Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

LEARN BY LOCI

UNLOCKING THE SUPERCOMPUTER IN OUR HEADS TO MAKE US ALL SAFER

Picture this:You’re standing in the lobby of an office building waiting for the elevator. The only thing in view is an evacuation map posted on the wall so you take it in. Several minutes later, you’re sitting comfortably in a waiting room when the fire alarm goes off. Can you...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Cybersecurity is Driving the Next Wave of Global Innovation

Cybersecurity has moved from the back-office control domain to a main driver in digital innovation. When there is confidence in system resilience, organizations can securely implement and scale AI, cloud, and IoT. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 outlook, growth will be tied to cyber resilience because threats and...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Where to Get South African Goodies in Canada

An open shipping box filled with South African goodies, including Appletiser, Mrs. Ball’s Chutney, Weet-Bix, Romany Creams, and other beloved South African snacks and pantry staples, ready for delivery from The South African Shop in Canada.

The South African Shop Delivers Nationwide

Craving a taste of home like Mrs. Ball’s chutney, Peppermint Crisp, or Iwisa Mealy Meal? For South African expats in Canada, finding where to get South African goodies in Canada can feel like a mission—until you discover The South African Shop (The South African Shop). Based in Vancouver, this online...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MASON ENTERPRISE

Building the Entrepreneurs of Today and Tomorrow

Mason EnterpriseTM is a George Mason University-based economic development division that focuses the energy, skills, and intellectual capital of Virginians on new company creation and small business expansion. Through 24 intertwined, complementary programs that include business counseling, workshops, training, and connection to university assets (research, class projects, interns), Mason Enterprise...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

ADLUCENT

ADLUCENT-CREATING A COMPANY FRAMEWORK

CREATING A COMPANY FRAMEWORK

The great management consultant, educator, and author Peter Drucker said it best: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”. As the CEO of Adlucent, a performance marketing agency, I find this quote resonates with me on a deep level. But, while there are many inspiring quotes out there that help leaders set...

INNOVATE® Georgia

UCB

USING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING WITH SEVERE DISEASE

UCB PRIORITIZES PATIENT VALUE, FOSTERING A CARING CULTURE SHAPED BY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. EMPHASIZING TECH-DRIVEN INNOVATION AND HUMAN-CENTRIC HEALTHCARE, WE LEVERAGE AI AND DIGITAL STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE PATIENT CARE.. At UCB, we come together every day to work, laser-focused, on a simple question: How will this create value for people living...

INNOVATE® Detroit

AUTOMATION ALLEY

TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT EMBRACING DIGITAL INNOVATION WITH AUTOMATION ALLEY

In the heart of Detroit, Automation Alley propels Michigan into a future defined by digital innovation. Explore the transformative impact of Industry 4.0 through the lens of our groundbreaking initiatives. In collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Automation Alley is a key player in a signature Industry 4.0...

INNOVATION Quebec

CRIAQ

AT THE HEART OF AEROSPACE INNOVATION

CRIAQ plays a key role in ensuring the development of new aerospace technologies that enable the entire ecosystem to prosper. Quebec is one of the 3 main aerospace centres in the world and the effervescence of its industrial industry and research centres makes it a prime location for innovation. In...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

CHARITABLE IMPACT

WORKING FOR DONORS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSES THEY SUPPORT

CHARITABLE IMPACT-WORKING FOR DONORS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSES THEY SUPPORT: HOW CHARITABLE IMPACT IS TRANSFORMING THE EXPERIENCE OF GIVING TO CHARITY The charitable sector in Canada is facing significant challenges due to a decrease in the number of people donating to charity and the amount they give as a percentage...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

SPLINTERLANDS

THE MAGIC OF GAMING IN THE CRYPTO AGE

The game Splinterlands may evoke a world of magic and mayhem, but the wizards who built it live firmly in the realm of modern gaming technology. Splinterlands was founded in 2018 to combine two concepts that founders Matt Rosen and Dr. Jesse “Aggroed” Reich were already both passionate about: blockchain...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

REVERSE RESOURCES

THE DIGITAL THREAD: HOW REVERSE RESOURCES IS INDUSTRIALIZING THE GLOBAL TEXTILE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Operating from its headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, Reverse Resources (RR) stands at the intersection of technology, supply chain management, and environmental sustainability. The company’s core mission is to solve one of the fashion industry’s most pressing and complex challenges: textile waste. By focusing on digitalization and transparency, RR is enabling...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

TECHARENA

WHERE INNOVATION BEGINS WITH HUMAN CONNECTION

Techarena is a Nordic-born platform for innovation and entrepreneurship that brings together thousands of founders, investors, business leaders, and policymakers every year. Through high-impact events, accelerator programs, and media channels, Techarena creates opportunities for cross-border collaboration and sustainable growth. From Local Competition to Global Platform What began in 2014 as...

INNOVATE® Maryland

Montgomery County EDC

Maryland's Launchpad For Innovation

Steps from the nation’s capital, Montgomery County, Maryland, is one of America’s most dynamic centers of innovation and talent. From mapping the human genome (DNA) as a result of the Human Genome Projects, one of the most influential scientific endeavors in history, to the first successful transplant of a pig...

INNOVATION Quebec

BAS-SAINT-LAURENT

L’ESPACE D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT (EAC BSL) FACILITE LES PROJETS

Nos interventions comprennent le réseautage, la collaboration et le référencement des experts·es qui offrent aux entrepreneurs·es des services d’accompagnement technique et d’affaires. Une concertation régionale exemplaireL’EAC BSL est animé par le Collectif régional de développement (CRD). Créé par les huit MRC du Bas-Saint-Laurent, cet organisme de concertation et de planification...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ICOSAGEN

ESTONIA’S INDEPENDENT BIOTECH PIONEER WITH GLOBAL REACH

On Northern Europe’s digital frontier, Icosagen stands out in the biotechnology landscape. Based in Tartu, Estonia’s second‑largest city, it is not only the country’s largest biotech company but also one of the most agile Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CRDMOs) operating globally. What truly sets Icosagen apart is its...

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™ Stockholm

CAY COLLECTIVE

REDEFINING THE CREATIVE MARKET

In a world where creative talent often struggles to meet commerce, Cay Collective is shaping a new path. Founded in 2023 by Johanna Gauffin and Natalie Navia, the Stockholm-based platform serves as a marketplace for independent artists, fashion designers, and lifestyle creators offering more than just a digital storefront. Cay...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

MINIONE

MINIONE- INTRODUCED IN 2014

INTRODUCED IN 2014, MINIONE® SYSTEMS IS A BRAND OF EDUCATIONAL LIFE SCIENCE PRODUCTS DEVELOPED BY THE COMPANY EMBI TEC®, WHICH HAS FOR YEARS MANUFACTURED BIOTECH EQUIPMENT AND REAGENTS USED BY TOP RESEARCH FACILITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD

When its founders, Richard Chan and Winston Walker, learned that educators were purchasing their research-grade equipment to help students get hands-on experience with electrophoresis in their classrooms, they sought to develop a teacher and student-friendly electrophoresis system that was safe, compact, fast, and affordable, making it possible to complete inquiry...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

4C GROUP OF COMPANIES

4C GROUP OF COMPANIES-ENABLING MILLIONS OF MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS TO CONNECT

ENABLING MILLIONS OF MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS TO CONNECT, ENGAGE AND TRANSACT EVERY DAY

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...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

VALMET

MARKET LEADER, VALMET OFFERS UNIQUE AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR PAPER, PULP AND ENERGY INDUSTRIES

With more than 220-years of industrial history and 63-years of presence in Brazil, the Finnish multinational provides integrated technologies, reaffirming its commitment to constant improvement and renewal. Valmet is a global leader in the development and supply of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries....

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

LIDE PARANA

OUR BUSINESS IS TO GENERATE BUSINESS.

LIDE Parana – A group of business leaders – constantly seeks to drive the Parana market. The entity creates an ecosystem focused on business development based on the pillars of networking and content. Attracting leadership with a positive and proactive agenda, the group fosters free enterprise and consequently the economic...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CONNECTPLUG

RETAIL AUTOMATION CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE FOR EVERYONE

2014 doesn’t seem like a long time ago, but the technology was very different back then. AI was just science fiction, the internet was much slower — and retail software was expensive and unnecessarily complex. This scenario led to ConnectPlug’s creation by computer engineer Rafael Hasson. Hasson, who has worked...

INNOVATION Quebec

INSTITUT DU NOUVEAU MONDE (INM)

DEPUIS 20 ANS, L’INM, UN ORGANISME INDÉPENDANT ET NON PARTISAN, MET LA PARTICIPATION DES CITOYENNESET DES CITOYENS AU CŒUR DES PROJETS QU’ELLE DÉVELOPPE ET DE CEUX DES ORGANISATIONS QU’ELLEACCOMPAGNE. L’INM est animé par la conviction que la participation citoyenne renforce la démocratie et aide les organisations à prendre de meilleures...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

WAVICLE DATA SOLUTIONS

WAVICLE DATA SOLUTIONS- MAKES SMART PEOPLE EVEN SMARTER THROUGH THE POWER OF DATA AND ANALYTICS

MAKES SMART PEOPLE EVEN SMARTER THROUGH THE POWER OF DATA AND ANALYTICS

  Wavicle Data Solutions is a nimble consulting firm that focuses 100% on providing end-to-end data and analytics strategy, services, and support. Thanks to its deep technical expertise, business acumen, and proprietary accelerators Wavicle is able to help its clients drastically reduce the time, cost, and risk of collecting, analyzing,...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

LEARN BY LOCI

UNLOCKING THE SUPERCOMPUTER IN OUR HEADS TO MAKE US ALL SAFER

Picture this:You’re standing in the lobby of an office building waiting for the elevator. The only thing in view is an evacuation map posted on the wall so you take it in. Several minutes later, you’re sitting comfortably in a waiting room when the fire alarm goes off. Can you...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Cybersecurity is Driving the Next Wave of Global Innovation

Cybersecurity has moved from the back-office control domain to a main driver in digital innovation. When there is confidence in system resilience, organizations can securely implement and scale AI, cloud, and IoT. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 outlook, growth will be tied to cyber resilience because threats and...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Where to Get South African Goodies in Canada

An open shipping box filled with South African goodies, including Appletiser, Mrs. Ball’s Chutney, Weet-Bix, Romany Creams, and other beloved South African snacks and pantry staples, ready for delivery from The South African Shop in Canada.

The South African Shop Delivers Nationwide

Craving a taste of home like Mrs. Ball’s chutney, Peppermint Crisp, or Iwisa Mealy Meal? For South African expats in Canada, finding where to get South African goodies in Canada can feel like a mission—until you discover The South African Shop (The South African Shop). Based in Vancouver, this online...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MASON ENTERPRISE

Building the Entrepreneurs of Today and Tomorrow

Mason EnterpriseTM is a George Mason University-based economic development division that focuses the energy, skills, and intellectual capital of Virginians on new company creation and small business expansion. Through 24 intertwined, complementary programs that include business counseling, workshops, training, and connection to university assets (research, class projects, interns), Mason Enterprise...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

ADLUCENT

ADLUCENT-CREATING A COMPANY FRAMEWORK

CREATING A COMPANY FRAMEWORK

The great management consultant, educator, and author Peter Drucker said it best: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”. As the CEO of Adlucent, a performance marketing agency, I find this quote resonates with me on a deep level. But, while there are many inspiring quotes out there that help leaders set...

INNOVATE® Georgia

UCB

USING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING WITH SEVERE DISEASE

UCB PRIORITIZES PATIENT VALUE, FOSTERING A CARING CULTURE SHAPED BY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. EMPHASIZING TECH-DRIVEN INNOVATION AND HUMAN-CENTRIC HEALTHCARE, WE LEVERAGE AI AND DIGITAL STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE PATIENT CARE.. At UCB, we come together every day to work, laser-focused, on a simple question: How will this create value for people living...

INNOVATE® Detroit

AUTOMATION ALLEY

TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT EMBRACING DIGITAL INNOVATION WITH AUTOMATION ALLEY

In the heart of Detroit, Automation Alley propels Michigan into a future defined by digital innovation. Explore the transformative impact of Industry 4.0 through the lens of our groundbreaking initiatives. In collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Automation Alley is a key player in a signature Industry 4.0...

INNOVATION Quebec

CRIAQ

AT THE HEART OF AEROSPACE INNOVATION

CRIAQ plays a key role in ensuring the development of new aerospace technologies that enable the entire ecosystem to prosper. Quebec is one of the 3 main aerospace centres in the world and the effervescence of its industrial industry and research centres makes it a prime location for innovation. In...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

CHARITABLE IMPACT

WORKING FOR DONORS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSES THEY SUPPORT

CHARITABLE IMPACT-WORKING FOR DONORS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSES THEY SUPPORT: HOW CHARITABLE IMPACT IS TRANSFORMING THE EXPERIENCE OF GIVING TO CHARITY The charitable sector in Canada is facing significant challenges due to a decrease in the number of people donating to charity and the amount they give as a percentage...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

SPLINTERLANDS

THE MAGIC OF GAMING IN THE CRYPTO AGE

The game Splinterlands may evoke a world of magic and mayhem, but the wizards who built it live firmly in the realm of modern gaming technology. Splinterlands was founded in 2018 to combine two concepts that founders Matt Rosen and Dr. Jesse “Aggroed” Reich were already both passionate about: blockchain...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

REVERSE RESOURCES

THE DIGITAL THREAD: HOW REVERSE RESOURCES IS INDUSTRIALIZING THE GLOBAL TEXTILE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Operating from its headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, Reverse Resources (RR) stands at the intersection of technology, supply chain management, and environmental sustainability. The company’s core mission is to solve one of the fashion industry’s most pressing and complex challenges: textile waste. By focusing on digitalization and transparency, RR is enabling...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

TECHARENA

WHERE INNOVATION BEGINS WITH HUMAN CONNECTION

Techarena is a Nordic-born platform for innovation and entrepreneurship that brings together thousands of founders, investors, business leaders, and policymakers every year. Through high-impact events, accelerator programs, and media channels, Techarena creates opportunities for cross-border collaboration and sustainable growth. From Local Competition to Global Platform What began in 2014 as...

INNOVATE® Maryland

Montgomery County EDC

Maryland's Launchpad For Innovation

Steps from the nation’s capital, Montgomery County, Maryland, is one of America’s most dynamic centers of innovation and talent. From mapping the human genome (DNA) as a result of the Human Genome Projects, one of the most influential scientific endeavors in history, to the first successful transplant of a pig...

INNOVATION Quebec

BAS-SAINT-LAURENT

L’ESPACE D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT (EAC BSL) FACILITE LES PROJETS

Nos interventions comprennent le réseautage, la collaboration et le référencement des experts·es qui offrent aux entrepreneurs·es des services d’accompagnement technique et d’affaires. Une concertation régionale exemplaireL’EAC BSL est animé par le Collectif régional de développement (CRD). Créé par les huit MRC du Bas-Saint-Laurent, cet organisme de concertation et de planification...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ICOSAGEN

ESTONIA’S INDEPENDENT BIOTECH PIONEER WITH GLOBAL REACH

On Northern Europe’s digital frontier, Icosagen stands out in the biotechnology landscape. Based in Tartu, Estonia’s second‑largest city, it is not only the country’s largest biotech company but also one of the most agile Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CRDMOs) operating globally. What truly sets Icosagen apart is its...

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™ Stockholm

CAY COLLECTIVE

REDEFINING THE CREATIVE MARKET

In a world where creative talent often struggles to meet commerce, Cay Collective is shaping a new path. Founded in 2023 by Johanna Gauffin and Natalie Navia, the Stockholm-based platform serves as a marketplace for independent artists, fashion designers, and lifestyle creators offering more than just a digital storefront. Cay...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

MINIONE

MINIONE- INTRODUCED IN 2014

INTRODUCED IN 2014, MINIONE® SYSTEMS IS A BRAND OF EDUCATIONAL LIFE SCIENCE PRODUCTS DEVELOPED BY THE COMPANY EMBI TEC®, WHICH HAS FOR YEARS MANUFACTURED BIOTECH EQUIPMENT AND REAGENTS USED BY TOP RESEARCH FACILITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD

When its founders, Richard Chan and Winston Walker, learned that educators were purchasing their research-grade equipment to help students get hands-on experience with electrophoresis in their classrooms, they sought to develop a teacher and student-friendly electrophoresis system that was safe, compact, fast, and affordable, making it possible to complete inquiry...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

4C GROUP OF COMPANIES

4C GROUP OF COMPANIES-ENABLING MILLIONS OF MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS TO CONNECT

ENABLING MILLIONS OF MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS TO CONNECT, ENGAGE AND TRANSACT EVERY DAY

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...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

VALMET

MARKET LEADER, VALMET OFFERS UNIQUE AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR PAPER, PULP AND ENERGY INDUSTRIES

With more than 220-years of industrial history and 63-years of presence in Brazil, the Finnish multinational provides integrated technologies, reaffirming its commitment to constant improvement and renewal. Valmet is a global leader in the development and supply of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries....

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

LIDE PARANA

OUR BUSINESS IS TO GENERATE BUSINESS.

LIDE Parana – A group of business leaders – constantly seeks to drive the Parana market. The entity creates an ecosystem focused on business development based on the pillars of networking and content. Attracting leadership with a positive and proactive agenda, the group fosters free enterprise and consequently the economic...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CONNECTPLUG

RETAIL AUTOMATION CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE FOR EVERYONE

2014 doesn’t seem like a long time ago, but the technology was very different back then. AI was just science fiction, the internet was much slower — and retail software was expensive and unnecessarily complex. This scenario led to ConnectPlug’s creation by computer engineer Rafael Hasson. Hasson, who has worked...

INNOVATION Quebec

INSTITUT DU NOUVEAU MONDE (INM)

DEPUIS 20 ANS, L’INM, UN ORGANISME INDÉPENDANT ET NON PARTISAN, MET LA PARTICIPATION DES CITOYENNESET DES CITOYENS AU CŒUR DES PROJETS QU’ELLE DÉVELOPPE ET DE CEUX DES ORGANISATIONS QU’ELLEACCOMPAGNE. L’INM est animé par la conviction que la participation citoyenne renforce la démocratie et aide les organisations à prendre de meilleures...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

WAVICLE DATA SOLUTIONS

WAVICLE DATA SOLUTIONS- MAKES SMART PEOPLE EVEN SMARTER THROUGH THE POWER OF DATA AND ANALYTICS

MAKES SMART PEOPLE EVEN SMARTER THROUGH THE POWER OF DATA AND ANALYTICS

  Wavicle Data Solutions is a nimble consulting firm that focuses 100% on providing end-to-end data and analytics strategy, services, and support. Thanks to its deep technical expertise, business acumen, and proprietary accelerators Wavicle is able to help its clients drastically reduce the time, cost, and risk of collecting, analyzing,...

Ecosystems