Latest news with #InnovationWeek
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Shad Canada Marks 45 Years of Impact With New Report: A Blueprint for Canada's Innovation Economy
WATERLOO, Ontario, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In celebration of Innovation Week, Shad Canada is proud to release its 45 Years of Impact report, a milestone reflection on the national program's legacy of empowering the next generation of Canadian innovators. Since 1980, Shad has transformed the lives of over 24,000 high school students through immersive, hands-on STEAM and entrepreneurship programs delivered across 30 post-secondary campuses and online. The report launch comes at a pivotal time. This week's OECD Economic Survey issued a stark warning: Canada's productivity is faltering, with GDP growth projected to slow to just 1% in 2025, and long-standing issues like weak investment, internal trade barriers, and labour market frictions must be addressed urgently. As the OECD notes, future prosperity hinges on policies that boost innovation and workforce readiness—exactly the kind of skills Shad is cultivating in the next generation. In a moment of economic uncertainty, investing in youth talent isn't just the right thing to do—it's essential to Canada's long-term competitiveness. 'For 45 years, Shad has proven that early investment in young people yields long-term impact,' says Tim Jackson, President and CEO of Shad Canada. 'The students who walk through our doors become the engineers, researchers, founders, and changemakers who strengthen Canada's economy and solve real-world problems. As the demands of the workforce continue to shift, Shad is not just keeping pace—we're preparing youth to lead.' With 93% of participants recommending the program, and 91% saying it improved their critical thinking, Shad is building a generation that's equipped with the soft and technical skills employers value most. From AI and cybersecurity to clean tech and sustainable agriculture, Shad alumni are emerging as leaders in high-impact fields. Crucially, Shad is committed to building inclusive learning environments where students from all backgrounds—especially those underrepresented in STEM—can succeed. Through partnerships with organizations such as Pathways to Education and dedicated Black and Indigenous student outreach strategies, Shad ensures that excellence is accessible to all. 'If Canada wants to compete globally, we need to invest in the kind of leadership that doesn't just fill jobs but drives innovation,' adds Jackson. 'Shad is not just preparing students for post-secondary—it's preparing them to lead our communities, our companies, and our country into the future.' Alongside this Impact Report Shad will launch a national awareness campaign spotlighting alumni stories, partnerships, and community impact, underscoring how bold investments in youth today are shaping Canada's economy tomorrow. For 45 years, Shad Canada has equipped thousands of high school students—many from underrepresented and rural communities—with the skills, confidence, and networks to lead in STEAM, entrepreneurship, and innovation. With over 24,000 alumni, the program continues to deliver what Canada needs most: adaptable, collaborative, creative problem-solvers ready to shape the future. For more information contact Jennifer RossVice President, Marketing, Communications and RecruitmentShad CanadaJennifer@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Sharjah 24
29-04-2025
- Science
- Sharjah 24
RQ Science & Technology launches 2 expeditions
The programme ran from April 12 to May 29, and aimed to explore innovative solutions to real-world challenges using technology, design thinking, and collaborative creativity through the programme's various studios. Each studio offers an integrated learning experience focused on addressing a specific challenge in the environmental or technological field. 46 participants and 14 technical projects The first cohort, launched in September 2024, included 46 participants who worked on 14 technical projects with innovative applications to overcome challenges in the fields of energy and sustainability, interactive architecture, and health technology by leveraging science and technology knowledge. These projects have participated in several forums, most notably, an external visit to NOVA School in the United States to showcase one of the programme's winning projects. Projects also were showcased during the Rubu' Qarn Innovation Season and Innovation Week in collaboration with the Youth Council of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025 at the "Youth for Sustainability" pavilion, and the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE ) EXPO 2025. Developing innovative solutions The programme, in turn, aims to foster creativity and innovation by developing innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. It also encourages the integration of applied learning through the implementation of real-life projects and the design of prototypes that contribute to community service. It also empowers participants with technical skills such as design, 3D printing, programming, and electronics wiring, while developing personal skills such as problem-solving and teamwork. It also enhances presentation skills, preparing them for participation in competitions and exhibitions. Programme Studios in 2025 1. Soil Studio: This studio focuses on solving the challenge of soil erosion, which causes deterioration of the surface soil. Soil erosion impacts buildings, roads, and rock barriers, while participants will work to design and improve systems to address this challenge. 2. Underwater Life Studio: This studio discusses plastic pollution in water and encourages participants to develop innovative solutions to reduce the use of plastic in water. 3. Future Transportation Studio: Participants in this studio will imagine and design future vehicles powered by renewable energy, such as solar and wind power. 4. Virtual World Studio: This studio offers participants the opportunity to design imaginary worlds and characters using augmented and virtual reality technologies, while learning 3D modeling and coding. 5. Deep Sea Studio: This studio aims to design underwater robots capable of interacting with the surrounding environment, navigating the seabed, and collecting samples using technologies that mimic marine organisms, supporting studies and discoveries in the oceans and seas. 6. Health Technology Studio: This studio focuses on designing prototypes of wearable health devices using the latest innovative technologies and advanced materials. This enhances understanding of individuals' health needs and contributes to creating technological solutions in the healthcare sector. About the Rubu' Qarn Science and Technology Centre: The Rubu' Qarn Science and Technology Centre was established in 2024 in response to the rapid developments in science and technology, and in an effort to build a future based on knowledge and innovation. The Centre provides an integrated educational and research environment in partnership with prestigious local and international academic institutions, with the aim of preparing a generation of leaders and innovators capable of building a human-centered future. The Centre aims to attract and nurture promising Emirati talent and enable them to acquire new knowledge and skills through diverse programmes, events, and specialised courses. Programmes contribute to creating unique and ongoing opportunities for in-depth scientific research, encouraging design and critical thinking, and finding innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. The Centre operates under the umbrella of the Rubu' Qarn Foundation, chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. The Centre aims to empower an Emirati generation capable of leading and influencing the future, while remaining committed to its national identity.
Associated Press
04-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Avangrid Brings Together Energy Leaders to Pursue Innovation in Grid Modernization, AI, and Resiliency
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 4, 2025-- Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, hosted its eighth Innovation Forum at The Engine, a nonprofit Tough Tech incubator founded by MIT, to convene key stakeholders to showcase our progress and work towards solving the industry's biggest challenges with innovation. The event was part of the company's larger innovation week, which convened more than 150 thought leaders, startups, universities and students through presentations, workshops, a startup pitch competition and a student career fair. The event highlighted the development, scale up, and deployment of innovative technologies like battery storage, artificial intelligence, dynamic line rating and robotics, along with discussion of opportunities for the industry to better collaborate and facilitate the adoption of innovation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: (From Right to Left) Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra joins Stan Whittingham, SUNY Binghamton Professor and Nobel Laureate, Yet-Ming Chiang, MIT Professor, Co-Founder at Sublime Systems and Form Energy, and Ben Downing, Chief Growth Officer, The Engine 'Avangrid is deeply committed to developing and implementing the most innovative technologies to enhance the efficiency of our own operations, but also to help the U.S. meet its energy needs,' said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. 'The best way to predict the future is to invent it. Avangrid's Innovation Week was a demonstration of the company's dedication to innovation and community engagement to advance affordable energy for Americans.' This event is the culmination of Avangrid's innovation activities across the 8,000-person company. To demonstrate Avangrid's dedication to innovation, the company added a startup pitch competition and student career trek to the week of activities. Last year, Avangrid invested $107M in innovation projects and executed more than ten pilot technology projects with innovative companies and startups. Tyba, LineVision and Boston Dynamics are three examples of recent pilots on display at the forum. These pilots are ambitious initiatives in facilitating energy storage deployment, dynamic line rating, and substation operations. The 2025 Innovation Forum included a distinguished keynote panel to drill down on what it takes to develop and adopt innovation in the energy industry. Yet Ming-Chiang, MIT Professor and Co-Founder of more than six startups, including long duration energy storage company Form Energy and decarbonized cement company Sublime Systems, shared his perspective on scaling 'tough tech' at speed. Stan Whittingham, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his development of lithium-ion batteries in 2019 and is now a distinguished professor at SUNY Binghamton, shared his experience from decades of research and development in the industry. He serves as the Chief Innovation Officer of the New Energy New York (NENY) project, a hub for battery innovation led by Binghamton University. Rounding out the keynote panel was Ben Downing, Chief Growth Officer at The Engine, whose mission is to support startup companies working on scientific and technological breakthroughs with the potential for transformative societal impact. The event also included speakers from Harvard University, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. On top of critical partnerships with research institutions and startup pilot projects, Avangrid promotes innovation through its One Avangrid Accelerator Program and annual student Hackathon. During the second day of the event, Avangrid hosted its inaugural Startup Pitch Competitions to select and fund its next pilot projects. In March, the company opened applications to startups aligned with the theme of 'optimizing the planning, development and operations of energy assets' and received more than 70 applications. After a rigorous selection process, six innovative startups were invited to present their technologies to a panel of expert judges from Avangrid, The Engine, and NREL during the Forum. Firescape was selected as the winner for its advanced wildfire risk and mitigation analytics platform designed for utility applications. The company uses remote sensing and machine learning to help utilities assess and manage wildfire threats, plan mitigation strategies, and improve incident response and recovery. The company is based on Albuquerque, New Mexico and is founded by members of Sandia National Labs. The last portion of Avangrid's Innovation Week included a Career Trek program for approximately 80 university students, who had the opportunity to hear from senior leaders within the company, learn about open roles, and grow their network. About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation, and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Oregon, including operations in 23 states with approximately $47 billion in assets, and has two primary lines of business: networks and power. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its power generation business, Avangrid owns and operates more than 75 energy generation facilities across the United States producing 10.5 GW of power for over 3.1 million customers. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America's best corporate citizens in 2025 for the fifth consecutive year. The company was named among the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2025 for the seventh consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit . 838-292-6869 SOURCE: AVANGRID, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 04/04/2025 05:41 PM/DISC: 04/04/2025 05:42 PM
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Avangrid Brings Together Energy Leaders to Pursue Innovation in Grid Modernization, AI, and Resiliency
Avangrid hosts eighth annual Innovation Forum at The Engine, founded by MIT CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, hosted its eighth Innovation Forum at The Engine, a nonprofit Tough Tech incubator founded by MIT, to convene key stakeholders to showcase our progress and work towards solving the industry's biggest challenges with innovation. The event was part of the company's larger innovation week, which convened more than 150 thought leaders, startups, universities and students through presentations, workshops, a startup pitch competition and a student career fair. The event highlighted the development, scale up, and deployment of innovative technologies like battery storage, artificial intelligence, dynamic line rating and robotics, along with discussion of opportunities for the industry to better collaborate and facilitate the adoption of innovation. "Avangrid is deeply committed to developing and implementing the most innovative technologies to enhance the efficiency of our own operations, but also to help the U.S. meet its energy needs," said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. "The best way to predict the future is to invent it. Avangrid's Innovation Week was a demonstration of the company's dedication to innovation and community engagement to advance affordable energy for Americans." This event is the culmination of Avangrid's innovation activities across the 8,000-person company. To demonstrate Avangrid's dedication to innovation, the company added a startup pitch competition and student career trek to the week of activities. Last year, Avangrid invested $107M in innovation projects and executed more than ten pilot technology projects with innovative companies and startups. Tyba, LineVision and Boston Dynamics are three examples of recent pilots on display at the forum. These pilots are ambitious initiatives in facilitating energy storage deployment, dynamic line rating, and substation operations. The 2025 Innovation Forum included a distinguished keynote panel to drill down on what it takes to develop and adopt innovation in the energy industry. Yet Ming-Chiang, MIT Professor and Co-Founder of more than six startups, including long duration energy storage company Form Energy and decarbonized cement company Sublime Systems, shared his perspective on scaling "tough tech" at speed. Stan Whittingham, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his development of lithium-ion batteries in 2019 and is now a distinguished professor at SUNY Binghamton, shared his experience from decades of research and development in the industry. He serves as the Chief Innovation Officer of the New Energy New York (NENY) project, a hub for battery innovation led by Binghamton University. Rounding out the keynote panel was Ben Downing, Chief Growth Officer at The Engine, whose mission is to support startup companies working on scientific and technological breakthroughs with the potential for transformative societal impact. The event also included speakers from Harvard University, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. On top of critical partnerships with research institutions and startup pilot projects, Avangrid promotes innovation through its One Avangrid Accelerator Program and annual student Hackathon. During the second day of the event, Avangrid hosted its inaugural Startup Pitch Competitions to select and fund its next pilot projects. In March, the company opened applications to startups aligned with the theme of "optimizing the planning, development and operations of energy assets" and received more than 70 applications. After a rigorous selection process, six innovative startups were invited to present their technologies to a panel of expert judges from Avangrid, The Engine, and NREL during the Forum. Firescape was selected as the winner for its advanced wildfire risk and mitigation analytics platform designed for utility applications. The company uses remote sensing and machine learning to help utilities assess and manage wildfire threats, plan mitigation strategies, and improve incident response and recovery. The company is based on Albuquerque, New Mexico and is founded by members of Sandia National Labs. The last portion of Avangrid's Innovation Week included a Career Trek program for approximately 80 university students, who had the opportunity to hear from senior leaders within the company, learn about open roles, and grow their network. About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation, and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Oregon, including operations in 23 states with approximately $47 billion in assets, and has two primary lines of business: networks and power. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its power generation business, Avangrid owns and operates more than 75 energy generation facilities across the United States producing 10.5 GW of power for over 3.1 million customers. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America's best corporate citizens in 2025 for the fifth consecutive year. The company was named among the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2025 for the seventh consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Florencia 838-292-6869 Sign in to access your portfolio
