Where ideas take off: Innovation Week 2026

Every innovation starts somewhere. A question in a classroom. A breakthrough in a research lab. A founder with an idea and the determination to see it through.

From Nov. 2 to 5, those beginnings will take centre stage at Innovation Week Calgary 2026, a citywide celebration of entrepreneurship, technology and bold ideas hosted by Platform Calgary. Returning as presenting sponsor, the University of Calgary will play a leading role throughout the week, showcasing the talent, research and industry connections helping drive growth across the city. 

Bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, academics and industry leaders, Innovation Week offers opportunities to learn from experts, explore emerging technologies and build connections across Calgary's growing innovation community. For UCalgary, it's a chance to showcase the people, programs and partnerships helping move discoveries from campus into communities, industries and the marketplace.

“Innovation and entrepreneurship are at the heart of the University of Calgary’s commitment to building a stronger, more prosperous Calgary,” says President and Vice-Chancellor Ed McCauley. “UCalgary is generating the groundbreaking research and world class talent that is transforming bold ideas into real-world impact, and we’re proud to support the people and partnerships driving our city forward. We’re excited to once again be a presenting sponsor of Calgary Innovation Week as we celebrate the changemakers who are shaping our future.”

Leading the conversation

Across four days of programming, attendees will have plenty of opportunities to connect with the university. Stop by the UCalgary event booth to meet representatives from the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking and the Office of Partnerships, then dive into expert led sessions covering everything from AI and entrepreneurship to social innovation and quantum technologies.

Featured sessions include:

• Seeing the Whole: Systems Thinking for Social Innovation (Nov. 2, 9:00-10:00 a.m.), where Kurt White, MBA’23, program manager at UCalgary's Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, will introduce systems-thinking approaches and practical tools participants can apply to tackling complex challenges across their careers, organizations and communities.
• Build Your Quantum Roadmap: Now, Later, Never? (Nov. 2, 2:45 - 4:15 p.m.), presented by Ryan Kresevic, corporate engagement manager at UCalgary's Quantum City, examining the real-world potential of quantum computing and offering practical insights into when, where and how the emerging technology could create value for organizations.
• Building Prize-Ready Ventures: Inside the XPRIZE Model (Nov. 3, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.), led by Sarah McCullough, national hub director of the XPRIZE Canada Hub at UCalgary, exploring how innovators can identify grand challenges, define measurable goals and assess whether their ideas are positioned for transformative impact.
• UCalgary4U: A Practical Guide to Partnering with Canada's Entrepreneurial University (Nov. 3, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.), led by Dr. Pierre Kennepohl, PhD, associate dean (community and innovation) in the Faculty of Science, highlighting how entrepreneurs can tap into UCalgary's expertise, resources and partnerships to strengthen and scale their ventures.
• Getting Started with Vibe Coding (Nov. 3, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.), presented by Dr. Mohammad Keyhani, PhD, associate professor of entrepreneurship and innovation in the Haskayne School of Business, showing how AI-assisted coding tools can accelerate software development and help transform ideas into functional prototypes, no coding experience required.
• Jumpstart Your Innovation Culture: Why Innovation Isn’t a Technology Problem – It's a Team Problem (Nov. 4, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.), where Dr. Samantha Jones, MSc’18, PhD’25, a postdoctoral associate in industrial and organizational psychology in the Faculty of Arts, will explore how strong leadership, effective teamwork and a culture of collaboration can help organizations turn ideas into results.

Building what's next

Another highlight of the week is the annual Top 10 Showcase (Nov. 2, 4 p.m.), which recognizes some of Calgary's most promising startups. Several ventures with UCalgary connections will be among those featured, reflecting the university's growing role in entrepreneurship and venture creation.

The celebration continues at the Launch Party (Nov. 5, 6 p.m.), Innovation Week's signature closing event, where this year's Top 10 startups take centre stage as the community marks 16 years of innovation.

Explore the full program and register through Platform Calgary to connect with UCalgary experts, discover new opportunities and join the conversations driving Calgary's entrepreneurial momentum.

Platform Calgary is located at 407 9 Ave. S.E.