September 13 - September 15, 2017

The Waterloo Innovation Summit 2017 will bring together some of the world’s top private and public sector leaders to tackle the disruptive and defining trends that are driving innovation in Canada and globally.

Presented by the University of Waterloo in partnership with Communitech, this event taking place from September 13 to 15, 2017 will engage and inspire CEOs, entrepreneurs, academic, community and policy leaders.

• • • SEP 1310:00 AM – 10:30 AM

      Innovation Ecosystem Tour Registration

      Location: Delta Hotel

    • SEP 1310:30 AM – 5:00 PM

      Optional Paid Event: Guided Tour of The Waterloo Region Innovation Ecosystem

      Experience first-hand why Waterloo Region is the place to be for global research, technology and innovation.  This guided tour will feature exclusive access to world-class companies, incubators, and research hubs.

      Lunch is provided.

      Tour highlights include:

      • Google Canada’s research & development headquarters  — In the heart of Waterloo Region’s tech sector in downtown Kitchener.
      • Velocity Garage — the world’s largest free startup incubator at the University of Waterloo.
      • Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics — some of the world’s best minds in fundamental theoretical physics conduct research that will transform our future.
      • Communitech Hub — a unique technology centre where enterprise and innovation converge.
      • Accelerator Centre — a catalyst for the creation of sustainable, globally competitive technology firms with potential to become the world’s next leading companies.
      • SAP Labs — SAP Labs are strategically located in high-tech clusters around the globe. SAP Labs in Waterloo drives research and development, thought leadership, and innovation.
      • University of Waterloo Engineering’s Sedra Student Design Centre — a 20,000+ square-foot facility where student-led teams create everything from aerial robots to human-powered submarines.
    • SEP 136:00 PM – 9:00 PM

      Welcome Reception

      Connect with leaders from across North America as we kick off the Summit with our opening night reception.  Hosted at Lazaridis Hall, a brand new, landmark venue within Waterloo Region’s business and academic community.

  • SEP 148:00 AM – 8:45 AM

    Conference Registration and Breakfast

    Location: Humanities Theatre, University of Waterloo

  • • SEP 148:45 AM – 9:00 AM

      Hacking the Future

      Waterloo Innovation Summit Co-chairs Amanda Lang and Michael Serbinis set the stage for two days of stimulating keynotes and “point-of-view” discussions. Featuring welcome remarks from Summit host, University of Waterloo President & Vice-Chancellor Feridun Hamdullahpur.
      SEP 149:00 AM – 10:00 AM

      The Disruption Imperative

      One of Time’s 100 most influential people, Jared Cohen resides at the very core of technological innovation.  A consummate disruptor, Cohen will share his unique perspective on the urgency of disruption in the face of rapidly changing technology and socio-political climates.
    • SEP 1410:00 AM – 10:30 AM

      Adaptation: The Microsoft Experience

      Technology giant Microsoft knows something about adaptation.  The acquisition of University of Waterloo start-up Maluuba opened new avenues to deep learning AI.
      SEP 1410:30 AM – 11:00 AM

      Networking Break

      Location: Hagey Hall, University of Waterloo

    • SEP 1411:00 AM – 11:45 AM

      The Quantum Valley – Canada’s Bold Strategy to Capitalise on the Second Quantum Revolution

      Mike Lazaridis, inventor of the Blackberry, the first Always On, Always Connected Secure smartphone, and the visionary that has led the effort to develop the Quantum Valley, describes some of the transformative quantum technologies that are being developed in Waterloo and around the world.  Lazaridis shows us the ecosystem that the partners in the Quantum Valley have developed over the past 18 years and explains the unique and exciting opportunity for Canada to establish itself as a global leader in the Second Quantum Revolution.
      SEP 1411:45 AM – 12:30 PM

      Adaptation as Reinvention: The Case for Creative Disruption

      Continuous adaptation and reinvention is nothing without creativity. Award-winning performer turned entrepreneur Thomas Dolby has spent his career at the intersection of music and technology.
      SEP 1412:30 PM – 1:30 PM

      Lunch

      Location: Hagey Hub, University of Waterloo

    • SEP 141:30 PM – 2:15 PM

      Can Society Adapt in the Face of Smart Machines?

      Harvard’s Cyborg anthropologist, Amber Case, spends her time thinking about the interaction between humans and machines.  Listen as she explores how our relationship with information is adapting the way society thinks, acts and understands the world around us.
      SEP 142:15 PM – 3:00 PM

      Corporate Adaptation: How Technology Innovation Will Influence Society

      The ability to adapt is essential as corporate leaders respond to technological disruption. Cindy Fagen, COO, SAP Labs, and Sandeep Chennakeshu, President, BlackBerry Technology Solutions, discuss corporate opportunities, challenges and consequences for the future with Nikolas Badminton, Futurist.
      SEP 143:00 PM – 3:30 PM

      Networking Break

      Location: Hagey Hall, University of Waterloo
      Shuttles to: Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre

    • SEP 143:30 PM – 4:00 PM

      Dyson: Next Generation Innovation

      Dyson believes that engineers are the world’s problem solvers.  In conversation with Nikolas Badminton, Dyson engineer Joylon Bugg and James Dyson Foundation managing director Jenna Blanton will give a behind the scenes look at Dyson’s corporate ethos and philosophy. They will share how the James Dyson Foundation seeks to inspire and invest in invention and disruption. They are joined by Alroy Ameida, co-founder of Voltera, first Canadian winner of the international James Dyson Award, who will speak to the impact of investing in next big ideas.
      SEP 144:00 PM – 5:00 PM

      Waterloo Innovation Summit Start-Up Pitch Competition

      Have a front-row seat for an exclusive Waterloo Innovation Summit pitch competition.  Hosted by University of Waterloo’s Velocity, North America’s largest free startup incubator, best-in-class startups will pitch to a noteworthy panel of judges as you compare your scores to our experts. Following the competition, investors will share their thoughts on what it will take to begin the next big thing.

    • SEP 145:00 PM – 7:00 PM

      Networking Reception

      Immediately following the Summit pitch competition, mingle with startups, investors, and Summit attendees as we reflect on a day of compelling content.  Hosted at the award-winning Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre, a one-of-a-kind facility that represents the University of Waterloo’s next giant leap in the science of the very small.

    • SEP 157:30 AM – 8:30 AM

      Conference Registration and Breakfast

      Location:  Shopify

    • SEP 158:30 AM – 8:35 AM

      Hacking the Future: Day Two Remarks

      Location:  Theatre Auditorium, Centre for International Governance Innovation
      SEP 158:35 AM – 9:10 AM

      Disruption: A Policy Perspective

      Tom Jenkins, Chair of the Board, OpenText, in conversation with government leaders examining the shifting policy landscape in response to disruptive technology.
      SEP 159:10 AM – 9:45 AM

      Cybersecurity – Can Policy Keep Up?

      When you’ve served for U.S. Presidents Bush and Obama, you are surrounded by the urgency of cyberspace and cybersecurity policy .  Renowned expert Melissa Hathawayconsiders the demands for policy reform for companies and countries alike.
      SEP 159:45 AM – 10:20 AM

      Disrupting Traditional Funding Models Through Cryptocurrency

      Adopting a cryptocurrency and driving mass usage is top of mind for Ted Livingston, CEO of Kik.  Learn how this disruption will benefit everyone — ranging from investors to developers to consumers.
      SEP 1510:20 AM – 10:45 AM

      Networking Break

      Location: Courtyard,  Centre for International Governance Innovation

    • SEP 1510:45 AM – 11:15 AM

      Competitive Product Innovation to Drive Growth

      Tom Waller is the Senior Vice President of Whitespace, lululemon’s in-house research and development lab. Utilization of his technology to drive athletic performance has helped set world records, win gold medals, and deliver championship titles at the Olympic Paralympics level. He will talk about how industries are shifting, and how it takes game-changing innovation to stay ahead of the competition. He will share insights on on how he developed unique innovations for many of the world’s largest athletic brands, and what that means for every industry.
      SEP 1511:15 AM – 12:00 PM

      From Start-Up to Scale Up: The Ultimate Adaptation

      Identifying and building a product that solves a problem and makes money — this may be the founder’s dream, but it’s not the end of the story.  The challenge of scale is even more daunting than starting up. Hear from a seasoned leader of one Canada’s fastest growing technology companies, Carol Leaman, CEO of Axonify, in conversation with Vitaly Pecherskiy, Co-founder and COO of one of the Lazaridis Institute’s top 10 scale ups, StackAdapt.
      SEP 1512:00 PM – 1:00 PM

      Disruptive Technology: What Lies Ahead?

      As the Chief Technical Officer at Tesla, JB Straubel reflects on what it takes for organizations – scaleups, startups, and those in-between – to successfully survive and thrive in the face of emerging and converging technologies.
      SEP 151:00 PM – 1:15 PM

      Reflections on the Summit

      Join Summit co-chairs and special guests as they reflect on the 2017 Summit themes.