Stories of Innovation
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Popular Are Pickup Trucks in American Car Sharing?
From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing
From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing Pickup trucks aren’t just vehicles in America—they’re a lifestyle. For decades, they’ve been hauling gear, towing trailers, and getting folks out into the wild or across town with a mattress strapped in the back. But lately, pickups have...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
US WorldMeds
How the Navy Yard is Expanding What’s Possible in Rare Disease
US WorldMeds is a specialty pharmaceutical company guided by a clear purpose: to improve the lives of patients facing rare and serious conditions. With a focus on areas that are often overlooked, the company is committed to identifying unmet needs and delivering therapies that create real impact for patients, families,...
INNOVATION Quebec
IVADO
MOTEUR D’UNE IA ROBUSTE, RAISONNANTE ET RESPONSABLE
IVADO est un consortium de recherche et de transfert de connaissances en IA basé à Montréal. Il mobilise une expertise universitaire unique au monde afin de combler le fossé entre l’IA actuelle et l’intelligence humaine et ainsi développer une IA capable de se déployer dans des environnements changeants et complexes....
INNOVATION Quebec
MEDTEQ+
ACCÉLÉRER LE DÉVELOPPEMENTET LA COMMERCIALISATION DES TECHNOLOGIES EN SANTÉ, VOILÀ LERÔLE DE MEDTEQ+
Comment s’assurer que les technologies en santé sont robustes et percent les différents marchés? Comment soutenir les entrepreneurs et les entrepreneuses du Québec, les accompagner et contribuer à stimuler l’écosystème en innovation? Voilà la mission que s’est donnée MEDTEQ+ , un consortium pancanadien de recherche industrielle et d’innovation en technologies...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ALT TEX
FOOD-TO-FABRIC FASHION
Fashion’s Pollution ProblemThe $2.5 trillion fashion industry is one of the top-most polluting industries in the world, generating 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the heavy reliance by the industry on synthetic, petroleum-derived, fabrics such as polyester, is projected to create over a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
VERSITI
BEYOND THE BLOOD CENTER – INNOVATING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF BLOOD HEALTH
BEYOND THE BLOOD CENTER – INNOVATING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF BLOOD HEALTH Versiti has established itself as a leader in blood health innovation and clinical testing services for clinicians, health care providers, and researchers. Originally founded as a community blood banking initiative in 1947, the organization now known as Versiti,...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CATWALK CONSULTING
GROUNDED IN RESEARCH, EXPERIENCE AND CULTURAL FLUENCY
Catwalk Consulting Group is a strategic marketing and communications firm specializing in the entertainment industry. We are known for innovative, future-focused approaches to positioning artists, executives, brands and organizations for what’s next. Our work centers on customized positioning and intentional audience development designed to elevate visibility, relevance and long-term impact....
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
AstraZeneca
At AstraZeneca Portugal, We Breathe Innovation
Innovation is part of the daily lives of the AstraZeneca teams and this is reflected not only in the research development of the most advanced therapies, but also through the projects we design and implement and through the company’s unique approach and positioning. With sustainability in its DNA, AstraZeneca designs...
INNOVATE® Nashville
GEEQ
FROM THE VULNERABLE ECONOMY TO THE VERIFIED ECONOMY
It’s Time for a Major Change For two decades, the digital economy has been driven by growth at any cost. Platforms built fortunes by selling data first and asking forgiveness later. Success was measured by clicks and likes – often at the expense of genuine value. That playbook is collapsing....
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
I AM YOUR SISTER
A SCANDINAVIAN BRAND TURNING SISTERHOOD INTO GLOBAL DEMAND
Founded in Stockholm, IAYS (I AM YOUR SISTER) is a Scandinavian knitwear brand built on premium design, craftsmanship and cultural relevance. With high-end knitwear at its core, the company represents a modern approach to luxury, one that combines quality and minimalist aesthetics with a purposeful message of connection and sisterhood....
INNOVATION Manitoba
PREGEASE
PRACTICAL INNOVATION FOR FERTILITY AND WOMEN’S HEALTH
PregEase Inc. is a Canadian MedTech company simplifying fertility and vaginal healthcare by focusing on practical, affordable, at-home devices instead of complex, high-cost interventions. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the company has developed women’s health solutions that target two large, adjacent markets: the global fertility market, projected to surpass USD 93...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
BRANSON CENTRE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SOUTH AFRICA
SCREW IT, LET’S DO IT!
The world is obsessed with changing businesses for good. Ask the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship South Africa (Branson Centre) for its take on that, and it’ll tell you that is actually a misnomer. Fundamentally, business is good. The focus of the Branson Centre is entrepreneurialism and social responsibility. The Branson...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
Grupo Ferré Rangel
A mission-driven, fourth-generation diversified family office, leading Puerto Rico and the global communities in which it operates to a sustainable and prosperous future
For generations, the family business of Grupo Ferré Rangel has been directly related to the social and economic development of Puerto Rico. Throughout its 100+ years, it has evolved and gained considerable experience in at least seven industries. Today, Grupo Ferré Rangel is a mission-driven, fourth generation diversified family office...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
GREATER NEWARK ENTERPRISES CORPORATION
A CDFI that Provides Technical ASSISTANCE and Lending capital so NJ Small Businesses Survive and Thrive
Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation (GNEC) is a Newark-based non-profit certified community development financial institution (CDFI) with a proven record of delivering capital and microenterprise services to disadvantaged microentrepreneurs in the northern New Jersey areas of Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Bergen, Middlesex, Union and Monmouth counties of New Jersey. GNEC’s primary purpose...
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...
Global Innovation Spotlight
6 Technologies Changing Historical Reenactment
Six technologies improving research, safety, authenticity and audience participation in living history.
Modern historical interpretation now blends research tools, safer equipment, authentic material culture, and audience-facing technology. This roundup examines six technology categories that improve research, safety, authenticity, and audience participation. Each entry weighs cost, training, fit, maintenance, and safety trade-offs. A closing checklist ties the choices together. 1. Digitized Museum and...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
PHIGITALS
Fashion + Web3: The Road to Sustainability
Phigitals [Physical + Digital] is a web3 enabled B2B Saas solution for sustainable fashion resale, allowing e-commerce retail platforms to recapture margin in the circular economy, boosting profits while reducing their carbon footprint by up to 86% per transaction (source: Financial Times). The company tethers individual fashion items to NFTs...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
ITG Technologies
Provides Innovative Data-Driven Technology Solutions
ITG is a digital transformation company providing state of the art technology solutions to fortune 500 enterprises in the greater southeast corridor of the US. With over 100 years of combined experience and a skilled staff of automation & software engineers, ITG is able to provide innovative data-driven technology solutions...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
BOTSWANA DIGITAL AND INNOVATION HUB
THE MANDATE OF THE BDIH IS TO CATALYSE THE DIVERSIFICATION OF BOTSWANA’S ECONOMY, TOWARDS A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
The Hub works closely with innovation ecosystem players to commercialise innovative and tech driven solutions. The Hub does this by: The BDIH owns two subsidiary companies, the first being the Botswana Innovation Hub Property (Pty) Ltd (BIHP). BIHP leverages the strategic infrastructure that includes the Science and Technology Park and...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
Filament Health
Is a natural psychedelic drug development company. Our mission is to see safe, natural psychedelics in the hands of everyone who needs them, as soon as possible.
Filament Health was founded by experts in botanical extraction and commercialization. We honed our expertise at Mazza Innovation, a natural extraction startup, which our team scaled from pre-seed to an exit in 2018. At Mazza, we developed and commercialized patent-protected extraction technologies at a 35,000 ft2 commercial-scale, GMP facility. After...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TOOMAS ALTNURME
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN ART, INNOVATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY
Few artists can claim to move as fluidly between continents, disciplines, and cultures as Dr. Toomas Altnurme. An Estonian sculptor, painter, designer, educator, and cultural ambassador, his creative life is a testament to how art can transcend geography and time. “I’ve always believed art is a universal language,” says Dr....
INNOVATE® Georgia
GEORGIA TECH MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE
INNOVATION AT THE SPEED OF THOUGHT
Whether it’s developing new products, reducing costs, or increasing accessibility, innovations in manufacturing can improve the lives of companies and consumers alike. The Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI) is leading that charge with a mission to cultivate, scale, and integrate those innovations into the market — and develop the workforce...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
Global Philadelphia Association
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™ Vancouver Vol.2
RAFAEL SANTA ANA ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP
CHALLENGING CREATIVITY THROUGH DIVERSITY
Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop (RSAAW) is a Vancouver-based architectural practice that creates expressive, contemporary interventions that contribute to our communities in thoughtful and meaningful ways. The practice’s diverse team pursues projects where design can be developed, including residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and mixed use development programs. RSAAW seeks creative...
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Popular Are Pickup Trucks in American Car Sharing?
From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing
From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing Pickup trucks aren’t just vehicles in America—they’re a lifestyle. For decades, they’ve been hauling gear, towing trailers, and getting folks out into the wild or across town with a mattress strapped in the back. But lately, pickups have...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
US WorldMeds
How the Navy Yard is Expanding What’s Possible in Rare Disease
US WorldMeds is a specialty pharmaceutical company guided by a clear purpose: to improve the lives of patients facing rare and serious conditions. With a focus on areas that are often overlooked, the company is committed to identifying unmet needs and delivering therapies that create real impact for patients, families,...
INNOVATION Quebec
IVADO
MOTEUR D’UNE IA ROBUSTE, RAISONNANTE ET RESPONSABLE
IVADO est un consortium de recherche et de transfert de connaissances en IA basé à Montréal. Il mobilise une expertise universitaire unique au monde afin de combler le fossé entre l’IA actuelle et l’intelligence humaine et ainsi développer une IA capable de se déployer dans des environnements changeants et complexes....
INNOVATION Quebec
MEDTEQ+
ACCÉLÉRER LE DÉVELOPPEMENTET LA COMMERCIALISATION DES TECHNOLOGIES EN SANTÉ, VOILÀ LERÔLE DE MEDTEQ+
Comment s’assurer que les technologies en santé sont robustes et percent les différents marchés? Comment soutenir les entrepreneurs et les entrepreneuses du Québec, les accompagner et contribuer à stimuler l’écosystème en innovation? Voilà la mission que s’est donnée MEDTEQ+ , un consortium pancanadien de recherche industrielle et d’innovation en technologies...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ALT TEX
FOOD-TO-FABRIC FASHION
Fashion’s Pollution ProblemThe $2.5 trillion fashion industry is one of the top-most polluting industries in the world, generating 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the heavy reliance by the industry on synthetic, petroleum-derived, fabrics such as polyester, is projected to create over a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
VERSITI
BEYOND THE BLOOD CENTER – INNOVATING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF BLOOD HEALTH
BEYOND THE BLOOD CENTER – INNOVATING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF BLOOD HEALTH Versiti has established itself as a leader in blood health innovation and clinical testing services for clinicians, health care providers, and researchers. Originally founded as a community blood banking initiative in 1947, the organization now known as Versiti,...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CATWALK CONSULTING
GROUNDED IN RESEARCH, EXPERIENCE AND CULTURAL FLUENCY
Catwalk Consulting Group is a strategic marketing and communications firm specializing in the entertainment industry. We are known for innovative, future-focused approaches to positioning artists, executives, brands and organizations for what’s next. Our work centers on customized positioning and intentional audience development designed to elevate visibility, relevance and long-term impact....
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
AstraZeneca
At AstraZeneca Portugal, We Breathe Innovation
Innovation is part of the daily lives of the AstraZeneca teams and this is reflected not only in the research development of the most advanced therapies, but also through the projects we design and implement and through the company’s unique approach and positioning. With sustainability in its DNA, AstraZeneca designs...
INNOVATE® Nashville
GEEQ
FROM THE VULNERABLE ECONOMY TO THE VERIFIED ECONOMY
It’s Time for a Major Change For two decades, the digital economy has been driven by growth at any cost. Platforms built fortunes by selling data first and asking forgiveness later. Success was measured by clicks and likes – often at the expense of genuine value. That playbook is collapsing....
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
I AM YOUR SISTER
A SCANDINAVIAN BRAND TURNING SISTERHOOD INTO GLOBAL DEMAND
Founded in Stockholm, IAYS (I AM YOUR SISTER) is a Scandinavian knitwear brand built on premium design, craftsmanship and cultural relevance. With high-end knitwear at its core, the company represents a modern approach to luxury, one that combines quality and minimalist aesthetics with a purposeful message of connection and sisterhood....
INNOVATION Manitoba
PREGEASE
PRACTICAL INNOVATION FOR FERTILITY AND WOMEN’S HEALTH
PregEase Inc. is a Canadian MedTech company simplifying fertility and vaginal healthcare by focusing on practical, affordable, at-home devices instead of complex, high-cost interventions. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the company has developed women’s health solutions that target two large, adjacent markets: the global fertility market, projected to surpass USD 93...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
BRANSON CENTRE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SOUTH AFRICA
SCREW IT, LET’S DO IT!
The world is obsessed with changing businesses for good. Ask the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship South Africa (Branson Centre) for its take on that, and it’ll tell you that is actually a misnomer. Fundamentally, business is good. The focus of the Branson Centre is entrepreneurialism and social responsibility. The Branson...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
Grupo Ferré Rangel
A mission-driven, fourth-generation diversified family office, leading Puerto Rico and the global communities in which it operates to a sustainable and prosperous future
For generations, the family business of Grupo Ferré Rangel has been directly related to the social and economic development of Puerto Rico. Throughout its 100+ years, it has evolved and gained considerable experience in at least seven industries. Today, Grupo Ferré Rangel is a mission-driven, fourth generation diversified family office...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
GREATER NEWARK ENTERPRISES CORPORATION
A CDFI that Provides Technical ASSISTANCE and Lending capital so NJ Small Businesses Survive and Thrive
Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation (GNEC) is a Newark-based non-profit certified community development financial institution (CDFI) with a proven record of delivering capital and microenterprise services to disadvantaged microentrepreneurs in the northern New Jersey areas of Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Bergen, Middlesex, Union and Monmouth counties of New Jersey. GNEC’s primary purpose...
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...
Global Innovation Spotlight
6 Technologies Changing Historical Reenactment
Six technologies improving research, safety, authenticity and audience participation in living history.
Modern historical interpretation now blends research tools, safer equipment, authentic material culture, and audience-facing technology. This roundup examines six technology categories that improve research, safety, authenticity, and audience participation. Each entry weighs cost, training, fit, maintenance, and safety trade-offs. A closing checklist ties the choices together. 1. Digitized Museum and...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
PHIGITALS
Fashion + Web3: The Road to Sustainability
Phigitals [Physical + Digital] is a web3 enabled B2B Saas solution for sustainable fashion resale, allowing e-commerce retail platforms to recapture margin in the circular economy, boosting profits while reducing their carbon footprint by up to 86% per transaction (source: Financial Times). The company tethers individual fashion items to NFTs...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
ITG Technologies
Provides Innovative Data-Driven Technology Solutions
ITG is a digital transformation company providing state of the art technology solutions to fortune 500 enterprises in the greater southeast corridor of the US. With over 100 years of combined experience and a skilled staff of automation & software engineers, ITG is able to provide innovative data-driven technology solutions...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
BOTSWANA DIGITAL AND INNOVATION HUB
THE MANDATE OF THE BDIH IS TO CATALYSE THE DIVERSIFICATION OF BOTSWANA’S ECONOMY, TOWARDS A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
The Hub works closely with innovation ecosystem players to commercialise innovative and tech driven solutions. The Hub does this by: The BDIH owns two subsidiary companies, the first being the Botswana Innovation Hub Property (Pty) Ltd (BIHP). BIHP leverages the strategic infrastructure that includes the Science and Technology Park and...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
Filament Health
Is a natural psychedelic drug development company. Our mission is to see safe, natural psychedelics in the hands of everyone who needs them, as soon as possible.
Filament Health was founded by experts in botanical extraction and commercialization. We honed our expertise at Mazza Innovation, a natural extraction startup, which our team scaled from pre-seed to an exit in 2018. At Mazza, we developed and commercialized patent-protected extraction technologies at a 35,000 ft2 commercial-scale, GMP facility. After...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TOOMAS ALTNURME
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN ART, INNOVATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY
Few artists can claim to move as fluidly between continents, disciplines, and cultures as Dr. Toomas Altnurme. An Estonian sculptor, painter, designer, educator, and cultural ambassador, his creative life is a testament to how art can transcend geography and time. “I’ve always believed art is a universal language,” says Dr....
INNOVATE® Georgia
GEORGIA TECH MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE
INNOVATION AT THE SPEED OF THOUGHT
Whether it’s developing new products, reducing costs, or increasing accessibility, innovations in manufacturing can improve the lives of companies and consumers alike. The Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI) is leading that charge with a mission to cultivate, scale, and integrate those innovations into the market — and develop the workforce...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
Global Philadelphia Association
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™ Vancouver Vol.2
RAFAEL SANTA ANA ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP
CHALLENGING CREATIVITY THROUGH DIVERSITY
Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop (RSAAW) is a Vancouver-based architectural practice that creates expressive, contemporary interventions that contribute to our communities in thoughtful and meaningful ways. The practice’s diverse team pursues projects where design can be developed, including residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and mixed use development programs. RSAAW seeks creative...