ABCtech #78 15DEC16 Merry Christmas

ABCtech #78 15DEC16 Merry Christmas

As we gather together this holiday season with our colleagues, friends and family, let me reflect with you on 2016 and peer ahead. 2016 was a “coming of age” for ABCtech featuring the introduction of our bi-annual assessment of the resilience of Alberta’s economy adding an assessment of the effectiveness of its Innovation Ecosystem; hosting our annual, all industry, summer networking AGM/BBQ in June; and culminating in our Convention “Creating the New Alberta – Vision & Leadership”.  The Convention was sold out with hundreds of viewers worldwide tuning in the webcast.

Our commitment to Alberta’s sustainable economic future was reinforced with the granting of our 2nd Innovation Award to Alberta Youth – received on their behalf by Alberta Jr. Achievement.

We extended our reach into Europe with a visit to Barcelona with the Smart Cities Alliance that was followed up with a visit in May to Brainport in the Netherlands in collaboration with the Town of Devon and a subsequent visit at the invitation of Switzerland Global Enterprise to explore hi-tech timber opportunities. Next year we will be inviting these organizations to Alberta.

The year has ended with further growth of our followers to over 13,000 subscribers, each sharing an interest in “Creating the new – more resilient, economy” and we tripled our Membership. Thank you!

Stay-tuned and get engage … 2017 themed “Transitions” – as per below, promises to be even better.

Sincerely,

Klaas Rodenburg – President, Alberta Council of Technologies

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“Transitions” – Our theme for 2017

Here are just some of the initiatives underway and planned for 2017 as your network of networks committed to “Creating the new – more resilient, economy!”

“Engaging Youth – and Others” – preparing Alberta youth and NGOs of Alberta industries and professions for a sustainable future

• Hosting a campaign through the Global Centre for Education engaging 5,000 Alberta students in creative teams for designing the new – more resilient, Alberta
• Growing our Alliance of NGOs sharing a common interest in “Creating the new – more resilient, Alberta!”

“Going Global” – extending Alberta’s reach, recognizing its culture of enterprise and innovation

• Broadcasting a series of global webinars featuring Alberta innovations and innovators
• Hosting and co-hosting global broadcasts of Alberta events including interviews, panels and a roving camera and commentator
• Maintaining and extending our knowledge exchange channels with Europe through Brainport.
• Expanding our connections into Asia through Australia and the USA through the Hybrid Ventures program “Building the Future”

“Leadership in Innovation” – seeking and celebrating innovation

• Conducting our bi-annual sentiment Surveys of the resilience of Alberta’s economy and the effectiveness of Alberta’s innovation ecosystem
• Transforming our annual AGM/BBQ “Moonlight in the Meadows” into an annual public “Festival of BIG Ideas – Celebrating Innovation”
• Publishing QuikTech Notes featuring articles and editorials on the socio-economic impact of emerging technologies in Alberta and around the world
• Hosting – upon request, the conduct of leadership summits for Alberta industries and professions wanting to resolve issues of fragmentation and wanting together to address the forces and sources of change.