techNL kicks off 11th annual Innovation Week with focus on next-gen AI
and Season 2 launch of Creators at the World’s Edge podcast
St. John’s, NL – This morning, about 150 people gathered at the St. John’s Convention Centre for the start of Innovation Week 2024, the largest annual tech conference in Canada’s most easterly province. The three-day event – built on a decade of success – will showcase the latest developments in the tech sector while providing learnings from industry experts and networking opportunities for the province’s growing tech ecosystem.
The highlight of the morning kick-off was the release of season 2 of techNL’s podcast, Creator’s at the World’s Edge. The podcast was created to showcase the innovators, dreamers, and trailblazers in Newfoundland and Labrador who are making waves on a global scale. The launch featured a live interview with podcast’s season 2 host, Mimi Sheriff, and Premier Andrew Furey. This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. Season 2 is available on all podcast platforms with more info here.
Technology impacts every industry and worker, and innovations can boost productivity and streamline workflows for both organizations and individuals. This year’s event will showcase practical applications of next-gen AI to help attendees from all sectors enhance their effectiveness.
From October 1st through 3rd, Innovation Week will host an inspiring lineup of expert speakers, interactive breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and celebrations. Speakers will include current and former employees from leading global tech companies, including Google, Shopify, Meta, and Spellbook, as well as representatives throughout the local tech industry. Innovation week events will also include:
• Sessions focused on helping companies and workers to adopt next-gen AI in marketing, technical sales, software development, strategy and beyond.
• Live pitches from representatives from a variety of sectors, showcasing their expertise on relevant topics such as data management and analytics, artificial intelligence, integrated operations and connectivity, and cybersecurity.
• A day-long tech sector exhibit, demos, and cross-sector tech market featuring local tech companies showcasing their current work.
• The inaugural techfest at the newly opened Co. Innovation Centre on Torbay Road
• Much-anticipated student networking session catering to post-secondary students interested in entering the provincial tech workforce, featuring local tech companies such as trophi.ai, Nasdaq Verafin, Avalon Holographics, Siftmed, Netbenefit Software, atlantiq AI, CoLab Software, CO Innovation Centre, Keyin College, LadderSpike, Nucliq Biologics, econext, NutraForge Technologies, Enaimco, Genoa Design, Medicuro, Fonemed, PAL Aerospace, Additive XL, among others.
• The 4th annual Industry Awards celebrates the incredible achievements of companies and innovators in the Newfoundland and Labrador tech sector. This event will be hosted by Adam Walsh, host of CBC’s The Signal.
See full agenda for more details.
Innovation Week 2024 is supported by the following government partners:
• The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has contributed $157,789.
• The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Industry, Energy and Technology has contributed $68,885.
The week events are also made possible by the vision and support of corporate sponsors, including Innovation Week platinum sponsor Keyin College, techNL’s mission sponsor Stewart McKelvey, and Platinum sponsor for the Student Networking event, Fortis Inc.
Quotes
“Innovation Week is an opportunity to come together to learn, push boundaries, celebrate
successes and continue to create a thriving innovation-driven economy in Newfoundland and
Labrador. The success of the tech sector is driven by diverse champions at every level, who
consistently push boundaries and fuel innovation within our ecosystem. We’re thrilled to
highlight these exceptional individuals in the second season of Creators at the World’s Edge.”
– Florian Villaumé, CEO, techNL
“The Newfoundland and Labrador tech sector is a significant economic driver for the province,
contributing significantly to our GDP. This sector is growing rapidly thanks in no small part to
work done by techNL. Our Government shares a vision with techNL focused on making our
province a top destination in North America to start a tech company, and I congratulate them for
hosting another successful Innovation Week.”
– The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier, Newfoundland and Labrador
“My department is always proud to partner with techNL to support Innovation Week. For over a
decade now, Innovation Week has brought together Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech
community for networking, collaboration and teambuilding. This is a key event for everyone in
the province’s tech industry thanks to the hard work of techNL, and I look forward to taking part
again this year.”
– The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology,
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
““Our tech sector is taking on the world. I’m so proud of how far we’ve come, and I’m so excited
about how far we’ll go.”
– The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Member of Parliament for St. John’s South – Mount
Pearl, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic
Development and Minister responsible for ACOA
“At techNL, we believe Newfoundland and Labrador can be the most sought-after tech
ecosystem in Canada. During Innovation Week, we hope to ignite excitement, collaboration and
inspiration, and to highlight that every industry, every worker, is impacted by technology and can
benefit greatly from tech innovation.”
– Johnanna Brown, Chair of the Board of Directors, techNL
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Media Contact:
Amy Fitzpatrick
(709) 690-6000
amy@technl.ca
About techNL:
techNL is a not-for-profit membership association that enables a thriving innovation-driven economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. techNL provides visibility, business growth services and a collective influential voice to the tech sector in Newfoundland and Labrador with a vision to make Newfoundland and Labrador the most sought-after Canadian tech ecosystem, globally recognized for its collaborative community, diversity and quality of life.
A key focus on business growth includes programs and services to support talent pipeline expansion, member connections, digital transformation and ecosystem development in Newfoundland and Labrador. More information can be found on the website technl.ca.