UCalgary goes all-in at Innovation Week YYC

Innovation Week YYC wrapped up on Nov. 21, with UCalgary the presenting sponsor for an exciting celebration of the city’s best and brightest innovative minds. 

Hosted by Platform Calgary, Innovation Week celebrated growing local entrepreneurs, industry leaders and innovators while exploring the theme, All In on Tech. 

Spectators learned about the collective impact of entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems by attending panels and listening to keynote speakers, while also making valuable connections and witnessing some of our city's boldest ideas.

The university’s sponsorship provided an opportunity to showcase the incredible innovative work happening at UCalgary. 

“At our university, we support innovation through numerous programs and services that empower our community to launch groundbreaking ideas," says Dr. Ian Gates, PhD, associate vice-president (research and innovation). "Our innovation ecosystem has created a network that encourages collaboration and where new ventures can take root."

From Nov. 13 to 21, UCalgary showcased cutting-edge projects and progress in technology, research and entrepreneurship.

Schulich School of Engineering Makerspace

The Makerspace hosted an activation station and participated in the Pitch Breakfast and Kickoff on Nov. 13, captivating attendees with a demonstration of the Robotic Claw. The excitement continued Nov. 18-19 with immersive experiences like virtual reality, a 3D petting zoo, and a photo booth at the CleanTech and AgTech sessions. These interactive displays were aimed at attracting the next generation of innovators, introducing them to the university's approach to Start something.

AgTech 6x6 

Innovation Week highlighted the growing impact of technology across various sectors in Alberta, including agriculture. On Nov. 19, six visionary UCalgary-affiliated startups were in the spotlight at AgTech 6x6. With just six minutes to present their groundbreaking ideas, they showcased how local innovators are shaping the future of agriculture. Featured companies included AgGene, SolarSteam Inc., Chromasense Technologies Inc., Ferma Farms, Munitora and Prairie Precision Sustainability Network (PSN). Hosted by Creative Destruction Lab - Rockies, the entrepreneurs shared their challenges and success stories, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit that UCalgary fosters.

The life sciences and entrepreneurship journey

As the week concluded, innovators gathered for an interactive panel discussion on life sciences and entrepreneurship, featuring three noted researchers. The panellists included Dr. Deborah Kurrasch, PhD, professor at the Cumming School of Medicine and CEO/co-founder of Stream Neuroscience; Dr. Victoria Hodgkinson, PhD, chief scientific officer at Lumiio; and Dr. Mehdi Mohammadi Ashani, PhD, senior scientist in the Department of Biological Sciences and CEO/Co-founder of Fluidome and BioChip Tech.

Each panellist shared their entrepreneurial journey and the creation of their spin-off companies with Julia MacGregor, host and producer of UCalgary's first innovation podcast, Now Innovating.

While another Innovation Week YYC is in the history books, innovation at UCalgary continues to be a top priority. The university is making change happen locally and globally, bridging groundbreaking research and community impact. 

Want to learn more about how UCalgary is taking innovative ideas and turning them into real world solutions? Visit our innovation website here.