Stories of Innovation

Global Innovation Spotlight

From Startup Story to Scalable Product

React logo held in hand representing JavaScript development for startups

The JavaScript Development Gap Most Founders Miss

Every founder has a version of the story: the idea comes together, early users respond well, and the product starts to feel real. The prototype works, the pitch lands, and the roadmap fills up. What tends to get overlooked in that moment is the engineering reality waiting on the other...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Education 2025-2026: new formats, key trends, and the role of Lectera

The field of education is evolving at an unprecedented rate. Technology, new methods, and societal changes are shaping a completely different approach to learning. All of this makes knowledge more accessible and the process itself more flexible and tailored to the needs of each student. This approach is being implemented...

United Nations Lesotho

UNITED NATIONS LESOTHO

MESSAGE BY THE RESIDENT COORDINATOR

Ka lebelo la Ntšoekhe – With the speed of Ntšoekhe and aligned to the call by UN Member States to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, this Cooperation Framework (CF) calls for accelerated pace in decision making, delivering and coordinating of development priorities, while leveraging all available resources,...

INNOVATION Quebec

Le CERMA

CERMA - at the heart of collaborative research

au cœur de la recherche collaborative

Le Centre de recherche sur les matériaux avancés de l’Université Laval (CERMA) à Québec se consacre à des études fondamentales et appliquées visant à développer des matériaux pouvant bénéficier à la société québécoise. Son mandat consiste à faire avancer les connaissances fondamentales et appliquées en science des matériaux, former du...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

GAIRDNER FOUNDATION

GAIRDNER FOUNDATION -WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER

WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER, JAMES GAIRDNER IN 1957

The Foundation awards the annual Canada Gairdner Awards to leading scientists from around the world whose discoveries have had a major impact on scientific progress and human health. The awards are Canada’s only globally recognized international scientific prize. Since 1959, more than 400 scientists from 40 countries have received a...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

NOVAFAST HOLDINGS

BEYOND PIPE DREAMS

Chev. Charles Figallo OAM OSJ is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian-owned private equity business, Novafast Holdings, and its three subsidiaries: DSA, Novafast, and Basetec Services. Based in Kilkenny, South Australia, Novafast Holdings, through its group of companies, offer project management, engineering, design, construction and maintenance services for the...

INNOVATE® Detroit

TREMEC

A Tier 1 Supplier Continuously Innovating and Elevating Performance

TREMEC is a leading manufacturer of high-performance, highly engineered propulsion and driveline systems, subsystems, and componentry supporting conventional, hybrid, and fully electrified vehicles. TREMEC is agile and vertically integrated focusing on niche and moderate-volume applications across abroad spectrum of sectors including passenger car, commercial truck, vocational truck, off-highway heavy-duty, off-road...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

SHOWPIECE VACCINOPOLIS

SHOWPIECE VACCINOPOLIS - OPENS ITS DOORS

OPENS ITS DOORS

A container village on Campus Drie Eiken, in which 30 volunteers took up residence to test polio vaccines, that was the setup for Poliopolis, a study at UAntwerpen conducted within a closed container village on campus, in 2017. To ensure proper follow-up, participants remained in quarantine for 28 days. The...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

CODECOMBAT

CODECOMBAT-How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

At the start of 2021 we launched the CodeCombat AI League. Built on the foundation of our annual CodeQuest competitive coding hackathon, this new and innovative esport was born. The CodeCombat AI League is the first of its kind, part AI battle simulator and part code engine for learning real...

INNOVATE® Georgia

3CI

HAS BEEN EMPOWERING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION WITH PEOPLE, PROCESSES, AND TECHNOLOGY FOROVER 40 YEARS, SERVING ATLANTA AND BEYOND.

Atlanta is quickly emerging as one of the premier tech hubs in the nation. Known for its rich history and vibrant culture, the city is now gaining recognition for its innovative spirit and thriving tech ecosystem. Home to a diverse range of startups, established tech giants, and a robust infrastructure,...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

DeVal Lifecycle Support

Powering Philadelphia’s Defense Industrial Base

In a city defined by its grit and passion, DeVal Lifecycle Support represents the strength of American manufacturing and the people who built it. Headquartered in the Tacony section of Philadelphia for more than 70 years, the company plays a critical role in supporting the U.S. Department of War, manufacturing...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Mom Juice

Wine made with only 8 ingredients or less

Mom Juice is our very own unconventional love story. A blind business lunch date turned into a dynamic friendship, and years later, a lucrative business opportunity that helps us bring women and mothers together over a glass of wine. Because if people are getting together, trust and believe wine will...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

RELIEVEIT

RELIEVEIT-The First Plant-Derived Anti-Inflammatory Drug Discovery Credited To A Black-Owned Company In U.S. History

The First Plant-Derived Anti-Inflammatory Drug Discovery Credited To A Black-Owned Company In U.S. History

What began hundreds of years ago as a pain remedy on the island of diseases reached a staggering 43.5 million. Trinidad has evolved into the United States’ first plant-derived, anti-inflammatory drug discovery credited to a Black-owned company.   RelieveIt is a pain relief medicine and the brainchild of W. Caleb...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NanoBioFAB

Pioneering the Future of Medical Sensing Technology

NanoBioFab blends nanotechnology with artificial intelligence to create innovative solutions for early infection detection and personalized healthcare. Founded by Dr. Xiaonao Liu, this medtech company is revolutionizing the medical industry with its AI-driven smart sensors and high-throughput 3D nano-printing technology. NanoBioFab is on a journey fueled by personal motivation, cutting-edge...

INNOVATE® Miami

Papa

Papa - By connecting older adults to college students

By connecting older adults to college students, we bridge the gap between two distinct generations

Papa is a platform dedicated to solve the loneliness crisis. By connecting older adults to college students, we bridge the gap between two distinct generations. Our enthusiastic students – known as Papa Pals, are considered “Grandkids On-Demand!” to our members. Companionship, assistance, and transportation provided by our pals can be...

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™ Toronto

KPMG-The Art of Turning Bold Ideas Into Game-Changing Realities

Innovation is about harnessing change, testing boundaries, and deciding to lead instead of follow. True, the process is rarely simple (let alone straightforward), but those who take the risk get a chance to write their futures. There’s no “right” path to innovation. As our experiences at KPMG’s Ignition Center reveal...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Zentrix.ai

The Founders of Zentrix.ai Turn Their Passion for Stock Trading and Innovation Into an AI-Powered Stock Insights Platform

Founded in 2024 by Wyatt Johnson and Connor Van Crete, Zentrix.ai brings the tools and confidence of institutional trading to retail stock traders. Wyatt and Connor became interested in the stock market throughout high school, and quickly came to understand how cut-throat it can be. Conducting thorough research and data...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MERIC S. GERTLER

MERIC S. GERTLER PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ” INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE ” “U of T’s remarkable diversity provides both a springboard to social mobility and a superb environment for education, research and innovation.” – MERIC S. GERTLER, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO The strength of Toronto’s higher education, research and innovation enterprise...

INNOVATE® Maryland

Upace

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers

In 2014, Rachel Koretsky founded Upace, which has since skyrocketed to become the top mobile app engagement and reservation platform, supporting over one million members of community recreation centers across the US and Canada. Her journey started at American University, driven by a mission to make going to a recreation...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

SHIFT CAPITAL

INVESTING WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

SHIFT Capital’s Blueprint for Just Communities A Philadelphia-born B Corporation is rewriting the rules of real estate — proving that purpose and profit can build something greater than either alone. In the neighborhoods that have long been overlooked by conventional real estate investment, SHIFT Capital has spent nearly a decade...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

DAILY MAVERICK

DAILY MAVERICK- SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

Innovation is the lifeblood of Daily Maverick – from its origins as a print magazine featuring long-form current affairs, to its current form as a digital news publisher with more than five million unique visitors every month.   Founded by Editor-in-chief Branko Brkic and CEO Styli Charalambous in 2009, eagle-eyed...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Bradley

The Legal Architects Behind Innovation

A construction supervisor reviews jobsite footage delivered remotely by an onsite robot. In a rural hospital, a patient’s MRI is uploaded to an online portal, where a specialist on the other side of the country reviews it. An aviation breakthrough gains patent protection to power the next generation of supersonic...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Prince Concepts

Transforming Space, Elevating Detroit

Prince Concepts isn’t simply in the business of real estate—it’s in the business of transformation. Led by visionary developer Philip Kafka, this firm is rewriting the rules of urban development, turning overlooked spaces into thriving, purpose-driven communities. With a philosophy that values space as a living, breathing entity rather than...

Global Innovation Spotlight

From Startup Story to Scalable Product

React logo held in hand representing JavaScript development for startups

The JavaScript Development Gap Most Founders Miss

Every founder has a version of the story: the idea comes together, early users respond well, and the product starts to feel real. The prototype works, the pitch lands, and the roadmap fills up. What tends to get overlooked in that moment is the engineering reality waiting on the other...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Education 2025-2026: new formats, key trends, and the role of Lectera

The field of education is evolving at an unprecedented rate. Technology, new methods, and societal changes are shaping a completely different approach to learning. All of this makes knowledge more accessible and the process itself more flexible and tailored to the needs of each student. This approach is being implemented...

United Nations Lesotho

UNITED NATIONS LESOTHO

MESSAGE BY THE RESIDENT COORDINATOR

Ka lebelo la Ntšoekhe – With the speed of Ntšoekhe and aligned to the call by UN Member States to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, this Cooperation Framework (CF) calls for accelerated pace in decision making, delivering and coordinating of development priorities, while leveraging all available resources,...

INNOVATION Quebec

Le CERMA

CERMA - at the heart of collaborative research

au cœur de la recherche collaborative

Le Centre de recherche sur les matériaux avancés de l’Université Laval (CERMA) à Québec se consacre à des études fondamentales et appliquées visant à développer des matériaux pouvant bénéficier à la société québécoise. Son mandat consiste à faire avancer les connaissances fondamentales et appliquées en science des matériaux, former du...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

GAIRDNER FOUNDATION

GAIRDNER FOUNDATION -WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER

WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER, JAMES GAIRDNER IN 1957

The Foundation awards the annual Canada Gairdner Awards to leading scientists from around the world whose discoveries have had a major impact on scientific progress and human health. The awards are Canada’s only globally recognized international scientific prize. Since 1959, more than 400 scientists from 40 countries have received a...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

NOVAFAST HOLDINGS

BEYOND PIPE DREAMS

Chev. Charles Figallo OAM OSJ is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian-owned private equity business, Novafast Holdings, and its three subsidiaries: DSA, Novafast, and Basetec Services. Based in Kilkenny, South Australia, Novafast Holdings, through its group of companies, offer project management, engineering, design, construction and maintenance services for the...

INNOVATE® Detroit

TREMEC

A Tier 1 Supplier Continuously Innovating and Elevating Performance

TREMEC is a leading manufacturer of high-performance, highly engineered propulsion and driveline systems, subsystems, and componentry supporting conventional, hybrid, and fully electrified vehicles. TREMEC is agile and vertically integrated focusing on niche and moderate-volume applications across abroad spectrum of sectors including passenger car, commercial truck, vocational truck, off-highway heavy-duty, off-road...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

SHOWPIECE VACCINOPOLIS

SHOWPIECE VACCINOPOLIS - OPENS ITS DOORS

OPENS ITS DOORS

A container village on Campus Drie Eiken, in which 30 volunteers took up residence to test polio vaccines, that was the setup for Poliopolis, a study at UAntwerpen conducted within a closed container village on campus, in 2017. To ensure proper follow-up, participants remained in quarantine for 28 days. The...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

CODECOMBAT

CODECOMBAT-How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

At the start of 2021 we launched the CodeCombat AI League. Built on the foundation of our annual CodeQuest competitive coding hackathon, this new and innovative esport was born. The CodeCombat AI League is the first of its kind, part AI battle simulator and part code engine for learning real...

INNOVATE® Georgia

3CI

HAS BEEN EMPOWERING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION WITH PEOPLE, PROCESSES, AND TECHNOLOGY FOROVER 40 YEARS, SERVING ATLANTA AND BEYOND.

Atlanta is quickly emerging as one of the premier tech hubs in the nation. Known for its rich history and vibrant culture, the city is now gaining recognition for its innovative spirit and thriving tech ecosystem. Home to a diverse range of startups, established tech giants, and a robust infrastructure,...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

DeVal Lifecycle Support

Powering Philadelphia’s Defense Industrial Base

In a city defined by its grit and passion, DeVal Lifecycle Support represents the strength of American manufacturing and the people who built it. Headquartered in the Tacony section of Philadelphia for more than 70 years, the company plays a critical role in supporting the U.S. Department of War, manufacturing...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Mom Juice

Wine made with only 8 ingredients or less

Mom Juice is our very own unconventional love story. A blind business lunch date turned into a dynamic friendship, and years later, a lucrative business opportunity that helps us bring women and mothers together over a glass of wine. Because if people are getting together, trust and believe wine will...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

RELIEVEIT

RELIEVEIT-The First Plant-Derived Anti-Inflammatory Drug Discovery Credited To A Black-Owned Company In U.S. History

The First Plant-Derived Anti-Inflammatory Drug Discovery Credited To A Black-Owned Company In U.S. History

What began hundreds of years ago as a pain remedy on the island of diseases reached a staggering 43.5 million. Trinidad has evolved into the United States’ first plant-derived, anti-inflammatory drug discovery credited to a Black-owned company.   RelieveIt is a pain relief medicine and the brainchild of W. Caleb...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NanoBioFAB

Pioneering the Future of Medical Sensing Technology

NanoBioFab blends nanotechnology with artificial intelligence to create innovative solutions for early infection detection and personalized healthcare. Founded by Dr. Xiaonao Liu, this medtech company is revolutionizing the medical industry with its AI-driven smart sensors and high-throughput 3D nano-printing technology. NanoBioFab is on a journey fueled by personal motivation, cutting-edge...

INNOVATE® Miami

Papa

Papa - By connecting older adults to college students

By connecting older adults to college students, we bridge the gap between two distinct generations

Papa is a platform dedicated to solve the loneliness crisis. By connecting older adults to college students, we bridge the gap between two distinct generations. Our enthusiastic students – known as Papa Pals, are considered “Grandkids On-Demand!” to our members. Companionship, assistance, and transportation provided by our pals can be...

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™ Toronto

KPMG-The Art of Turning Bold Ideas Into Game-Changing Realities

Innovation is about harnessing change, testing boundaries, and deciding to lead instead of follow. True, the process is rarely simple (let alone straightforward), but those who take the risk get a chance to write their futures. There’s no “right” path to innovation. As our experiences at KPMG’s Ignition Center reveal...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Zentrix.ai

The Founders of Zentrix.ai Turn Their Passion for Stock Trading and Innovation Into an AI-Powered Stock Insights Platform

Founded in 2024 by Wyatt Johnson and Connor Van Crete, Zentrix.ai brings the tools and confidence of institutional trading to retail stock traders. Wyatt and Connor became interested in the stock market throughout high school, and quickly came to understand how cut-throat it can be. Conducting thorough research and data...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MERIC S. GERTLER

MERIC S. GERTLER PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ” INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE ” “U of T’s remarkable diversity provides both a springboard to social mobility and a superb environment for education, research and innovation.” – MERIC S. GERTLER, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO The strength of Toronto’s higher education, research and innovation enterprise...

INNOVATE® Maryland

Upace

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers

In 2014, Rachel Koretsky founded Upace, which has since skyrocketed to become the top mobile app engagement and reservation platform, supporting over one million members of community recreation centers across the US and Canada. Her journey started at American University, driven by a mission to make going to a recreation...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

SHIFT CAPITAL

INVESTING WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

SHIFT Capital’s Blueprint for Just Communities A Philadelphia-born B Corporation is rewriting the rules of real estate — proving that purpose and profit can build something greater than either alone. In the neighborhoods that have long been overlooked by conventional real estate investment, SHIFT Capital has spent nearly a decade...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

DAILY MAVERICK

DAILY MAVERICK- SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

Innovation is the lifeblood of Daily Maverick – from its origins as a print magazine featuring long-form current affairs, to its current form as a digital news publisher with more than five million unique visitors every month.   Founded by Editor-in-chief Branko Brkic and CEO Styli Charalambous in 2009, eagle-eyed...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Bradley

The Legal Architects Behind Innovation

A construction supervisor reviews jobsite footage delivered remotely by an onsite robot. In a rural hospital, a patient’s MRI is uploaded to an online portal, where a specialist on the other side of the country reviews it. An aviation breakthrough gains patent protection to power the next generation of supersonic...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Prince Concepts

Transforming Space, Elevating Detroit

Prince Concepts isn’t simply in the business of real estate—it’s in the business of transformation. Led by visionary developer Philip Kafka, this firm is rewriting the rules of urban development, turning overlooked spaces into thriving, purpose-driven communities. With a philosophy that values space as a living, breathing entity rather than...

Ecosystems