Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Flanders

AZ Zeno

Innovation with a heart: Merging Technology and Compassionate Care

In a constantly evolving healthcare environment, the general hospital AZ Zeno takes a resolute, forward-thinking approach in which innovation and humanity go hand in hand. From robotic surgery to integrative care, from artificial intelligence to health hubs – AZ Zeno combines cutting-edge technology with genuine attention to the human being...

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...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

TRIPLE S

TRIPLE S-Pushing the boundaries of healthcare

Pushing the boundaries of healthcare

As a leading healthcare company in Puerto Rico, serving 1 in 3 people, Triple-S seeks to connect people to the health solutions they need, when and where they need them. In 2022, Triple-S launched a long-term initiative to address social isolation and loneliness in Puerto Rico. At its first symposium...

INNOVATION Quebec

PARI-G

REGIONAL SUPPORT PLATFORM FOR INNOVATION – ENGINEERING (PARI-G)

The need for companies to innovate is no longer to be demonstrated in a world where product development is happening on increasingly shorter cycles and where competition is more intense and less predictable. Innovation, whether it is related to the company’s products or its processes and equipment, is essential. Recognizing...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

LOGGERHEAD TOOLS

LOGGERHEAD TOOLS- Award-Winning American Innovation

Award-Winning American Innovation

LoggerHead Tools’ mission is to create innovative hand tools manufactured in America. The company’s flagship product is the Bionic Wrench™, a tool that combines the convenience of pliers with the performance of a wrench. The company launched the Bionic Wrench at the National Hardware Show in 2005 and has since...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Voyager Capital

INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHERE INNOVATION MEETS GROWTH.

INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHEREINNOVATION MEETS GROWTH. Voyager Capital thrives on working with early-stage entrepreneurs who drive innovation and take risks to create new markets. Founded in 1997 in Seattle, WA, Voyager is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in B2B companies in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. When you...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

A BEACON OF INNOVATION

Just minutes from downtown Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is one of the top research universities in the nation, and one of only two top-rated research universities in the state. Serving as a bridge between academia and industry, UWM does more than just ensure that all students have equitable...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Bluewave

Bluewave Technologies

Deodorize Items With Its Proprietary Ozone Infusion Technology

BLUEWAVE Technologies is a healthtech startup and the creator of the BLUEWAVE, a device that can deodorize items with its proprietary ozone infusion technology in as little as 5 minutes, without using any water, detergents, or added  chemicals. The device is completely closed loop and filters out all of the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Rise of Audiobooks and AI: Transforming the Way We Read

Once, reading was a quiet act. A private conversation between you and the page. Now? That’s changing. Audiobooks have crashed through the library doors, and artificial intelligence is riding shotgun. In 2023, the global audiobook market was valued at over $8 billion. By 2032, some projections place it above $35...

INNOVATE® Nashville

NASACLIP

REINVENTING EMERGENCY CARE, ONE NOSEBLEED AT A TIME.

When Dr. Liz Clayborne was a resident in emergency medicine, she noticed something that would change her career trajectory. “I was struck by the number of people who came to the ER for nosebleeds. There are more than 500,000 visits to the ER annually in the U.S.,” she recalls. To...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

ClearlyAgile

A Custom Mobile And Web Application Development Firm Based In Tampa

Nominated for Technology Project of the Year and a finalist for the Technologist and Technology Leader of the Year by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, ClearlyAgile is a custom mobile and web application development firm based in Tampa, FL founded by Fred Mastropasqua and Edmund Gorski. “Our goal is to...

Practical AI for Non-Techies

Fireflies.AI

The AI-Powered Meeting Assistant That Works While You Work

How to Use Fireflies.ai: The AI-Powered Meeting Assistant That Works While You Work In today’s fast-paced work environment, meetings can feel overwhelming. Managing note-taking, tracking tasks, and ensuring follow-ups can quickly become chaotic. Enter Fireflies.ai, the AI-powered meeting assistant designed to streamline your workflow by automating the most tedious aspects...

Global Innovation Spotlight

CHAPTER

For nearly every retiring American, Medicare is both universal and universally complex

For nearly every retiring American, Medicare is both universal and universally complex. Yet, Medicare enrollment remains broken, and the program is near-impossible to navigate. Anyone who has signed up for Medicare or helped a loved one knows this reality firsthand. The problem is so bad that nearly 40% of the...

INNOVATION Quebec

LE « RÉSEAU SDG INNOVATION™ NETWORK »

Grâce à un leadership de huit institutions universitaires québécoises, le Réseau SmartDigital-Green Innovation™ (SDGInnov), un premier au Canada, a été créé le 16 janvier 2019, dans l’optique de répondre à des besoins industriels nécessitant la collaboration interuniversitaire en recherche et développement (R&D), ainsi que la formation de personnel hautement qualifié...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Duolingo

Duolingo's Detroit Journey: From Gunner to Hobbes and Animated Innovation.

In Detroit, two motion design studios were making waves in the animation world: Gunner, known for its bold illustration and character animation, and Hobbes, a leader in product-driven animation. The companies earned reputations for creativity and emotional intelligence, collaborating with high-profile clients for years. However, everything changed when Duolingo—the world’s...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FRESH CITY

FRESH CITY- CONNECTING TORONTONIANS WITH SUSTAINABLE FARMING & QUALITY FOOD

CONNECTING TORONTONIANS WITH SUSTAINABLE FARMING & QUALITY FOOD

Fresh City is an award-winning urban farm and omnichannel retailer. With the recent addition of Mama Earth to our family of brands that includes Mabel’s Bakery and The Healthy Butcher, Fresh City is now the largest organic online retailer in Ontario. After a decade, the impact and belief in our...

INNOVATE® Miami

500 Startups

500 Startups - Discovering And Backing The World's Most Talented Entrepreneurs

Discovering And Backing The World's Most Talented Entrepreneurs

500 Startups is a venture capital firm on a mission to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems. It is one of the most active venture capital firms in the world. Ana Paula Gonzalez, Innovation & Partnerships...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

FORECHECK

FORECHECK-THE SECRET WEAPON IN WINNING THE CYBERCRIME WAR

THE SECRET WEAPON IN WINNING THE CYBERCRIME WAR

Cyber security is an arms race that is positioned to continue indefinitely. New technologies are constantly emerging to combat cyber criminals, but regardless, criminals discover how to exploit them. Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and other security-focused vendors detect many of these attacks and alert their customers and the community,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MASICORP

MASICORP -SUPPORTING EDUCATION IN MASIPHUMELELE – REAL CHANGE IS A TEAM EFFORT

SUPPORTING EDUCATION IN MASIPHUMELELE – REAL CHANGE IS A TEAM EFFORT

It all began with a visit to the Masiphumelele township in Cape Town, in 1999, when John and Carol Thompson from the US, were holidaying in South Africa, and ventured inside what was previously known as ‘’Site 5’’. Like most townships in South Africa, Masi (short for Masiphumelele) was established...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

HUNTER HUB FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING

THE HUNTER FAMILY & THE CREATION OF THE HUNTER HUB

THE HISTORY OF THE HUNTER HUB FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKINGThe Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking was founded in 2017 with a $40 million donation from the Hunter Family Foundation, marking one of the largest donations in the University of Calgary’s history. The Hunter Hub’s purpose is to spread entrepreneurial thinking throughout...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MANAGINGLIFE

MANAGINGLIFE- PUTTING INNOVATION IN THE HANDS OF CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS

PUTTING INNOVATION IN THE HANDS OF CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS

Chronic pain affects approximately 1 in 5 people and is one of the most difficult to treat chronic conditions. It’s a leading reason people seek healthcare, use opioid medication, and go on disability. Often referred to as the silent epidemic, the burden of chronic pain carries immense costs to individuals,...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

VERSITI

BEYOND THE BLOOD CENTER – INNOVATING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF BLOOD HEALTH

BEYOND THE BLOOD CENTER – INNOVATING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF BLOOD HEALTH Versiti has established itself as a leader in blood health innovation and clinical testing services for clinicians, health care providers, and researchers. Originally founded as a community blood banking initiative in 1947, the organization now known as Versiti,...

INNOVATION Quebec

ZONE AGTECH

STIMULER L’ÉMERGENCE ET PROPULSER LESTECHNOLOGIES AGRICOLES INNOVANTES DU QUÉBEC

Depuis 2020, le Québec fait figure de pionnier dans le domaine des technologies agricoles innovantes et des bioproduits végétaux grâce au développement de la Zone Agtech, un écosystème d’innovation localisé situé près de la Ville de Montréal dans la MRC de L’Assomption. Sa mission ? Intensifier le développement de technologies...

INNOVATION Quebec

GREENUXLAB

A LAB THAT CREATES A FICTIONAL RETAIL ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO PREDICT SHOPPING BEHAVIOUR

Launched in the fall of 2018, the GreenUXlab is an ecosystem for co-creation, research, evaluation of devices, and point-of-sale innovation aimed at positive impact consumption. It serves as the main research infrastructure of ESG UQAM’s Observatoire de la consommation responsable (Responsible Consumption Observatory), a study and strategic watch unit focused...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

AZ Zeno

Innovation with a heart: Merging Technology and Compassionate Care

In a constantly evolving healthcare environment, the general hospital AZ Zeno takes a resolute, forward-thinking approach in which innovation and humanity go hand in hand. From robotic surgery to integrative care, from artificial intelligence to health hubs – AZ Zeno combines cutting-edge technology with genuine attention to the human being...

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...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

TRIPLE S

TRIPLE S-Pushing the boundaries of healthcare

Pushing the boundaries of healthcare

As a leading healthcare company in Puerto Rico, serving 1 in 3 people, Triple-S seeks to connect people to the health solutions they need, when and where they need them. In 2022, Triple-S launched a long-term initiative to address social isolation and loneliness in Puerto Rico. At its first symposium...

INNOVATION Quebec

PARI-G

REGIONAL SUPPORT PLATFORM FOR INNOVATION – ENGINEERING (PARI-G)

The need for companies to innovate is no longer to be demonstrated in a world where product development is happening on increasingly shorter cycles and where competition is more intense and less predictable. Innovation, whether it is related to the company’s products or its processes and equipment, is essential. Recognizing...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

LOGGERHEAD TOOLS

LOGGERHEAD TOOLS- Award-Winning American Innovation

Award-Winning American Innovation

LoggerHead Tools’ mission is to create innovative hand tools manufactured in America. The company’s flagship product is the Bionic Wrench™, a tool that combines the convenience of pliers with the performance of a wrench. The company launched the Bionic Wrench at the National Hardware Show in 2005 and has since...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Voyager Capital

INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHERE INNOVATION MEETS GROWTH.

INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHEREINNOVATION MEETS GROWTH. Voyager Capital thrives on working with early-stage entrepreneurs who drive innovation and take risks to create new markets. Founded in 1997 in Seattle, WA, Voyager is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in B2B companies in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. When you...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

A BEACON OF INNOVATION

Just minutes from downtown Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is one of the top research universities in the nation, and one of only two top-rated research universities in the state. Serving as a bridge between academia and industry, UWM does more than just ensure that all students have equitable...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Bluewave

Bluewave Technologies

Deodorize Items With Its Proprietary Ozone Infusion Technology

BLUEWAVE Technologies is a healthtech startup and the creator of the BLUEWAVE, a device that can deodorize items with its proprietary ozone infusion technology in as little as 5 minutes, without using any water, detergents, or added  chemicals. The device is completely closed loop and filters out all of the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Rise of Audiobooks and AI: Transforming the Way We Read

Once, reading was a quiet act. A private conversation between you and the page. Now? That’s changing. Audiobooks have crashed through the library doors, and artificial intelligence is riding shotgun. In 2023, the global audiobook market was valued at over $8 billion. By 2032, some projections place it above $35...

INNOVATE® Nashville

NASACLIP

REINVENTING EMERGENCY CARE, ONE NOSEBLEED AT A TIME.

When Dr. Liz Clayborne was a resident in emergency medicine, she noticed something that would change her career trajectory. “I was struck by the number of people who came to the ER for nosebleeds. There are more than 500,000 visits to the ER annually in the U.S.,” she recalls. To...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

ClearlyAgile

A Custom Mobile And Web Application Development Firm Based In Tampa

Nominated for Technology Project of the Year and a finalist for the Technologist and Technology Leader of the Year by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, ClearlyAgile is a custom mobile and web application development firm based in Tampa, FL founded by Fred Mastropasqua and Edmund Gorski. “Our goal is to...

Practical AI for Non-Techies

Fireflies.AI

The AI-Powered Meeting Assistant That Works While You Work

How to Use Fireflies.ai: The AI-Powered Meeting Assistant That Works While You Work In today’s fast-paced work environment, meetings can feel overwhelming. Managing note-taking, tracking tasks, and ensuring follow-ups can quickly become chaotic. Enter Fireflies.ai, the AI-powered meeting assistant designed to streamline your workflow by automating the most tedious aspects...

Global Innovation Spotlight

CHAPTER

For nearly every retiring American, Medicare is both universal and universally complex

For nearly every retiring American, Medicare is both universal and universally complex. Yet, Medicare enrollment remains broken, and the program is near-impossible to navigate. Anyone who has signed up for Medicare or helped a loved one knows this reality firsthand. The problem is so bad that nearly 40% of the...

INNOVATION Quebec

LE « RÉSEAU SDG INNOVATION™ NETWORK »

Grâce à un leadership de huit institutions universitaires québécoises, le Réseau SmartDigital-Green Innovation™ (SDGInnov), un premier au Canada, a été créé le 16 janvier 2019, dans l’optique de répondre à des besoins industriels nécessitant la collaboration interuniversitaire en recherche et développement (R&D), ainsi que la formation de personnel hautement qualifié...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Duolingo

Duolingo's Detroit Journey: From Gunner to Hobbes and Animated Innovation.

In Detroit, two motion design studios were making waves in the animation world: Gunner, known for its bold illustration and character animation, and Hobbes, a leader in product-driven animation. The companies earned reputations for creativity and emotional intelligence, collaborating with high-profile clients for years. However, everything changed when Duolingo—the world’s...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FRESH CITY

FRESH CITY- CONNECTING TORONTONIANS WITH SUSTAINABLE FARMING & QUALITY FOOD

CONNECTING TORONTONIANS WITH SUSTAINABLE FARMING & QUALITY FOOD

Fresh City is an award-winning urban farm and omnichannel retailer. With the recent addition of Mama Earth to our family of brands that includes Mabel’s Bakery and The Healthy Butcher, Fresh City is now the largest organic online retailer in Ontario. After a decade, the impact and belief in our...

INNOVATE® Miami

500 Startups

500 Startups - Discovering And Backing The World's Most Talented Entrepreneurs

Discovering And Backing The World's Most Talented Entrepreneurs

500 Startups is a venture capital firm on a mission to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems. It is one of the most active venture capital firms in the world. Ana Paula Gonzalez, Innovation & Partnerships...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

FORECHECK

FORECHECK-THE SECRET WEAPON IN WINNING THE CYBERCRIME WAR

THE SECRET WEAPON IN WINNING THE CYBERCRIME WAR

Cyber security is an arms race that is positioned to continue indefinitely. New technologies are constantly emerging to combat cyber criminals, but regardless, criminals discover how to exploit them. Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and other security-focused vendors detect many of these attacks and alert their customers and the community,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MASICORP

MASICORP -SUPPORTING EDUCATION IN MASIPHUMELELE – REAL CHANGE IS A TEAM EFFORT

SUPPORTING EDUCATION IN MASIPHUMELELE – REAL CHANGE IS A TEAM EFFORT

It all began with a visit to the Masiphumelele township in Cape Town, in 1999, when John and Carol Thompson from the US, were holidaying in South Africa, and ventured inside what was previously known as ‘’Site 5’’. Like most townships in South Africa, Masi (short for Masiphumelele) was established...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

HUNTER HUB FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING

THE HUNTER FAMILY & THE CREATION OF THE HUNTER HUB

THE HISTORY OF THE HUNTER HUB FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKINGThe Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking was founded in 2017 with a $40 million donation from the Hunter Family Foundation, marking one of the largest donations in the University of Calgary’s history. The Hunter Hub’s purpose is to spread entrepreneurial thinking throughout...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MANAGINGLIFE

MANAGINGLIFE- PUTTING INNOVATION IN THE HANDS OF CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS

PUTTING INNOVATION IN THE HANDS OF CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS

Chronic pain affects approximately 1 in 5 people and is one of the most difficult to treat chronic conditions. It’s a leading reason people seek healthcare, use opioid medication, and go on disability. Often referred to as the silent epidemic, the burden of chronic pain carries immense costs to individuals,...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

VERSITI

BEYOND THE BLOOD CENTER – INNOVATING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF BLOOD HEALTH

BEYOND THE BLOOD CENTER – INNOVATING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF BLOOD HEALTH Versiti has established itself as a leader in blood health innovation and clinical testing services for clinicians, health care providers, and researchers. Originally founded as a community blood banking initiative in 1947, the organization now known as Versiti,...

INNOVATION Quebec

ZONE AGTECH

STIMULER L’ÉMERGENCE ET PROPULSER LESTECHNOLOGIES AGRICOLES INNOVANTES DU QUÉBEC

Depuis 2020, le Québec fait figure de pionnier dans le domaine des technologies agricoles innovantes et des bioproduits végétaux grâce au développement de la Zone Agtech, un écosystème d’innovation localisé situé près de la Ville de Montréal dans la MRC de L’Assomption. Sa mission ? Intensifier le développement de technologies...

INNOVATION Quebec

GREENUXLAB

A LAB THAT CREATES A FICTIONAL RETAIL ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO PREDICT SHOPPING BEHAVIOUR

Launched in the fall of 2018, the GreenUXlab is an ecosystem for co-creation, research, evaluation of devices, and point-of-sale innovation aimed at positive impact consumption. It serves as the main research infrastructure of ESG UQAM’s Observatoire de la consommation responsable (Responsible Consumption Observatory), a study and strategic watch unit focused...

Ecosystems