Stories of Innovation

INO is the largest center of expertise in optics and photonics in Canada and is among the best technological research centres in the world. For the past 35 years, it has created and developed innovative and valuable solutions to meet the needs of businesses in Quebec and throughout Canada. Through...

Wayne Karpoff, CEO of Willowglen Systems, and his team of Scada rock stars are making innovative improvements to the rail transportation and energy industries. “We reimagined SCADA to meet the needs of the future. And it all started here in Alberta.” — Wayne Karpoff, CEO at Willowglen Systems. Innovation is...

“OUR RESEARCH DOESN’T STOP AFTER WRITING THE CONCLUSION.” – GUY HENDRICKX, FOUNDING MANAGING DIRECTOR, AVIA-GIS Ever heard of the proverb “better safe than sorry”? Well, Avia-GIS sure has. Even better: they built their entire business around it. Founder and CEO Guy Hendrickx started Avia-GIS in 2001 as a company with...

Unprecedented supply chain insight, foresight and oversight.Since 2017, Routeique® has developed industry-leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) products, IoT hardware, and apps for businesses in the supply chain space. We’re building solutions to problems that have traditionally been difficult to solve,” says CEO Mike Allan. Routeique’s vision is...

Revitalizing a 25-year-old software company is no small task, but can be a pathway towards innovation and compelling value creation for employees, customers, and investors. That’s the story of Mindful, a contact center software company that relocated to Nashville in 2018, which was acquired by Medallia in 2022 after an...

Precina helps patients feel better, faster. Our chronic care practice monitors patients’ diabetes every day – just as they do. Our practice combines medical care with social workers to address the complex challenges of controlling diabetes and related comorbidities. We meet with patients consistently and give them unlimited access to...

Mekumi’s Education Solutions are big data driven enabling creation of immersive content; advanced instruction delivery technologies such as AR/VR driving learning & retention; AI driven assessments; and combining all these to deliver personalized learning. Mekumi solutions dramatically improve student learning, teaching skills & content effectiveness. MekumiEd combines LMS, LRS, LXP and LCMS...

Blythedale Coastal Estate is a catalytic development with a makeup of near 5,000 residential opportunities including 350 retirement opportunities, Mega Retail and Mega Beach Resort Hotel and Entertainment Developments. The Development is on prime real estate on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal and will boast schools, sports and more...

Jabian Consulting’s journey began in 2006 when its three founders decided clients needed more personalized attention and bespoke solutions than they were getting from the large, multi-national firms. At the same time, burnout in the industry was high, with consultants working extremely long hours traveling around the country every week....

The rootsFor nearly 20 years, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean – a region of more than 275,000 inhabitants located 500 km northeast of Montréal – concerted initiatives have been deployed to stimulate innovation among SMEs. Idéa innovation PME (2004-2010), then Innovation 02 (2011-2019) generated activities in turn to support innovation. It was when...

Cybersecurity can be complex and difficult to navigate for cybersecurity professionals. This sentiment is multiplied for business executives trying to decipher the ecosystem to protect their data, and even more importantly, their customers’ data. Established with a vision to redefine cybersecurity for businesses lacking specialized personnel, Phalanx has quickly become...

Since its founding, the DigiHub has become a model that is being emulated and recognized as the 3rd digital hub in Quebec behind Montrèal and Québec City. As a key player in Shawinigan’s economic shift towards a digital economy and a smart city status, the Digihub has always been at...

When South Africans move to Canada, they don’t just leave behind family, culture, and familiar surroundings — they leave behind a network that took a lifetime to build. The South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) exists to rebuild that network — faster, stronger, and tailored for life on this side...

Headquartered in DC, the social network of moms spans all 50 states with the help of Lindsay’s specialization in social media, strategic communications, fundraising, and the natural inclination for moms to help other moms in need. Unfortunately, children are expensive and not everyone is in the same position to provide...

Life Sciences Nova Scotia (LSNS) is more than just an organization; it is the cornerstone of Nova Scotia’s life sciences community, fostering growth, innovation, and collaboration across the province and Atlantic Canada. At its core, LSNS is driven by the belief that transformative ideas in biotechnology, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals can...

The sea has always been humanity’s vital artery—through it flow goods, people, and ideas. Yet the sea is also unpredictable and harsh. It is here, among waves and storms, that the Estonian deep-tech company MindChip faces a challenge that could reshape the future of maritime operations: how to make ships...

GamerSafer’s mission is to scale safety and fair play experiences to millions of players worldwide. Fraud, crime, and toxicity are present in many online interactions, compromising user experience, lifetime value and engagement. The co-founders of GamerSafer, a former executive from the gaming industry and a social impact entrepreneur, both gamers...

Catalysts for Community Change For over four decades, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has been a transformative force in the Washington, D.C., area, empowering underinvested communities and fostering innovative solutions to complex urban challenges. As Executive Director Ramon Jacobson eloquently puts it: “Our mission is to help people uncover...

Québec VITAE c’est un regroupement des représentants de l’industrie des sciences de la vie et des technologies de la santé voué à la croissance et à la performance des quelque 170 organisations qui le composent. La Capitale-Nationale est la deuxième région en importance pour le secteur au Québec, avec ses...

In 1993, the first GSM Networks were installed in Africa opening the door to exciting new business opportunities in the telecommunications sector. 4C Group’s journey began a decade later when our pioneering founder, Rudolph Du Plessis, combined his extensive on the ground experience in information technology with a desire to...

Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world. We are insights-driven and outcomes-based to help accelerate returns on your investments. Across 21 industry sectors in 400 locations worldwide, our 90,000 professionals provide comprehensive, scalable, and sustainable IT and business consulting services...

Their mission is to overcome longstanding stereotypes that surround skateboarding by helping others, reinforcing positivity, and supporting a healthy lifestyle. Also known as the Skate Crusaders, they have handpicked talent from across the metropolitan region and dedicate themselves to meaningfully help those in need. The team is comprised of girls/women...

Heartrunner Sweden is a small and expanding company founded in Stockholm, driven by the conviction that volunteers have the power to make a difference. With this core belief, they have pioneered technology for time-critical emergencies, alerting volunteer responders to provide swift cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) before...

WHO WE ARE The Varsity Esports Foundation is a global non-profit organization established to offer financial assistance to schools and to provide a pipeline for students to reach their potential through esports. We strive to increase literacy around the esports industry’s positive impact on healthy lifestyles, mental health, community, and...