COMPANY SUSTAINABILITY PROFILE ON BESMARTHEAD.COMEffective data management and transparent sustainability...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Parla Dynamics

Building the Multilingual Internet for the Next 5 billion Users

For decades, the internet has been framed as a global equalizer. It has quietly favored a narrow slice of the world. The world has always been multilingual. The digital infrastructure that connects it, however, was built predominantly in English. More than half of online content is still produced in English,...

INNOVATE® South Florida

35 MULES

FROM ICE PLANT TO INNOVATION POWERHOUSE: THE INSPIRING JOURNEY OF 35 MULES

Nearly a century ago, an ice plant, sponge fishing boat, and 35 hard-working mules formed the foundation of what is today a global energy leader. Fast forward to today, and that humble beginning has paved the way for a groundbreaking innovation hub: 35 Mules. This energetic initiative, backed by NextEra...

INNOVATION Quebec

DISTRIQ

ZONE D’INNOVATION QUANTIQUE

DistriQ, Quantum Innovation Zone, is an organization that provides expertise and infrastructure to foster the emergence and acceleration of innovation in the quantum science and technology sector. DistriQ supports the development of one of the first innovation zones of the Quebec government, the Sherbrooke Quantum Innovation Zone. Since its designation...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RED-LINED INTERNATIONAL

RED-LINED INTERNATIONAL- MOTORSPORT ADVENTURE

MOTORSPORT ADVENTURE

The CEO and founder of Red-Lined International Terence Marsh had a goal of competing on the world stage at Dakar and established the business in 2013. We set out into the international market in search of a race car and returned to South Africa disillusioned at what the market had...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

ADELAIDE BIOMED CITY

"BRINGING TOGETHER TECHNOLOGIES, INNOVATORS AND PATIENTS”

ADELAIDE BIOMED CITY IS THE HOME OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S MOST TALENTED PEOPLE WHOSE IDEAS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE TRANSFORM THE FUTURE OF HEALTH WITH WORLD-FIRST SOLUTIONS TO UNMET MEDICAL NEEDS. At Adelaide Biomed City, researchers, clinicians, and students work together within our universities, medical research institutes and academic teaching hospitals, with...

INNOVATE® Nashville

FoxFuel

Reviving the soul of brands with sophistication & rebellion

FoxFuel Creative is a sharp-tongued, no-nonsense agency, built on the tension between sophistication and rebellion. Because brands need an agency that knows the rules and when to break them. That’s where the magic happens. In the friction between polish and punch. Between the curve in a classical column and the...

INNOVATE® Georgia

EY - Shape the Future with Confidence

How has EY US’s century-long legacy in Atlanta shaped the future of business in the region?

Atlanta is home to well-known brands in logistics, retail, transportation, and consumer products, as well as a booming film industry and rapid growth in the technology, biotechnology, and financial sectors. From innovative startups to established global enterprises and a host of companies in between, Atlanta has a wealth of entrepreneurial...

INNOVATE® Nashville

FORESIGHT

FORESIGHT-Bring Value To Life

Bring Value To Life

Foresight is elevating the sales profession by arming reps with their buyer’s unique needs and pain points so they can have more effective meetings. In the information age, buyers want consultants (not sales reps) to guide them through the process. We make that vision a reality. Freshly baked sourdough and heirloom...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Procentrix

Focused Vision, Lasting Impact

When Procentrix was founded in 2006, Microsoft technology was already deeply embedded across the federal government. Email systems, collaboration platforms, productivity tools, and emerging cloud capabilities were becoming foundational to how agencies operated. What was lacking, however, was implementation partners deeply skilled in helping government organizations unlock the full potential...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ESFERA

DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH PERSONALIZED INNOVATION

ESFERA-DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH PERSONALIZED INNOVATION AND IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS! With a history that spans three decades, Esfera Informática establishes itself as an institution committed to excellence, with advanced technologies and innovation as its fundamental pillars. Certified by MPSBr, the company constantly improves the development of software...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

SMR AUSTRALIA

LOCAL INNOVATIONS CREATING GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE VALUE-ADD

SMR Australia, a Motherson Group Company, has been a prominent manufacturer in South Australia for over 70 years. Driven by a culture of innovation, SMR Australia has evolved from its origins as Rainsford Metal products producing metal stampings, to Britax producing baby capsules and other automotive safety products, to Schefenacker...

Global Innovation Spotlight

HOUSELL

HOUSELL-The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

Housell is a proptech – a company that applies information technology and the new economy to the property sector – founded in Madrid in 2017 by Guillermo Llibre, CEO of the company. Its revolutionary concept, which seeks to use technology to give autonomy and power to the user, so that...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

voco™ - Brussels City North

Experience Unmatched Hospitality at voco ™ Brussels City North, Where Innovation and Sustainability Meet

Nestled in the heart of Vilvoorde, just outside Brussels, voco™ Brussels City North offers a unique stay at the Living Tomorrow Innovation Campus—the innovation hub for futuristic developments and forward-thinking technology. Whether you’re visiting for business or leisure, voco™ Brussels City North provides a welcoming atmosphere designed to make your...

INNOVATION Quebec

CYBERQUÉBEC

A HUB FOR SPECIALIZED EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN CYBERSECURITY

CyberQuébec is one of 59 college centres for technology transfer (CCTT) in the Synchronex CCTT Network. As part of the Cégep de l’Outaouais, we offer a wide range of cybersecurity services to help SMEs meet the technological challenges of digital security and support the development of a skilled technical workforce....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

DC BLOX

DRIVING DIGITAL INNOVATION AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Every morning, the sun rises over a small, unassuming building nestled near the shores of Myrtle Beach. From the outside, it could be anything—a warehouse, a power station, just another part of the city’s horizon. But inside, this facility is something extraordinary: a new kind of port, not for ships...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HYBR

HYBR-INNOVATIONS FOR AFRICA

INNOVATIONS FOR AFRICA

Africa needs African solutions. Adversities unquestionably limit the potential of people, communities, and economies in Africa. However, where there are challenges, there are opportunities. HYBR proves scalable entrepreneurship is the answer for social change and impact in Africa.   HYBR is a unique social enterprise founded in Africa with the...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY-IF YOU BUILD IT

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME...” THIS MISQUOTED LINE DERIVED FROM THE MOVIE, FIELD OF DREAMS, IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH STARTUP DEVELOPMENT. IT SOUNDS GOOD BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT REALISTIC

What does work is the act of providing a reason for why they should come. That is the central theme of Oakwood University’s Entrepreneurship Center, OU Launchpad, and it is why gaming is at the heart of the center’s success. OU Launchpad is structured around ideation and microentrepreneurship. These two...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

LOG!VILLE

Where logistics and innovation meet

In the fall of 2021, VIL (Flanders Innovation Cluster for Logistics –http://www.vil.be/) opened its demonstration center Log!Ville at the Science Park in Niel, centrally located between Antwerp and Brussels. It was founded by VIL to accelerate the transfer/dissemination of innovative technologies and concepts in the field of transport and logistics...

INNOVATE® Detroit

HRPro/BenePro

Exceptional Client Service And Innovation.

Throughout its almost 35-year history, two things have defined HRPro/BenePro – exceptional client service and innovation. Among its earlier innovations: While it is difficult to imagine a market without any of these, HRPro/BenePro helped create new categories when they first dived into them. More recently, they have been focused on...

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT - NOUVEAUX MÉDIAS

CREATION AND NEW MEDIA

A pioneer in university teaching in video games, digital creation and 3D creation, UQAT’s Creation and New Media Teaching and Research Unit has been contributing to the development of the digital and cultural industries for over 20-years. The expertise of the teaching team, based in Montreal and Rouyn-Noranda, is internationally...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC Thrive

Celebrating 15 Years of Leadership, Impact, and Innovation.

Over the past 15 years, SC Thrive has served as our state’s leader in linking South Carolinians with community and essential resources. In partnership with the Palmetto Institute, the BlueCross BlueShield of SC Foundation, and The Duke Endowment, SC Thrive began as a program of the SC Office of Rural...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Excella

Turning "Innovation" Into Systems That Actually Perform

In a region that lives and breathes technology, it’s easy to mistake innovation for novelty – something shiny, experimental, and detached from the realities of mission work. Excella has built its brand by resisting that temptation. Founded in 2002, the Northern Virginia firm has spent more than two decades proving...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

The UNF Step Lab - A Major Contributor To The STEM Education Ecosystem

The UNF Step Lab - A Major Contributor To The STEM Education Ecosystem

The UNF Step Lab, housed in the UNF College of Education and Human Services, positions UNF to continue to be a major contributor to the STEM Education ecosystem in the Northeast Florida community. It is a place where regional preK-12 students, teachers, university faculty and students, and community/business partners can...

Global Innovation Spotlight

SMARTHEAD

SMARTHEAD-The World’s First Platform Where 100% Of Companies Are Active In Sustainability

The World’s First Platform Where 100% Of Companies Are Active In Sustainability

SmartHead is the world’s first platform for companies of all sizes to manage and communicate their sustainability initiatives effectively through their own digital Sustainability Profile. It is based on 4 main pillars: Data management, communication, sharing best-practices, and collaboration. DIGITAL COMPANY SUSTAINABILITY PROFILE ON BESMARTHEAD.COMEffective data management and transparent sustainability...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Parla Dynamics

Building the Multilingual Internet for the Next 5 billion Users

For decades, the internet has been framed as a global equalizer. It has quietly favored a narrow slice of the world. The world has always been multilingual. The digital infrastructure that connects it, however, was built predominantly in English. More than half of online content is still produced in English,...

INNOVATE® South Florida

35 MULES

FROM ICE PLANT TO INNOVATION POWERHOUSE: THE INSPIRING JOURNEY OF 35 MULES

Nearly a century ago, an ice plant, sponge fishing boat, and 35 hard-working mules formed the foundation of what is today a global energy leader. Fast forward to today, and that humble beginning has paved the way for a groundbreaking innovation hub: 35 Mules. This energetic initiative, backed by NextEra...

INNOVATION Quebec

DISTRIQ

ZONE D’INNOVATION QUANTIQUE

DistriQ, Quantum Innovation Zone, is an organization that provides expertise and infrastructure to foster the emergence and acceleration of innovation in the quantum science and technology sector. DistriQ supports the development of one of the first innovation zones of the Quebec government, the Sherbrooke Quantum Innovation Zone. Since its designation...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RED-LINED INTERNATIONAL

RED-LINED INTERNATIONAL- MOTORSPORT ADVENTURE

MOTORSPORT ADVENTURE

The CEO and founder of Red-Lined International Terence Marsh had a goal of competing on the world stage at Dakar and established the business in 2013. We set out into the international market in search of a race car and returned to South Africa disillusioned at what the market had...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

ADELAIDE BIOMED CITY

"BRINGING TOGETHER TECHNOLOGIES, INNOVATORS AND PATIENTS”

ADELAIDE BIOMED CITY IS THE HOME OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S MOST TALENTED PEOPLE WHOSE IDEAS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE TRANSFORM THE FUTURE OF HEALTH WITH WORLD-FIRST SOLUTIONS TO UNMET MEDICAL NEEDS. At Adelaide Biomed City, researchers, clinicians, and students work together within our universities, medical research institutes and academic teaching hospitals, with...

INNOVATE® Nashville

FoxFuel

Reviving the soul of brands with sophistication & rebellion

FoxFuel Creative is a sharp-tongued, no-nonsense agency, built on the tension between sophistication and rebellion. Because brands need an agency that knows the rules and when to break them. That’s where the magic happens. In the friction between polish and punch. Between the curve in a classical column and the...

INNOVATE® Georgia

EY - Shape the Future with Confidence

How has EY US’s century-long legacy in Atlanta shaped the future of business in the region?

Atlanta is home to well-known brands in logistics, retail, transportation, and consumer products, as well as a booming film industry and rapid growth in the technology, biotechnology, and financial sectors. From innovative startups to established global enterprises and a host of companies in between, Atlanta has a wealth of entrepreneurial...

INNOVATE® Nashville

FORESIGHT

FORESIGHT-Bring Value To Life

Bring Value To Life

Foresight is elevating the sales profession by arming reps with their buyer’s unique needs and pain points so they can have more effective meetings. In the information age, buyers want consultants (not sales reps) to guide them through the process. We make that vision a reality. Freshly baked sourdough and heirloom...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Procentrix

Focused Vision, Lasting Impact

When Procentrix was founded in 2006, Microsoft technology was already deeply embedded across the federal government. Email systems, collaboration platforms, productivity tools, and emerging cloud capabilities were becoming foundational to how agencies operated. What was lacking, however, was implementation partners deeply skilled in helping government organizations unlock the full potential...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ESFERA

DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH PERSONALIZED INNOVATION

ESFERA-DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH PERSONALIZED INNOVATION AND IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS! With a history that spans three decades, Esfera Informática establishes itself as an institution committed to excellence, with advanced technologies and innovation as its fundamental pillars. Certified by MPSBr, the company constantly improves the development of software...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

SMR AUSTRALIA

LOCAL INNOVATIONS CREATING GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE VALUE-ADD

SMR Australia, a Motherson Group Company, has been a prominent manufacturer in South Australia for over 70 years. Driven by a culture of innovation, SMR Australia has evolved from its origins as Rainsford Metal products producing metal stampings, to Britax producing baby capsules and other automotive safety products, to Schefenacker...

Global Innovation Spotlight

HOUSELL

HOUSELL-The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

Housell is a proptech – a company that applies information technology and the new economy to the property sector – founded in Madrid in 2017 by Guillermo Llibre, CEO of the company. Its revolutionary concept, which seeks to use technology to give autonomy and power to the user, so that...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

voco™ - Brussels City North

Experience Unmatched Hospitality at voco ™ Brussels City North, Where Innovation and Sustainability Meet

Nestled in the heart of Vilvoorde, just outside Brussels, voco™ Brussels City North offers a unique stay at the Living Tomorrow Innovation Campus—the innovation hub for futuristic developments and forward-thinking technology. Whether you’re visiting for business or leisure, voco™ Brussels City North provides a welcoming atmosphere designed to make your...

INNOVATION Quebec

CYBERQUÉBEC

A HUB FOR SPECIALIZED EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN CYBERSECURITY

CyberQuébec is one of 59 college centres for technology transfer (CCTT) in the Synchronex CCTT Network. As part of the Cégep de l’Outaouais, we offer a wide range of cybersecurity services to help SMEs meet the technological challenges of digital security and support the development of a skilled technical workforce....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

DC BLOX

DRIVING DIGITAL INNOVATION AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Every morning, the sun rises over a small, unassuming building nestled near the shores of Myrtle Beach. From the outside, it could be anything—a warehouse, a power station, just another part of the city’s horizon. But inside, this facility is something extraordinary: a new kind of port, not for ships...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HYBR

HYBR-INNOVATIONS FOR AFRICA

INNOVATIONS FOR AFRICA

Africa needs African solutions. Adversities unquestionably limit the potential of people, communities, and economies in Africa. However, where there are challenges, there are opportunities. HYBR proves scalable entrepreneurship is the answer for social change and impact in Africa.   HYBR is a unique social enterprise founded in Africa with the...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY-IF YOU BUILD IT

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME...” THIS MISQUOTED LINE DERIVED FROM THE MOVIE, FIELD OF DREAMS, IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH STARTUP DEVELOPMENT. IT SOUNDS GOOD BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT REALISTIC

What does work is the act of providing a reason for why they should come. That is the central theme of Oakwood University’s Entrepreneurship Center, OU Launchpad, and it is why gaming is at the heart of the center’s success. OU Launchpad is structured around ideation and microentrepreneurship. These two...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

LOG!VILLE

Where logistics and innovation meet

In the fall of 2021, VIL (Flanders Innovation Cluster for Logistics –http://www.vil.be/) opened its demonstration center Log!Ville at the Science Park in Niel, centrally located between Antwerp and Brussels. It was founded by VIL to accelerate the transfer/dissemination of innovative technologies and concepts in the field of transport and logistics...

INNOVATE® Detroit

HRPro/BenePro

Exceptional Client Service And Innovation.

Throughout its almost 35-year history, two things have defined HRPro/BenePro – exceptional client service and innovation. Among its earlier innovations: While it is difficult to imagine a market without any of these, HRPro/BenePro helped create new categories when they first dived into them. More recently, they have been focused on...

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT - NOUVEAUX MÉDIAS

CREATION AND NEW MEDIA

A pioneer in university teaching in video games, digital creation and 3D creation, UQAT’s Creation and New Media Teaching and Research Unit has been contributing to the development of the digital and cultural industries for over 20-years. The expertise of the teaching team, based in Montreal and Rouyn-Noranda, is internationally...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC Thrive

Celebrating 15 Years of Leadership, Impact, and Innovation.

Over the past 15 years, SC Thrive has served as our state’s leader in linking South Carolinians with community and essential resources. In partnership with the Palmetto Institute, the BlueCross BlueShield of SC Foundation, and The Duke Endowment, SC Thrive began as a program of the SC Office of Rural...

Ecosystems