Stories of Innovation

BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND CAREERS Waterloo Region is a catalyst for innovation. Its thriving ecosystem of startups, global tech giants and research institutions is driving collaboration to shape the future. Within this dynamic landscape is Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, a leader in polytechnic education that has become...

EU HOUSEHOLDS PRODUCING THEIR OWN ELECTRICITY ARE KEY TO MEETING THE REGION’S ENERGY NEEDS AND ENSURING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. MarkeDroid is the world’s most adaptable home energy management platform, giving installers the tools to transform their systems into smart, AI-powered solutions and enabling homeowners to turn their homes into intelligent power...

It was under the sign of innovation that Bromont was born in 1964. The quality of life, the preservation of the environment and the sustainable economic development makes the success of this model city. Nearly 60-years later, innovation is still at the heart of its development with Technum Québec –...

COLDS Collective is a creator collective and digital native organisation helping people of African descent navigate and harness Web3 and other emerging technologies. United by the mission to educate, grow and innovate collectively, COLDS Collective is harnessing the power of bits (technology) to make tangible, positive changes in atoms (real...

One notable development is the move from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs). The lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries used in EVs are becoming more prevalent everywhere. These days, they are the go-to choice when it comes to powering everything from mobile phones to power tools, drones, EVs, and more....

Biodiversity Biodiversity, short for ‘biological diversity’, refers to the variety and variability of life forms on Earth. It encompasses the full range of species of plants, animals, micro-organisms and ecosystems, as well as the genetic differences within these species. Biodiversity encompasses not only the diversity of species, but also their...

The Wond’ry, Vanderbilt University’s center for innovation, serves as a catalyst for efforts to build and strengthen innovation capacity in the region. The Wond’ry provides space, mentorship, programming and other resources designed to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration among students, faculty, staff, and alumni from across all parts of Vanderbilt and from...

Founded in Vancouver in 2011 by Beth Boyle, Katie Dunsworth-Reiach, and Sara Padidar, Talk Shop’s vision is to help it’s clients get known, and be understood. Under the leadership of the founding partners and Managing Partner Katie Stevens, Talk Shop has grown substantially to include more than fifty team members....

The Estonian Business Angels Network (EstBAN) has been connecting and educating startup investors and providing a platform for innovation in Estonia and beyond since 2012. EstBAN has become one of Europe’s most respected and well-managed angel investor networks. With nearly 260 members and a growing track record of syndicated and...

Depuis 20 ans, DEL (Développement économique de l’agglomération de Longueuil) soutient les entrepreneur(e)s et accélère la réalisation de leurs projets d’affaires. Comment? En offrant un accompagnement d’affaires personnalisé et majoritairement sans frais. L’objectif de DEL est simple : faire réussir les entreprises de l’agglomération de Longueuil, par le biais de...

“When we work together, miracles happen.” Fr. Tim McCabe, SJ, says those words often. Fr. Tim, as he is known, is president and CEO of the Pope Francis Center (PFC), a Detroit nonprofit that serves people experiencing homelessness. PFC started humbly in 1990 when Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church...

Horse racing is one of the oldest sports on the planet, with the earliest recorded traces dating back to the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians in the 12th century. The sport has evolved since its first incarnation, with greater emphasis on equine welfare in the modern era. But, one factor that...

It is without a doubt that the Coronavirus has hampered many businesses, but like they say, “every problem contains in it the seeds of a solution.” From all across the world, solutions have been created to mitigate the effects of the virus, and here in Botswana, the lockdown period presented...

When the artificial intelligence revolution accelerated, Manitoba was home to exceptional AI talent, but there was no unified voice to connect professionals, engage industry, or help shape public policy. That gap inspired the creation of the Manitoba Association of AI Professionals (MAAIP), a volunteer-led and partnership-powered organization dedicated to ensuring...

The South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC) advances the state’s economic development by providing entrepreneurs world-class consulting services, access to a wellspring of resources and affordable training programs. The SC SBDC operates as a cohesive network, offering clients at every stage of the business lifecycle (from pre-venture and...

The job market changes constantly. Industries evolve and employment demands shift with infrastructure developments and technology improvements. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is thrusting Artificial Intelligence (AI) across workplaces with far greater speed than the age of robotics ever did to manufacturing industries in the past. If we learned one thing...

Artenso—a French acronym for art and social engagement—strongly believes that culture can be a vehicle for economic and social development within communities. Affiliated with Montreal’s Cégep de Saint-Laurent, our CCTT boasts cross-disciplinary expertise in the fields of public policy, artistic practices, digital culture and social innovation. Our interdisciplinary team carries...

Upling LLC revolutionizes cannabis access in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, offering a swift online platform for legal cannabis purchases from local dispensaries. Its user-friendly app ensures that whether for medical or recreational purposes, cannabis delivery is just a few taps away. Adhering strictly to state and federal laws, Upling guarantees...

The World Trade Center (WTC) is the largest business network in the world and one of the most important associations of executives and entrepreneurs. It was created in the 1960s from a fair in Queens, New York City, by the Rockefeller family. Currently the WTC is present in 91 countries,...

In a galaxy far, far away but closer than you may think lived a company called Start Me Up PR. Landing in YYC first — because even extraterrestrials love the mountains — to invade the local and global tech scene, they set off to support emerging-founders, the investors who help...

In many rural regions, fresh harvests are lost before they ever reach a market — not because of poor quality, but due to heat, humidity, and lack of proper preservation. GlobeDry, a family-owned Estonian company, is tackling this challenge with solar-powered food dryers that allow communities and food entrepreneurs to...

ELEVATOR PITCH “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful; every woman deserves to feel safe; every woman deserves to feel happy.” is the motto at Sparkle & Sabre, a small jewelry company specializing in stylish pieces that boost wearers’ sense of security and well-being. With a majority of available self-defense products...

Virtual reality is an essential tool for building compassion and expanding awareness about how we relate to failing and learning from those moments....

WHAT INSPIRED THE CREATION OF DRONE CADETS? In 2016 Sgt. Tony Reid, was a corrections officer at Rikers Island, a jail in New York City, working with incarcerated adolescents 16 to 18 years old. For 8 long years, he witnessed first-hand the plight of young men of color who became...