Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Estonia

7SENSE

TELEHAPTIC TECHNOLOGY: REDEFINING SIGHT THROUGH A REMOTE SENSE OF TOUCH

7Sense is a deep-tech and life science start-up developing telehaptic technology for the blind. It allows users to feel their surrounding environment through a sense of touch on the forehead. In simple words, the user feels surrounding objects—their shape, size, motion, speed, and distance. Traditionally, haptics has meant small vibrating...

United Nations Lesotho

UNDP

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

SUPPORT ON DIGITIZATION UNDP helps countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP is working for a Lesotho that is empowered and more resilient to create and sustain growth that will improve people’s lives. LEHOKELA DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY POLICING UNDP Lesotho, through...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol - Designated UNESCO City Of Film

Bristol - Designated UNESCO City Of Film

ELEVATOR PITCH In 2017 Bristol was designated UNESCO City of Film, a permanent global status that recognises the city’s achievements as a world leader in the field of film and the moving image. Bristol now stands alongside Bitola, Bradford, Busan, Galway, Łódź, Qingdao, Rome, Santos, Sofia, Sydney, Terrassa and Yamagata...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

FCT FLAMES

Creating flames that inspire, from Adelaide to the World

FCT Flames specialises in the design, manufacture, and operation of spectacular flame effects for ceremonial and high-profile sporting events, including the Olympic Games. Billions of people around the world have seen their work, making their man-made flame effects the most watched in history. The Sydney Olympic torches? FCT Flames.The Olympic...

INNOVATE® Nashville

BELMONT UNIVERSITY

INCUBATING INNOVATION- Incubating Creativity and Innovation to Lead to Human Flourishing

Founded in Nashville in 1890 by Susan Heron and Ida B. Hood–two female school teachers–Belmont University has been defying conventional expectations of higher education and serving as an incubator of innovation ever since. Today, the University is comprised of nearly 9,000 students from every U.S. state and 33 countries. Nationally...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

AECIC

THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF CURITIBA

THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF CURITIBAThe Industrial City of Curitiba (Cidade Industrial de Curitiba – CIC), was founded on July 8, 1973. It is the largest neighborhood in the city of Curitiba in terms of geographic area (43.38km²). Today Cidade Industrial is the most populous neighborhood in Curitiba with approximately 220,000...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Global Philadelphia Association

2025 World Heritage City Celebration

Connecting Heritage, People, and Global Ideas

Innovation as Civic Infrastructure in America’s First World Heritage City In a global landscape where cities compete for visibility, talent, and influence, innovation is often defined narrowly—through technology, startups, or commercial growth. The Global Philadelphia Association (GPA) offers a broader, more civic-minded model. Rather than innovating through a single product...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

EXOVIBE

BACK TO THE FUTURE FROM SOFT EXOSKELETON TO SAAS PLATFORM AND BACK

OriginsThe idea for ExoVibe came to founder Gabriel Samlali in 2014, while he was struggling to carry a heavy box to his attic. Gabriel wondered how an elderly or disabled person would manage to complete the same task. A cursory google search for personal equipment solutions led Gabriel to exoskeletons....

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

2iM

A STORY OF INNOVATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The history of 2iM permeates and reflects the life purpose of its founders, Cesar Abicalaffe and Josiane Justus who were born in the state of Paraná, in southern Brazil. They have developed their careers as healthcare professionals and have dedicated themselves since their postgraduation to supporting and influencing the transformation...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Last Drop Wrench

From the Upstate to Las Vegas; Reimagining the Standard Oil Change

For as long as internal combustion engines have required maintenance, the oil change has been viewed as a necessary, albeit messy, evil. Between the risk of skin contact with scalding fluids and the inevitable “oil bath” that occurs when a filter is breached, the process has remained stubbornly primitive. However,...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

AstenJohnson

Weaving at Warp Speed

AstenJohnson’s Clinton, South Carolina location is making a significant capital investment to expand its advanced high-speed weaving capabilities and fully transition away from traditional production methods. This upgrade is designed to maximize asset utilization, standardize manufacturing processes, and elevate product quality while improving overall operational efficiency. The investment fundamentally changes...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SUCESU PR

USER COMPANIES WORKING TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND ASSERTIVE DECISION MAKING

SUCESU-PR – Association of Computer and Telecommunications Users of Paraná, a non-profit entity, was created in 1970 by a group of users who met to debate and seek solutions together, being the most traditional entity in the area of computing. Participating in important events in the history of information technology...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

WHARTON DC INNOVATION

A Legacy of Innovation

“The Summit is where solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems are birthed.” The Wharton Club of D.C., grounded in the rich legacy of the Wharton School’s distinguished alumni, has grown into a pivotal ecosystem of innovation and enterprise. Established in 1968, the Club has curated a potent alchemy of...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

MATTER

MATTER-At MATTER

At MATTER, We Help People And Organizations Transform Ideas Into Solutions That Improve The Healthcare Experience

At MATTER — a global innovation hub headquartered in Chicago — entrepreneurs come together with industry leaders, scientists and clinicians from across the globe to collaborate on developing next-generation healthcare technologies. We believe that collaboration between entrepreneurs and industry leaders is the fastest, most effective way to accelerate innovation, advance...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

VEROSOURCE SOLUTIONS

PUTTING THE POWER OF HEALTHCARE DATAIN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE

It was March 2016 and VeroSource had to lay off its sole employee. Picture it: Everything was looking great for VeroSource, the digital healthcare start-up based out of Fredericton, New Brunswick. The company was about to celebrate its second anniversary. It had just landed a deal with a large company...

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT

INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE EN MINES ET EN ENVIRONNEMENT (IRME)

L’IRME, des solutions pour un développement minier durableLocalisé au cœur d’un centre minier de calibre international, l’Institut de recherche en mines et en environnement (IRME-UQAT) a été créé en 2012, une décision stratégique démontrant l’engagement de l’institution envers le développement durable du secteur minier. Avec une croissance continue et forte...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

PIPELINE ENTREPRENEURS

A MIDWEST MOVEMENT WITH GLOBAL REACH

Kansas City has long been a center of industry and grit. In recent years, it has also proven itself to be a center of innovation. Pipeline Entrepreneurs sits at the heart of that shift. Founded in 2007, the organization supports the Midwest’s most driven founders and proves that world-class companies...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

THE CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE

THE CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE-A Simple

A Simple, Duplicable Model Of How Local Organizations Can Help Those In Need And The Community That Surrounds Them

The Chicago Help Initiative was founded in 1999 by Jacqueline C. Hayes to be a compassionate response to the homeless displaced by efforts of the City of Chicago. It has evolved into a hyperlocal model of how individuals can link together to address a difficult problem using a mix of...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

MINDCHIP

THE RISE AT SEA: HOW MINDCHIP TEACHES SHIPS TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAIRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA

CHAIRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA-ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE SUR L’INTÉGRATION ET L’OPTIMISATION DU SYSTÈME DE PROPULSION (2011-2028)

ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE SUR L’INTÉGRATION ET L’OPTIMISATION DU SYSTÈME DE PROPULSION (2011-2028)

Première chaire industrielle exécutive CRSNG-P&WC au Canada dans le domaine de la recherche aérospatiale, sur l’intégration et l’optimisation du système de propulsion (2011-2016). Ces projets ont comblé un manque de données et de critères importants dans la littérature sur la phase de conception préliminaire des moteurs d’aéronefs. L’objectif était de...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Health

Building a Healthier City, Together

NashvilleHealth’s story begins with a paradox. In 2015, Nashville was rising rapidly as one of America’s most dynamic economic engines, an “it city” defined by innovation, creativity, and growth. Yet beneath this momentum lay an alarming truth: Nashville’s residents were among the least healthy in the nation. Former U.S. Senate...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

CREDIBOM

CREDIBOM-Working Everyday In The Interest Of Our Customers And Society

Working Everyday In The Interest Of Our Customers And Society

As part of the Crédit Agricole Group – one of the largest European banking groups – Credibom is a bank specialized in consumer credit and a leader in Portugal, particularly in automotive financing. Established in 1995, Credibom focus is to adapt its products and services to the needs of its...

INNOVATION Quebec

L’INSTITUT QUANTIQUE

DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DE SHERBROOKE

Créé en 2016, l’Institut quantique (IQ) de l’Université de Sherbrooke réunit plus de 300 scientifiques spécialistes reconnus mondialement en matériaux, information et ingénierie quantiques dans le but d’effectuer des travaux en recherche fondamentale et de développer les technologies quantiques. Que ce soit en matière d’architecture d’ordinateur quantique, de supraconductivité ou...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

AUGUST BROWN

TRANSFORMING INNOVATION INTO MARKET SUCCESS

INSIGHT. INNOVATE. IMPROVE. August Brown has established itself as a trailblazer in Milwaukee’s innovation ecosystem, bridging the often-daunting gap between research and market execution. Founded by Dr. Gordon Nameni and Erik Vickstrom, this boutique agency has become synonymous with strategic excellence and groundbreaking impact. “It all really started in 2018,”...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

7SENSE

TELEHAPTIC TECHNOLOGY: REDEFINING SIGHT THROUGH A REMOTE SENSE OF TOUCH

7Sense is a deep-tech and life science start-up developing telehaptic technology for the blind. It allows users to feel their surrounding environment through a sense of touch on the forehead. In simple words, the user feels surrounding objects—their shape, size, motion, speed, and distance. Traditionally, haptics has meant small vibrating...

United Nations Lesotho

UNDP

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

SUPPORT ON DIGITIZATION UNDP helps countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP is working for a Lesotho that is empowered and more resilient to create and sustain growth that will improve people’s lives. LEHOKELA DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY POLICING UNDP Lesotho, through...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol - Designated UNESCO City Of Film

Bristol - Designated UNESCO City Of Film

ELEVATOR PITCH In 2017 Bristol was designated UNESCO City of Film, a permanent global status that recognises the city’s achievements as a world leader in the field of film and the moving image. Bristol now stands alongside Bitola, Bradford, Busan, Galway, Łódź, Qingdao, Rome, Santos, Sofia, Sydney, Terrassa and Yamagata...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

FCT FLAMES

Creating flames that inspire, from Adelaide to the World

FCT Flames specialises in the design, manufacture, and operation of spectacular flame effects for ceremonial and high-profile sporting events, including the Olympic Games. Billions of people around the world have seen their work, making their man-made flame effects the most watched in history. The Sydney Olympic torches? FCT Flames.The Olympic...

INNOVATE® Nashville

BELMONT UNIVERSITY

INCUBATING INNOVATION- Incubating Creativity and Innovation to Lead to Human Flourishing

Founded in Nashville in 1890 by Susan Heron and Ida B. Hood–two female school teachers–Belmont University has been defying conventional expectations of higher education and serving as an incubator of innovation ever since. Today, the University is comprised of nearly 9,000 students from every U.S. state and 33 countries. Nationally...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

AECIC

THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF CURITIBA

THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF CURITIBAThe Industrial City of Curitiba (Cidade Industrial de Curitiba – CIC), was founded on July 8, 1973. It is the largest neighborhood in the city of Curitiba in terms of geographic area (43.38km²). Today Cidade Industrial is the most populous neighborhood in Curitiba with approximately 220,000...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Global Philadelphia Association

2025 World Heritage City Celebration

Connecting Heritage, People, and Global Ideas

Innovation as Civic Infrastructure in America’s First World Heritage City In a global landscape where cities compete for visibility, talent, and influence, innovation is often defined narrowly—through technology, startups, or commercial growth. The Global Philadelphia Association (GPA) offers a broader, more civic-minded model. Rather than innovating through a single product...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

EXOVIBE

BACK TO THE FUTURE FROM SOFT EXOSKELETON TO SAAS PLATFORM AND BACK

OriginsThe idea for ExoVibe came to founder Gabriel Samlali in 2014, while he was struggling to carry a heavy box to his attic. Gabriel wondered how an elderly or disabled person would manage to complete the same task. A cursory google search for personal equipment solutions led Gabriel to exoskeletons....

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

2iM

A STORY OF INNOVATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The history of 2iM permeates and reflects the life purpose of its founders, Cesar Abicalaffe and Josiane Justus who were born in the state of Paraná, in southern Brazil. They have developed their careers as healthcare professionals and have dedicated themselves since their postgraduation to supporting and influencing the transformation...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Last Drop Wrench

From the Upstate to Las Vegas; Reimagining the Standard Oil Change

For as long as internal combustion engines have required maintenance, the oil change has been viewed as a necessary, albeit messy, evil. Between the risk of skin contact with scalding fluids and the inevitable “oil bath” that occurs when a filter is breached, the process has remained stubbornly primitive. However,...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

AstenJohnson

Weaving at Warp Speed

AstenJohnson’s Clinton, South Carolina location is making a significant capital investment to expand its advanced high-speed weaving capabilities and fully transition away from traditional production methods. This upgrade is designed to maximize asset utilization, standardize manufacturing processes, and elevate product quality while improving overall operational efficiency. The investment fundamentally changes...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SUCESU PR

USER COMPANIES WORKING TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND ASSERTIVE DECISION MAKING

SUCESU-PR – Association of Computer and Telecommunications Users of Paraná, a non-profit entity, was created in 1970 by a group of users who met to debate and seek solutions together, being the most traditional entity in the area of computing. Participating in important events in the history of information technology...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

WHARTON DC INNOVATION

A Legacy of Innovation

“The Summit is where solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems are birthed.” The Wharton Club of D.C., grounded in the rich legacy of the Wharton School’s distinguished alumni, has grown into a pivotal ecosystem of innovation and enterprise. Established in 1968, the Club has curated a potent alchemy of...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

MATTER

MATTER-At MATTER

At MATTER, We Help People And Organizations Transform Ideas Into Solutions That Improve The Healthcare Experience

At MATTER — a global innovation hub headquartered in Chicago — entrepreneurs come together with industry leaders, scientists and clinicians from across the globe to collaborate on developing next-generation healthcare technologies. We believe that collaboration between entrepreneurs and industry leaders is the fastest, most effective way to accelerate innovation, advance...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

VEROSOURCE SOLUTIONS

PUTTING THE POWER OF HEALTHCARE DATAIN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE

It was March 2016 and VeroSource had to lay off its sole employee. Picture it: Everything was looking great for VeroSource, the digital healthcare start-up based out of Fredericton, New Brunswick. The company was about to celebrate its second anniversary. It had just landed a deal with a large company...

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT

INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE EN MINES ET EN ENVIRONNEMENT (IRME)

L’IRME, des solutions pour un développement minier durableLocalisé au cœur d’un centre minier de calibre international, l’Institut de recherche en mines et en environnement (IRME-UQAT) a été créé en 2012, une décision stratégique démontrant l’engagement de l’institution envers le développement durable du secteur minier. Avec une croissance continue et forte...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

PIPELINE ENTREPRENEURS

A MIDWEST MOVEMENT WITH GLOBAL REACH

Kansas City has long been a center of industry and grit. In recent years, it has also proven itself to be a center of innovation. Pipeline Entrepreneurs sits at the heart of that shift. Founded in 2007, the organization supports the Midwest’s most driven founders and proves that world-class companies...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

THE CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE

THE CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE-A Simple

A Simple, Duplicable Model Of How Local Organizations Can Help Those In Need And The Community That Surrounds Them

The Chicago Help Initiative was founded in 1999 by Jacqueline C. Hayes to be a compassionate response to the homeless displaced by efforts of the City of Chicago. It has evolved into a hyperlocal model of how individuals can link together to address a difficult problem using a mix of...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

MINDCHIP

THE RISE AT SEA: HOW MINDCHIP TEACHES SHIPS TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAIRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA

CHAIRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA-ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE SUR L’INTÉGRATION ET L’OPTIMISATION DU SYSTÈME DE PROPULSION (2011-2028)

ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE SUR L’INTÉGRATION ET L’OPTIMISATION DU SYSTÈME DE PROPULSION (2011-2028)

Première chaire industrielle exécutive CRSNG-P&WC au Canada dans le domaine de la recherche aérospatiale, sur l’intégration et l’optimisation du système de propulsion (2011-2016). Ces projets ont comblé un manque de données et de critères importants dans la littérature sur la phase de conception préliminaire des moteurs d’aéronefs. L’objectif était de...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Health

Building a Healthier City, Together

NashvilleHealth’s story begins with a paradox. In 2015, Nashville was rising rapidly as one of America’s most dynamic economic engines, an “it city” defined by innovation, creativity, and growth. Yet beneath this momentum lay an alarming truth: Nashville’s residents were among the least healthy in the nation. Former U.S. Senate...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

CREDIBOM

CREDIBOM-Working Everyday In The Interest Of Our Customers And Society

Working Everyday In The Interest Of Our Customers And Society

As part of the Crédit Agricole Group – one of the largest European banking groups – Credibom is a bank specialized in consumer credit and a leader in Portugal, particularly in automotive financing. Established in 1995, Credibom focus is to adapt its products and services to the needs of its...

INNOVATION Quebec

L’INSTITUT QUANTIQUE

DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DE SHERBROOKE

Créé en 2016, l’Institut quantique (IQ) de l’Université de Sherbrooke réunit plus de 300 scientifiques spécialistes reconnus mondialement en matériaux, information et ingénierie quantiques dans le but d’effectuer des travaux en recherche fondamentale et de développer les technologies quantiques. Que ce soit en matière d’architecture d’ordinateur quantique, de supraconductivité ou...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

AUGUST BROWN

TRANSFORMING INNOVATION INTO MARKET SUCCESS

INSIGHT. INNOVATE. IMPROVE. August Brown has established itself as a trailblazer in Milwaukee’s innovation ecosystem, bridging the often-daunting gap between research and market execution. Founded by Dr. Gordon Nameni and Erik Vickstrom, this boutique agency has become synonymous with strategic excellence and groundbreaking impact. “It all really started in 2018,”...

Ecosystems