New national hub director sets out to empower innovators to solve global challenges

The XPRIZE Canada hub, which officially launched at the University of Calgary in May, under the interim leadership of Dr. Ian Gates, PhD, has named a director.

XPRIZE is an established global leader in designing and operating incentive-based competitions to inspire and empower humanity to achieve breakthroughs on a global scale. Their prize model, according to Gates, reflects a commitment to evidence-based practices, scientific rigor, and validation, leveraging a global network of experts to support it.

“Our partnership with XPRIZE is an exciting opportunity for the University of Calgary to demonstrate our position, not just as an innovation leader in Canada but also globally,” says Gates, associate vice-president (innovation). 

“We are thrilled to build the team for the XPRIZE Canada Hub to help support Canadian innovators.” 

Sarah McCullough joins the XPRIZE Canada Hub as its inaugural National Hub Director. She will help to lead Canada’s efforts to harness challenge-based innovation to solve society’s most pressing problems.

McCullough brings more than 15 years of experience spanning government, startups, and industry from positions in the United States, Canada and Europe, and is recognized for building large-scale, multi-partner initiatives that connect innovators, policymakers, and investors to drive economic and social transformation.

She was drawn to the role because of her passion for a problem-based approach to solving challenges that ensures solutions deliver tangible impact in the market and unlock new economic opportunities. 

At UCalgary, XPRIZE, a sector-agnostic organization that crosscuts all industry sectors by design, is complemented by transdisciplinary scholarship. 

“I’ve always looked at tech innovation and entrepreneurship as incredible tools to solve meaningful problems, whether that’s around health, community, or creating new economic opportunities,” says McCullough. 

“But the real question is, how do we design solutions that tackle big, complex problems; the kind that truly unlock new possibilities for people and the planet? That’s exactly what XPRIZE does — they start by asking, ‘What is the problem?” 

Canada has in-depth research and development expertise, but limited pathways to move research solutions through commercialization and get them to market. The XPRIZE model has the potential to elevate Canadian innovation and solve some of the challenges faced here at home. 

“Calgary is such an ambitious city, and with the Canada Hub being located at UCalgary, it's a huge opportunity to bring community together and leverage the XPRIZE framework to amplify the work that's already happening,” says McCullough.  

The XPRIZE Canada Hub is the first XPRIZE global hub to launch and the only hub located in Canada. 

The hub will take a Canadian approach to innovation, while leveraging learnings from other international sites to move local activities forward as fast as possible. 

“Being new to Calgary, I've already felt so welcomed, and I'm really excited to be a part of the ecosystem here," adds McCullough.

"I really hope that people will reach out with their thoughts on tech innovation, or Canadian challenges they would like to see solved through future XPRIZE activities.”