InnovateNB Celebration Highlights Top New Brunswick Innovators
Sold Out Awards Show Recognizes Innovators from all Sectors of New Brunswick’s Economy
FREDERICTON, NB —The second InnovateNB Celebration was an outstanding success, as a sold-out crowd honoured innovators from all sectors of New Brunswick’s economy.
On Thursday, October 12, after an afternoon of educational and thought-provoking panel discussions and networking, leaders and innovators from around the province attended the InnovateNB Awards at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Individual awards for the winners were designed by New Brunswick College of Craft and Design students and alumni and were given to New Brunswick’s top innovators:
Emerging Innovator: Curtis Kennedy - Founder & CEO at Symbodi
Most Innovative Product or Service: PLAEX™ Building Systems - PLAEX-crete™
Productivity Improvement by Adopting Technology : Sparta Manufacturing
Public Sector Award for Innovation : Suzanne Dupuis Blanchard, Professor, Research Chair in Aging and Director of the Centre on Aging at Université de Moncton
Economic Impact Through Innovation: SmartSkin Technologies
Most Innovative Startup: Picketa Systems
Diversity and Inclusion Champion: Constantine Passaris - Professor of Economics, UNB and the Founding President of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council
Innovation in Academia and Research: Dr. Yassine Bouslimani and Dr. Sid Ahmed Selouani - Co-founders of the Industrial Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Training Hub at the Université de Moncton
Innovation Champion: Nick Scott - ShiftFlow Innovation & Design
InnovateNB Hall of Fame Induction: Roxanne Fairweather and Dave Grebenc, co-CEOs of Innovatia
Ones to Watch: 12 outstanding up and coming innovators were names as ones to watch. Visit our website innovateNBcelebration.com to see the full list.
Learn more about the winners by watching them talk about their innovation journeys through the InnovateNB winner’s video series here.
“The InnovateNB Celebration is a highlight reel of innovation in New Brunswick. We celebrate incredible ideas, perseverance, teamwork, economic success, diversity, and incredible achievements by many outstanding New Brunswickers. After seeing the videos of each of the top innovators, we leave inspired wanting to contribute to our innovation economy and we will share their messages within and outside the borders of New Brunswick. It was an incredible celebration made possible by our founding partners, many sponsors, and talent,” said Cathy Simpson, CEO of TechImpact.
“New Brunswick is home to entrepreneurs who are advancing cutting-edge technologies that are making waves on the world stage. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of InnovateNB – entrepreneurs and organizations that are contributing to this province’s reputation for innovation excellence,” said Jenica Atwin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for Fredericton.
PS Atwin spoke on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). ACOA contributed $65,000 to support the InnovateNB Celebration and Awards.
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Background: The InnovateNB Celebration and Awards was founded by a group of organizations who drive innovation in New Brunswick, including TechImpact, the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), the McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick, Propel as well as local economic development partners in Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton. This year’s partner from the capital region was Ignite.
For information:
Alex Weaver Crawford (she/her)
Communications Manager, TechImpact
alex.weavercrawford@techimpact.it
506-654-1306
