Rethinking global travel
Location: MaRS Discovery District, Toronto
April 21, 2023
Implementing sustainable innovation in the transportation sector is an essential component to ensuring a sustainable future for the next generation to live and thrive. By addressing technological, infrastructural and political barriers to achieving carbon neutrality, we can make this timely shift and reduce the harmful social, environment and economic effects of local and global travel.
On the eve of Earth Day 2023, approximately 200 transportation experts and innovators came together to discuss sustainable solutions and rethink the future of travel.
The talent evolution
Hybrid summit
April 14, 2022
This half-day event welcomed approximately 300 virtual and in-person guests from business, academic and government sectors to discuss how the talent evolution is transforming the workforce in Canada and around the world. From the rapid shift to remote work, to challenges recruiting top talent, to evolving workplace focus on diversity, equity and inclusion — employers and employees are rethinking the world of work. And, Goel adds, universities must rethink how we prepare the next generation of talent to navigate these transformations and inspire them to be champions of equity, sustainability and democracy.
Recalibrate for social and economic prosperity
Virtual Summit
September 28, 2021
The pandemic is a rare opportunity for us to recalibrate our economic and policy systems to innovate for our collective future.
On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, the Waterloo Innovation Summit lead a discussion on the imperative for businesses, policymakers and innovators to recalibrate our policies and models in order to respond to our shifting landscape.
The future of health innovation
Virtual Summit
April 13, 2021
Global and individual health has been disrupted over the multiple waves of this pandemic. Investing in health innovation will be a spark that helps ignite our economic and health recovery.
On April 13, 2021, we explored how to create health innovation pathways to solve local and global challenges, and previewed how the new Innovation Arena is poised to be a catalyst for breakthroughs in health technology and innovation, and drive Canada's next wave of economic growth.
Green innovation
Virtual Summit
November 30, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the environmental impact of 21st century capitalism. Our economies have declined, but in response, air quality in some major cities has improved — illuminating the imperative to balance sustainable financial growth with sustainable environmental impact.
On November 30, 2020, we showcased breakthroughs in green innovation and technology, and explored how cleantech can drive economic growth while ensuring our planet’s future.
The innovation imperative
Virtual summit
August 20, 2020
The global pandemic is accelerating the pace of social and technological change, a dynamic that is serving as a “great equalizer” for innovators and entrepreneurs.
This virtual Summit was the second in a two-part series and brought together thought-leaders and successful entrepreneurs to discuss what it will take to thrive in a post-pandemic world.
The talent imperative
Virtual summit
July 22, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced industries to re-evaluate and transform their purpose. Canada and the world need a resilient and future-ready workforce to help drive our economic recovery.
During the University’s first virtual Waterloo Innovation Summit, industry leaders explored how attracting and retaining highly-skilled talent has quickly become a top priority across organizations in all sectors.
The future of talent
Location: Ottawa
March 10, 2020
In our rapidly changing economy, corporate leaders must respond to the opportunities and challenges of the shifting nature of work. The next wave of talent will have to apply knowledge in context that we cannot even imagine today, and no industry or career will be immune.
On March 10, 2020, executives from the private and public sector explored how to future-proof the Canadian workforce by attracting and retaining top talent.
Reimagining health with technology
Location: Waterloo
October 1, 2019
Global and individual health care continues to be deeply disrupted by technology. Quantum sensors improving cancer treatment, health informatics prioritizing patient care and computational models predicting better surgical outcomes are all examples of how HealthTech is transforming individual health and the delivery of medical care.
On October 1, 2019, leaders in HealthTech came together to explore emerging technologies and discuss new foster pathways to bring innovations to market.
Location: London, England
February 18, 2019
On February 18, 2019, the University of Waterloo, with the support of the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom, brought the Waterloo Innovation Summit to London, England. The event featured Nobel laureate Donna Strickland as well as world-renowned Waterloo researchers and startups in next-generation computing and human-machine interaction.
Climate resilience through tech
Location: Vancouver
November 14, 2018
From extreme heat to damaging floods; severe storms to raging fires; eroding soil to rising sea levels — our world is changing and adapting in response to human activity. While the impact of climate change is very present, new innovations in technology hold big potential to help address global environmental challenges.
In November 2018, the University of Waterloo and Microsoft, with media sponsor the Globe and Mail, hosted thought leaders and boundary pushers as they explored technology’s role in the pursuit of environmental resilience and sustainability in Vancouver.
AI innovation
Location: Toronto
March 23, 2018
Artificial Intelligence is being unleashed across all sectors and aspects of our lives. From banking to energy; retail to agriculture; manufacturing to healthcare — the impact and potential of AI is real and getting bigger. Meanwhile, we are bending the rules of quantum mechanics to create new technologies and build powerful computing devices that will change everything.
In March 2018, trailblazers in these two emerging areas met in Toronto to engage in a dialogue, moderated by Globe and Mail journalists, on the future on AI innovation.
Hack the future
Location: Waterloo
September 14, 2017
With the theme “Hack the Future,” CEOs, entrepreneurs, community leaders, policy makers and pundits from around the globe gathered at Waterloo in September 2017 to hear what leading thinkers and doers had to say about the trends redefining our world.
Attendees saw first-hand what makes Waterloo region a global centre of technology, innovation and entrepreneurism with tours of local hotspots, including the Communitech Hub, Waterloo Engineering’s Sedra Student Design Centre and Velocity — North America’s largest free startup incubator.