Plans for 2024/5

Organizing the ASTech Awards is alot of hard work, so at Technology Alberta we are so grateful to have our small but dedicated team of staff and volunteers – and the enthusiasm of the entire Alberta innovation community! Thanksgiving definitely brings this to mind – and with the support of the many innovation system partners who recognize the ASTech Awards’ value in building community, and a resilient ecosystem, and a collaborative innovation sector – working on the 35th Annual ASTech Awards is not only manageable, it is inspirational in itself.

This is Technology Alberta’s 3rd year as the operating partner of the ASTech Awards (the Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Awards), and thanks to all of our partners in government, industry, academia and entrepreneurship, we can now take ASTech celebrations to 3 locations throughout the year – covering 3 focus areas that build our provincial innovation community

1) Focus on Talent: The ASTech Grande Opening and Talent Showcase, takes place at Academic institutions which prioritize innovation, inclusivity and youth engagement. Thank you all for your support of this year’s sold-out event at the University of Calgary on Sept 27, and for an outstanding inaugural celebration last year at MacEwan University.

2) Focus on Knowledge: The 35th ASTech Awards Gala and Innovation Showcase, focuses on celebrating achievement, and providing strategic networking for companies and researchers to build more future successes. Innovation finalists take the opportunity to acknowledge their team and family members, as well as the government-funders, academic and industry partners, and innovation-service providers that contributed to this point on their journey. This annual opportunity for thanksgiving and giving back is only 17 days away – and this year will be at the Delta Hotels South Edmonton on Friday, November 1. (Buy your tickets here)

3) Focus on Collaboration across Communities: This new ASTech Regional Innovation Celebration and Collaboration Showcase is being developed in real-time to shine a provincial spotlight on entrepreneurs and innovation across the province – at their home region. Like all ASTech events, everyone is invited – and with a provincial framework in place thanks to the Alberta Innovates supported Regional Innovation Networks and the distributed Community Futures teams and the outstanding facilities we have at post-secondaries across Alberta.- we have alot to showcase!  Stay tuned – we hope to announce this date and location of this 3rd event at the ASTech Awards Gala, and are very pleased to have so many regions in Alberta – from Lethbridge to Grande Prairie – interested in hosting this event with us.

Partners like: Alberta Innovates, PrairiesCan, MindFuel, ERA, ATB, Blue Cross, Edmonton Global, Clearflow, METI, PTAC, ATCO, ISAIC, CREATE-NanoFab, Syncrude, University of Calgary, University of Alberta, MacEwan University, Red Deer Polytechnic, NorQuest College, Athabasca University, and more – make this all possible. Support is needed and appreciated at this scale-up stage, as we expand the ASTech programs. A special shout-out goes to the many ASTech Alumni and Finalists, who are volunteering to speak at future events. Join our Wednesday On-line Session if you would like more Information.

In the guiding words of one of our innovation partners, NorQuest College – “We are who we include”. We are building community, and innovation matters in every corner of this province – so that is where we are going to be!

See you soon in Edmonton, Friday, November 1 at the 35th Annual ASTech Awards and Innovation Showcase everyone – as we build community together.

Thank you all!