Stories of Innovation

INNOVATION Quebec

NERGICA

CCTT EN ÉNERGIES RENOUVELABLES

Nergica est un centre de recherche appliquée qui stimule l’innovation en matière d’énergies renouvelables à travers des activités de recherche, d’aide technique, de transfert technologique et d’accompagnement aux entreprises et aux collectivités. Sa mission : accélérer le développement et l’adoption des énergies renouvelables. Nergica se spécialise dans le développement de...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

STEADFAST

MAKING IT WORK

Steadfast began in 1998 as an internet-technology passion project for Steadfast’s Founder, Karl Zimmerman, when he was only 14 years old. Karl’s dream to help companies with their data hosting and security needs started early on, and through these relationships, Karl learned there was a frustrating gap with many hosting...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ELECTROLUX GROUP

SHAPING LIVING FOR THE BETTER FOR OVER A CENTURY

Since 1996 in Curitiba, the city is a hub for global innovation in home appliances. Founded in 1919 by Axel Wenner-Gren in Sweden and present in more than 120 countries, Electrolux Group is a global leader in household and professional appliances. For over a century, the company has been dedicated...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TECPAR

IS A REFERENCE IN THE HEALTH AREA AND IN SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGICAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Paraná Institute of Technology (TECPAR), a public company of the State Government founded in 1940, is a science and technology institute that, with its technical staff, supports innovation and technological, economic and social development in Paraná and Brazil. TECPAR is present with two units in the city of Curitiba....

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

MKE TECH HUB

A LEGACY OF INNOVATION DRIVING A FUTURE OF IMPACT

Shaped by a rich industrial legacy, Milwaukee is evolving into a beacon of modern innovation. With biohealth, AI, water, energy technology, smart manufacturing, and financial services leading the way, Milwaukee’s dynamic ecosystem is not only thriving, but attracting attention from investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators worldwide. Here, tradition meets technology, and...

INNOVATE® Nashville

All American Sitters

Redefining Childcare

In an industry often viewed as a basic necessity rather than a specialized service, All American Sitters has emerged as a true innovator in the world of childcare. Founded by Mrs. Teresa Bowens, a professional with more than two decades of hands-on experience, the company has transformed the way families...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Clear Guidelines Reduce Online Risk

Well-structured online safety guidelines help reduce risk by establishing consistent expectations for behaviour and the use of secure technology. When organisations articulate their responsibilities clearly (whether to staff, students, customers, or platform users), they improve compliance and address threats proactively. These guidelines also help users recognise unsafe situations.  Strong policies...

INNOVATION Quebec

INO

FAIRE LA LUMIÈRE ET CONCRÉTISER L’INNOVATION

INO est le plus important centre d’expertise en optique-photonique au Canada et compte parmi les meilleurs centres d’innovation industrielle au monde. Depuis 35 ans, l’organisation crée et développe des solutions innovantes et pertinentes pour répondre aux besoins d’entreprises québécoises et canadiennes. Grâce à des applications multiples de la lumière, du...

INNOVATE® Miami

Pathwaves

Pathwaves - Providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment

Providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment

Pathwaves is a Miami-based Biopsychology Digital Therapeutics company providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment combined with timeless cognitive behavioral therapy and/or coaching techniques. Neural Empowerment is their proprietary process which begins with a Quantification of Mental Function. A vision for the future “Our goal...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

INFORMA FINANCIAL

THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ROUNDED TOTAL BENEFITS EXPERIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW

INFORMA FINANCIAL – THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ROUNDED TOTAL BENEFITS EXPERIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. Informa’s founder, Cliff Pipke, began this business out of a desire to help service the insurance needs of families, as well as those of the small business owner. As Informa’s...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

SLA-STEPHANE LAROYE ARCHITECT INC

Boutique Vancouver architectural firm committed to collaborative design and mixed-use projects using engineered wood solutions. The boutique architectural firm of SLA (Stephane Laroye Architect Inc.) is a Vancouver-based architectural firm focused on collaborative design with a passion for Passive House and engineered wood solutions in British Columbia. Established in 2016,...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

LEVEL EX

Playing Is Training: Chicago’s Gaming And Healthcare Legacies Meet At Level Ex

Today, Level Ex has 750,000 medical professionals playing its games to advance their skills and earn Continuing Medical Education (CME). The story of how it changed the way medicine is learned and practiced is as much an ode to Chicago as it is a start-up success story....

INNOVATE® Nashville

EXTREMIS

ON THE SPECTRUM

“Imagine a world where everything that can be connected will be connected – where driverless cars talk to smart transportation networks and where sensors can monitor your health and transmit data to your doctor. That’s a snapshot of what the 5g world will look like.” – Ajit Pai, Former FCC...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

AUCHAN RETAIL PORTUGAL

AUCHAN RETAIL PORTUGAL-Global And Family Group

Global And Family Group

Auchan Retail is a global and family group, a people-centred company, a historic distributor and a next generation retailer present in 13 countries. In Portugal Auchan claims to be a militant brand of what is “Bom, São e Local” (Good, Healthy and Local). This is a movement that invests in...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

ULTRAZONIC

ULTRAZONIC- MEDICAL SCOOP TACKLES CURRENT CONTAMINATION WOES

MEDICAL SCOOP TACKLES CURRENT CONTAMINATION WOES

UltraZonic has received a true (medical) world premiere. This Belgian company, specialized in innovative medical cleaning devices, has developed the first semi-automatic pre-cleaner for flexible endoscopes. Not the biggest luxury invention, knowing that endoscopes are popular hotbeds for several bacteria. “Due to great time pressure, staff often miss important cleaning...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Explainable Is Too Soft:

in 2026 We Need Forensic Audit Trails in Medical AI

The epiphany didn’t come from a breakthrough in model architecture or a surge in accuracy metrics. It came from watching a physiotherapist from Lviv stare blankly at a screen. Dmytro Grybeniuk and Oleh Ivchenko, specialists in machine learning infrastructure, were attending the MedAI hackathon at Odesa National Polytechnic University not...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

TALE+

TALE+ -A group of bilingual speech-language pathologists dedicated to helping others communicate better

A group of bilingual speech-language pathologists dedicated to helping others communicate better

TALE+ is a teletherapy company made up of a group of licensed, bilingual, speech language pathologists whose mission is to help others be more confident in their language of choice, while also supporting the professional growth of speech pathologists. Founded and based in Puerto Rico, TALE+’s focus is twofold: expanding...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

WUNDERMAN THOMPSON

WUNDERMAN THOMPSON-BUILDING GROWTH FOR AMBITIOUS BRANDS

BUILDING GROWTH FOR AMBITIOUS BRANDS

Something has changed in the last two years in Puerto Rico, and we are not talking about the pandemic. J. Walter Thompson, a pioneer agency in strategy and creativity, merged with Wunderman, a leading agency in data and technology. In 2019, Wunderman Thompson Puerto Rico was born, an agency that...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

UNBOUNDED THINKING

FROM BUZZWORD TO BLUEPRINT: Unbounded Thinking’s Structured Approach to Innovation

In the broad and often nebulous world of innovation, one company in Alberta aims to change how we think about innovation with its unique approach: Unbounded Thinking. With a mission to transform ‘innovation’ from a vague buzzword into a scientific discipline, the team at Unbounded Thinking brings a refreshing perspective...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

Atlantic Fintech

A Rising Star in Canada's Fintech Scene

Atlantic Fintech is a catalyst for growth in the financial technology sector across the four Atlantic Canadian provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. This sector initiative aims to accelerate the industry’s expansion by building a connected global network of founders and experts and forming...

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT - NOUVEAUX MÉDIAS

CRÉATION ET NOUVEAUX MÉDIAS

Précurseur dans le domaine de l’enseignement universitaire en jeu vidéo, en création numérique et en création 3D, l’unité d’enseignement et de recherche en création et nouveaux médias de l’UQAT participe au développement des industries numériques et culturelles depuis plus de 20 ans. Répartie entre Montréal et Rouyn-Noranda, l’expertise de l’équipe...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ENTERPRISE ESTONIA

INNOVATING FOR A FUTURE-PROOF TOMORROW

Known for its vast forests, thousands of islands, and strong traditions, Estonia has, in just thirty years, built a thriving liberal democracy and become one of the world’s most advanced digital societies. As Estonia continues to innovate, Enterprise Estonia plays a key role in supporting the country’s business environment by...

INNOVATION Quebec

THE CENTER FOR FOREST RESEARCH (CFR)

THE CENTER FOR FOREST RESEARCH (CFR) – IS A STRATEGIC CLUSTER THAT HAS BEEN FUNDEDBY THE FONDS DE RECHERCHE DU QUÉBEC-NATURE ET TECHNOLOGIES (FRQNT) SINCE 2006. It is the only research group in Quebec whose central mission is advanced training in forest research. The scientific mission of the CFR is...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

ORBIT MEDIA STUDIOS

ORBIT MEDIA STUDIOS-Web Design

Web Design, Development and Optimization with Deep Roots in the City of Chicago

They both grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and met in high school. When Barrett Lombardo and Andy Crestodina graduated, they headed off to the University of Iowa together.   They shared a dorm room and one of those boxy Macintosh computers. It was the early 1990s. Most people...

INNOVATION Quebec

NERGICA

CCTT EN ÉNERGIES RENOUVELABLES

Nergica est un centre de recherche appliquée qui stimule l’innovation en matière d’énergies renouvelables à travers des activités de recherche, d’aide technique, de transfert technologique et d’accompagnement aux entreprises et aux collectivités. Sa mission : accélérer le développement et l’adoption des énergies renouvelables. Nergica se spécialise dans le développement de...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

STEADFAST

MAKING IT WORK

Steadfast began in 1998 as an internet-technology passion project for Steadfast’s Founder, Karl Zimmerman, when he was only 14 years old. Karl’s dream to help companies with their data hosting and security needs started early on, and through these relationships, Karl learned there was a frustrating gap with many hosting...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ELECTROLUX GROUP

SHAPING LIVING FOR THE BETTER FOR OVER A CENTURY

Since 1996 in Curitiba, the city is a hub for global innovation in home appliances. Founded in 1919 by Axel Wenner-Gren in Sweden and present in more than 120 countries, Electrolux Group is a global leader in household and professional appliances. For over a century, the company has been dedicated...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TECPAR

IS A REFERENCE IN THE HEALTH AREA AND IN SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGICAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Paraná Institute of Technology (TECPAR), a public company of the State Government founded in 1940, is a science and technology institute that, with its technical staff, supports innovation and technological, economic and social development in Paraná and Brazil. TECPAR is present with two units in the city of Curitiba....

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

MKE TECH HUB

A LEGACY OF INNOVATION DRIVING A FUTURE OF IMPACT

Shaped by a rich industrial legacy, Milwaukee is evolving into a beacon of modern innovation. With biohealth, AI, water, energy technology, smart manufacturing, and financial services leading the way, Milwaukee’s dynamic ecosystem is not only thriving, but attracting attention from investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators worldwide. Here, tradition meets technology, and...

INNOVATE® Nashville

All American Sitters

Redefining Childcare

In an industry often viewed as a basic necessity rather than a specialized service, All American Sitters has emerged as a true innovator in the world of childcare. Founded by Mrs. Teresa Bowens, a professional with more than two decades of hands-on experience, the company has transformed the way families...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Clear Guidelines Reduce Online Risk

Well-structured online safety guidelines help reduce risk by establishing consistent expectations for behaviour and the use of secure technology. When organisations articulate their responsibilities clearly (whether to staff, students, customers, or platform users), they improve compliance and address threats proactively. These guidelines also help users recognise unsafe situations.  Strong policies...

INNOVATION Quebec

INO

FAIRE LA LUMIÈRE ET CONCRÉTISER L’INNOVATION

INO est le plus important centre d’expertise en optique-photonique au Canada et compte parmi les meilleurs centres d’innovation industrielle au monde. Depuis 35 ans, l’organisation crée et développe des solutions innovantes et pertinentes pour répondre aux besoins d’entreprises québécoises et canadiennes. Grâce à des applications multiples de la lumière, du...

INNOVATE® Miami

Pathwaves

Pathwaves - Providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment

Providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment

Pathwaves is a Miami-based Biopsychology Digital Therapeutics company providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment combined with timeless cognitive behavioral therapy and/or coaching techniques. Neural Empowerment is their proprietary process which begins with a Quantification of Mental Function. A vision for the future “Our goal...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

INFORMA FINANCIAL

THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ROUNDED TOTAL BENEFITS EXPERIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW

INFORMA FINANCIAL – THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ROUNDED TOTAL BENEFITS EXPERIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. Informa’s founder, Cliff Pipke, began this business out of a desire to help service the insurance needs of families, as well as those of the small business owner. As Informa’s...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

SLA-STEPHANE LAROYE ARCHITECT INC

Boutique Vancouver architectural firm committed to collaborative design and mixed-use projects using engineered wood solutions. The boutique architectural firm of SLA (Stephane Laroye Architect Inc.) is a Vancouver-based architectural firm focused on collaborative design with a passion for Passive House and engineered wood solutions in British Columbia. Established in 2016,...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

LEVEL EX

Playing Is Training: Chicago’s Gaming And Healthcare Legacies Meet At Level Ex

Today, Level Ex has 750,000 medical professionals playing its games to advance their skills and earn Continuing Medical Education (CME). The story of how it changed the way medicine is learned and practiced is as much an ode to Chicago as it is a start-up success story....

INNOVATE® Nashville

EXTREMIS

ON THE SPECTRUM

“Imagine a world where everything that can be connected will be connected – where driverless cars talk to smart transportation networks and where sensors can monitor your health and transmit data to your doctor. That’s a snapshot of what the 5g world will look like.” – Ajit Pai, Former FCC...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

AUCHAN RETAIL PORTUGAL

AUCHAN RETAIL PORTUGAL-Global And Family Group

Global And Family Group

Auchan Retail is a global and family group, a people-centred company, a historic distributor and a next generation retailer present in 13 countries. In Portugal Auchan claims to be a militant brand of what is “Bom, São e Local” (Good, Healthy and Local). This is a movement that invests in...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

ULTRAZONIC

ULTRAZONIC- MEDICAL SCOOP TACKLES CURRENT CONTAMINATION WOES

MEDICAL SCOOP TACKLES CURRENT CONTAMINATION WOES

UltraZonic has received a true (medical) world premiere. This Belgian company, specialized in innovative medical cleaning devices, has developed the first semi-automatic pre-cleaner for flexible endoscopes. Not the biggest luxury invention, knowing that endoscopes are popular hotbeds for several bacteria. “Due to great time pressure, staff often miss important cleaning...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Explainable Is Too Soft:

in 2026 We Need Forensic Audit Trails in Medical AI

The epiphany didn’t come from a breakthrough in model architecture or a surge in accuracy metrics. It came from watching a physiotherapist from Lviv stare blankly at a screen. Dmytro Grybeniuk and Oleh Ivchenko, specialists in machine learning infrastructure, were attending the MedAI hackathon at Odesa National Polytechnic University not...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

TALE+

TALE+ -A group of bilingual speech-language pathologists dedicated to helping others communicate better

A group of bilingual speech-language pathologists dedicated to helping others communicate better

TALE+ is a teletherapy company made up of a group of licensed, bilingual, speech language pathologists whose mission is to help others be more confident in their language of choice, while also supporting the professional growth of speech pathologists. Founded and based in Puerto Rico, TALE+’s focus is twofold: expanding...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

WUNDERMAN THOMPSON

WUNDERMAN THOMPSON-BUILDING GROWTH FOR AMBITIOUS BRANDS

BUILDING GROWTH FOR AMBITIOUS BRANDS

Something has changed in the last two years in Puerto Rico, and we are not talking about the pandemic. J. Walter Thompson, a pioneer agency in strategy and creativity, merged with Wunderman, a leading agency in data and technology. In 2019, Wunderman Thompson Puerto Rico was born, an agency that...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

UNBOUNDED THINKING

FROM BUZZWORD TO BLUEPRINT: Unbounded Thinking’s Structured Approach to Innovation

In the broad and often nebulous world of innovation, one company in Alberta aims to change how we think about innovation with its unique approach: Unbounded Thinking. With a mission to transform ‘innovation’ from a vague buzzword into a scientific discipline, the team at Unbounded Thinking brings a refreshing perspective...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

Atlantic Fintech

A Rising Star in Canada's Fintech Scene

Atlantic Fintech is a catalyst for growth in the financial technology sector across the four Atlantic Canadian provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. This sector initiative aims to accelerate the industry’s expansion by building a connected global network of founders and experts and forming...

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT - NOUVEAUX MÉDIAS

CRÉATION ET NOUVEAUX MÉDIAS

Précurseur dans le domaine de l’enseignement universitaire en jeu vidéo, en création numérique et en création 3D, l’unité d’enseignement et de recherche en création et nouveaux médias de l’UQAT participe au développement des industries numériques et culturelles depuis plus de 20 ans. Répartie entre Montréal et Rouyn-Noranda, l’expertise de l’équipe...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ENTERPRISE ESTONIA

INNOVATING FOR A FUTURE-PROOF TOMORROW

Known for its vast forests, thousands of islands, and strong traditions, Estonia has, in just thirty years, built a thriving liberal democracy and become one of the world’s most advanced digital societies. As Estonia continues to innovate, Enterprise Estonia plays a key role in supporting the country’s business environment by...

INNOVATION Quebec

THE CENTER FOR FOREST RESEARCH (CFR)

THE CENTER FOR FOREST RESEARCH (CFR) – IS A STRATEGIC CLUSTER THAT HAS BEEN FUNDEDBY THE FONDS DE RECHERCHE DU QUÉBEC-NATURE ET TECHNOLOGIES (FRQNT) SINCE 2006. It is the only research group in Quebec whose central mission is advanced training in forest research. The scientific mission of the CFR is...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

ORBIT MEDIA STUDIOS

ORBIT MEDIA STUDIOS-Web Design

Web Design, Development and Optimization with Deep Roots in the City of Chicago

They both grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and met in high school. When Barrett Lombardo and Andy Crestodina graduated, they headed off to the University of Iowa together.   They shared a dorm room and one of those boxy Macintosh computers. It was the early 1990s. Most people...

Ecosystems