Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Flanders
iFLUX
Future-proof groundwater monitoring solutions in uncertain and dynamic times.
How do you tackle groundwater contamination in a targeted, swift, and efficient manner? How do you prevent nature reserves and cities from running dry? These are the questions that iFLUX experts answer with the help of objective data coming from state-of-the-art sensor technology. Groundwater constitutes just 0,65% of Earth’s water,...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Quiet Comeback of the Human Voice in Software
Why the most natural interface we have is finally becoming the way we get work done
Why the most natural interface we have is finally becoming the way we get work done For 40 years, getting something out of your head and into a computer has meant the same thing: stop, find a keyboard, and type. We have accepted this as normal. But typing is a...
INNOVATE™ Kenya
EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS
THE IMPACT OF STARTUP GRIND GLOBAL AND ITS LOCAL REACH
Startup Grind Global stands as the world’s largest startup community, uniting founders, innovators, and creators on a global scale. With a mission to provide startups everywhere with the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies, Startup Grind Global has become a beacon of support and...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SKILLSHOT
SKILLSHOT PARTNERS WITH BRANDS TO DELIVER GAMING FOR GOOD
SKILLSHOT CONNECTS LEADING BRANDS, ENGAGED GAMING FANS, AND POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT. Now why exactly would major brands — as diverse as Coca-Cola, US Army, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Piedmont, Georgia State University, Spelman College, DoorDash, Chelsea FC, Comcast, Cox, Turner, Intel, HP, Lenovo, Boys and Girls Club, Make-A-Wish Georgia, YMCA,...
INNOVATE® Detroit
ANN ARBOR SPARK
Igniting Economic Innovation in Washtenaw County
Established in 2004 through a visionary initiative that included the University of Michigan and other community leaders, Ann Arbor SPARK was created to transform Ann Arbor into a national hub for innovation, business, and talent. Today, it is a catalyst for innovation and economic growth. Ann Arbor SPARK helps drive...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
METIQUITY
A FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTALS, NOT HYPE.
A CHANGE FOR THE SMALLER.Micro, in fact. Rapidly decreasing technology costs, combined with digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, data and analytics, cloud computing, SaaS, and the Internet of Things, are disrupting our existing business and operating models. This means that Alberta’s emerging-technology sector is primed to be a catalyst...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
MARS
Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation
MaRS helps promising ventures become world-leading companies. The anchor of Canada’s tech ecosystem, MaRS connects all players in the innovation economy to turn breakthrough ideas into products and services with global impact. MaRS was founded on the philosophy that innovators require more than labs and offices. They need a platform...
INNOVATION Quebec
SCALE AI
TOWARDS AN AI-POWERED ECONOMY FOR CANADA
As Canada’s AI Global Innovation Cluster, Scale AI acts as an investment and innovation hub to accelerate the adoption and rapid integration of artificial intelligence in supply chains with projects that have a high potential for our economy. Scale AI brings together the pillars of the pan-Canadian AI community, encouraging...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
EMPIRE DREAMS
GRASSROOTS VISIONARIES: HOW EMPIRE DREAMS IS REBUILDING EAST-SIDE KC... ONE FAMILY, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME
Empire Dreams is birthing a new blueprint for urban transformation in East-Side Kansas City neighborhoods long neglected and marginalized by institutions and systems that fueled their disinvestment. Every facet of their work is designed to dismantle systemic racism, generational poverty, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma. Believing that true...
INNOVATE® Nashville
LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP
Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up
When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...
INNOVATION Quebec
L’Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT)
L’Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT) fait partie de la démarche des Espaces régionaux d’accélération et de croissance mis en place par le ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec en 2018
La création de l’organisation s’est faite en 2018, à la suite d’un processus de consultation et de concertation régional, pour établir le positionnement adéquat de l’organisation. La complémentarité de la mission de l’organisation avec l’ensemble des partenaires de l’écosystème de développement et d’innovation en région a permis de conclure à...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
ALMADESIGN
Design Driven Innovation
Almadesign’s goal is to create innovative products that will enhance people’s lives by contributing to their sustainability and success. We are a design studio with core competencies in the design of products, services and design management, structuring product development methodologies and implementing industrial innovation processes. We drive innovation through design,...
INNOVATE® Georgia
Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)
We Are At The Forefront Of Efforts To Bridge The Skills Gap By Offering Programs That Are Closely Aligned With Industry Demands.
With 22 colleges and 88 campuses across Georgia, The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) provides quality technical education for more than 148,000 students (AY24). Founded on the principles of accessibility, affordability, and excellence in postsecondary education, TCSG has consistently played a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
SSE BUSINESS LAB
CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR UNICORNS
SSE Business Lab is the startup incubator of the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), one of Europe’s top business schools. Since its founding in 2001, the incubator has supported more than 300 startups, including some of Sweden’s most recognized success stories such as Klarna, Voi, Instabee (formerly Budbee), and Legora....
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
SIME
WHY INNOVATION STARTS WITH PEOPLE, NOT PRESSURE
In a world defined by rapid technological change, constant disruption, and ever-higher performance demands, Ola Ahlvarsson has spent nearly three decades championing a quietly radical idea: that true innovation doesn’t start with pressure or tools—it starts with people. Widely regarded as one of the Nordic region’s most influential thought leaders...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
RED DEER POLYTECHNIC
Creating Solutions for Industry
The Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation collaborate with business and industry clients to help them reach their goals. “Every innovation starts with a challenge, but that challenge is not always coming up with a new idea. Sometimes the biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is overcoming barriers to accessing the technology...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
BEYOND THE HYPE: POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES MAKES HYDROGEN A COMMERCIAL REALITY
While the concept of a “hydrogen economy” has been a topic of political discourse and future-gazing for years, one Tallinn-based company is demonstrating that for many applications, the future is already here. PowerUP Energy Technologies, founded by scientist and entrepreneur Ivar Kruusenberg, is moving beyond theoretical promise and deploying certified...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ELECTROLUX GROUP
SHAPING LIVING FOR THE BETTER FOR OVER A CENTURY
Since 1996 in Curitiba, the city is a hub for global innovation in home appliances. Founded in 1919 by Axel Wenner-Gren in Sweden and present in more than 120 countries, Electrolux Group is a global leader in household and professional appliances. For over a century, the company has been dedicated...
INNOVATE® Nashville
VIDEOBOMB
MAKES ANY BRAND ENGAGEMENT MORE IMMERSIVE AND COMPELLING
According to Chad Marcum, VideoBomb’s Founder and CEO, “Our mission is to make augmented reality available to businesses of all sizes. AR is the next big thing in customer engagement, and it should not be limited to only the big brands with big budgets. We’ve made it easy and affordable...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Breadless
Fuel Your Next Move
In a market dominated by fast-food giants, Breadless has emerged as a bold disruptor, transforming fast-casual dining with its nutrient-packed, bread-free innovation. This Detroit-born brand is redefining how Americans fuel their lives by replacing traditional bread with leafy super greens. At Breadless, meals are not just sustenance — they’re catalysts...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
South Coast Cyber Center
Empowering Individuals, the Business Community, and Government with the Skills and Knowledge to Navigate the Increasingly Complex World of Cybersecurity.
The South Coast Cyber Center, a nonprofit located in Beaufort, South Carolina, is an integral player in the region’s technology ecosystem, offering a collaborative approach to education, training, and economic development. The work of the Cyber Center focuses on empowering individuals, the business community, and government with the skills and...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
DVIRC
FORGING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING
In 1988, DVIRC was founded to bolster Southeastern Pennsylvania’s industrial base, a home to more than 6,500 manufacturers. The region’s future as a critical manufacturing hub hinged on its ability to compete in an increasingly global economy. DVIRC was established to accelerate that competitiveness, pioneering the right-sizing of best practices...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
iFLUX
Future-proof groundwater monitoring solutions in uncertain and dynamic times.
How do you tackle groundwater contamination in a targeted, swift, and efficient manner? How do you prevent nature reserves and cities from running dry? These are the questions that iFLUX experts answer with the help of objective data coming from state-of-the-art sensor technology. Groundwater constitutes just 0,65% of Earth’s water,...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Quiet Comeback of the Human Voice in Software
Why the most natural interface we have is finally becoming the way we get work done
Why the most natural interface we have is finally becoming the way we get work done For 40 years, getting something out of your head and into a computer has meant the same thing: stop, find a keyboard, and type. We have accepted this as normal. But typing is a...
INNOVATE™ Kenya
EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS
THE IMPACT OF STARTUP GRIND GLOBAL AND ITS LOCAL REACH
Startup Grind Global stands as the world’s largest startup community, uniting founders, innovators, and creators on a global scale. With a mission to provide startups everywhere with the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies, Startup Grind Global has become a beacon of support and...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SKILLSHOT
SKILLSHOT PARTNERS WITH BRANDS TO DELIVER GAMING FOR GOOD
SKILLSHOT CONNECTS LEADING BRANDS, ENGAGED GAMING FANS, AND POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT. Now why exactly would major brands — as diverse as Coca-Cola, US Army, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Piedmont, Georgia State University, Spelman College, DoorDash, Chelsea FC, Comcast, Cox, Turner, Intel, HP, Lenovo, Boys and Girls Club, Make-A-Wish Georgia, YMCA,...
INNOVATE® Detroit
ANN ARBOR SPARK
Igniting Economic Innovation in Washtenaw County
Established in 2004 through a visionary initiative that included the University of Michigan and other community leaders, Ann Arbor SPARK was created to transform Ann Arbor into a national hub for innovation, business, and talent. Today, it is a catalyst for innovation and economic growth. Ann Arbor SPARK helps drive...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
METIQUITY
A FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTALS, NOT HYPE.
A CHANGE FOR THE SMALLER.Micro, in fact. Rapidly decreasing technology costs, combined with digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, data and analytics, cloud computing, SaaS, and the Internet of Things, are disrupting our existing business and operating models. This means that Alberta’s emerging-technology sector is primed to be a catalyst...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
MARS
Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation
MaRS helps promising ventures become world-leading companies. The anchor of Canada’s tech ecosystem, MaRS connects all players in the innovation economy to turn breakthrough ideas into products and services with global impact. MaRS was founded on the philosophy that innovators require more than labs and offices. They need a platform...
INNOVATION Quebec
SCALE AI
TOWARDS AN AI-POWERED ECONOMY FOR CANADA
As Canada’s AI Global Innovation Cluster, Scale AI acts as an investment and innovation hub to accelerate the adoption and rapid integration of artificial intelligence in supply chains with projects that have a high potential for our economy. Scale AI brings together the pillars of the pan-Canadian AI community, encouraging...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
EMPIRE DREAMS
GRASSROOTS VISIONARIES: HOW EMPIRE DREAMS IS REBUILDING EAST-SIDE KC... ONE FAMILY, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME
Empire Dreams is birthing a new blueprint for urban transformation in East-Side Kansas City neighborhoods long neglected and marginalized by institutions and systems that fueled their disinvestment. Every facet of their work is designed to dismantle systemic racism, generational poverty, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma. Believing that true...
INNOVATE® Nashville
LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP
Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up
When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...
INNOVATION Quebec
L’Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT)
L’Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT) fait partie de la démarche des Espaces régionaux d’accélération et de croissance mis en place par le ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec en 2018
La création de l’organisation s’est faite en 2018, à la suite d’un processus de consultation et de concertation régional, pour établir le positionnement adéquat de l’organisation. La complémentarité de la mission de l’organisation avec l’ensemble des partenaires de l’écosystème de développement et d’innovation en région a permis de conclure à...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
ALMADESIGN
Design Driven Innovation
Almadesign’s goal is to create innovative products that will enhance people’s lives by contributing to their sustainability and success. We are a design studio with core competencies in the design of products, services and design management, structuring product development methodologies and implementing industrial innovation processes. We drive innovation through design,...
INNOVATE® Georgia
Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)
We Are At The Forefront Of Efforts To Bridge The Skills Gap By Offering Programs That Are Closely Aligned With Industry Demands.
With 22 colleges and 88 campuses across Georgia, The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) provides quality technical education for more than 148,000 students (AY24). Founded on the principles of accessibility, affordability, and excellence in postsecondary education, TCSG has consistently played a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
SSE BUSINESS LAB
CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR UNICORNS
SSE Business Lab is the startup incubator of the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), one of Europe’s top business schools. Since its founding in 2001, the incubator has supported more than 300 startups, including some of Sweden’s most recognized success stories such as Klarna, Voi, Instabee (formerly Budbee), and Legora....
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
SIME
WHY INNOVATION STARTS WITH PEOPLE, NOT PRESSURE
In a world defined by rapid technological change, constant disruption, and ever-higher performance demands, Ola Ahlvarsson has spent nearly three decades championing a quietly radical idea: that true innovation doesn’t start with pressure or tools—it starts with people. Widely regarded as one of the Nordic region’s most influential thought leaders...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
RED DEER POLYTECHNIC
Creating Solutions for Industry
The Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation collaborate with business and industry clients to help them reach their goals. “Every innovation starts with a challenge, but that challenge is not always coming up with a new idea. Sometimes the biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is overcoming barriers to accessing the technology...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
BEYOND THE HYPE: POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES MAKES HYDROGEN A COMMERCIAL REALITY
While the concept of a “hydrogen economy” has been a topic of political discourse and future-gazing for years, one Tallinn-based company is demonstrating that for many applications, the future is already here. PowerUP Energy Technologies, founded by scientist and entrepreneur Ivar Kruusenberg, is moving beyond theoretical promise and deploying certified...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ELECTROLUX GROUP
SHAPING LIVING FOR THE BETTER FOR OVER A CENTURY
Since 1996 in Curitiba, the city is a hub for global innovation in home appliances. Founded in 1919 by Axel Wenner-Gren in Sweden and present in more than 120 countries, Electrolux Group is a global leader in household and professional appliances. For over a century, the company has been dedicated...
INNOVATE® Nashville
VIDEOBOMB
MAKES ANY BRAND ENGAGEMENT MORE IMMERSIVE AND COMPELLING
According to Chad Marcum, VideoBomb’s Founder and CEO, “Our mission is to make augmented reality available to businesses of all sizes. AR is the next big thing in customer engagement, and it should not be limited to only the big brands with big budgets. We’ve made it easy and affordable...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Breadless
Fuel Your Next Move
In a market dominated by fast-food giants, Breadless has emerged as a bold disruptor, transforming fast-casual dining with its nutrient-packed, bread-free innovation. This Detroit-born brand is redefining how Americans fuel their lives by replacing traditional bread with leafy super greens. At Breadless, meals are not just sustenance — they’re catalysts...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
South Coast Cyber Center
Empowering Individuals, the Business Community, and Government with the Skills and Knowledge to Navigate the Increasingly Complex World of Cybersecurity.
The South Coast Cyber Center, a nonprofit located in Beaufort, South Carolina, is an integral player in the region’s technology ecosystem, offering a collaborative approach to education, training, and economic development. The work of the Cyber Center focuses on empowering individuals, the business community, and government with the skills and...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
DVIRC
FORGING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING
In 1988, DVIRC was founded to bolster Southeastern Pennsylvania’s industrial base, a home to more than 6,500 manufacturers. The region’s future as a critical manufacturing hub hinged on its ability to compete in an increasingly global economy. DVIRC was established to accelerate that competitiveness, pioneering the right-sizing of best practices...