History
We’ve learned a lot through the years, improving each event to address the learning and networking needs of our attendees. We’ve also hosted the conference in different venues throughout the region to expose our guests to unique experiences and speakers.
Here’s a quick recap of the content from past Innovate Carolina conferences.
2010: Our inaugural year!
Host location: University of North Carolina, Kenan Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, NC
Keynote speaker: Marshal Brain, founder of “How Stuff Works”
Other speakers from RJR Reynolds, Britax, Michelin, Primo Water, Center for Creative Leadership
Practitioner panels on Customer Insight, Intellectual Property, Innovation strategy
2011 Theme – Open Innovation
Host location: Belk College of Business UNC Charlotte, NC
Keynote speakers: Gene Slowinski of Alliance Management Group and Louis Foreman of Enventys
Other speakers from Ingersoll Rand, Electrolux, Best Buy, Sealed Air, and GlaxoSmithKline
Announced the winner of our first Student Innovation Competition for the Carolinas Chapter (Ty Hagler)
2012 Theme – Innovating in Tough times: Practical Ways for Innovating when Budgets are Tight and Resources are Limited
Host location: The Long View Center in Raleigh, NC
Keynote speaker: Iain Grey of Red Hat (video highlight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaxqjTLt7dk)
Other speakers from Novant, Burt’s Bees, Milliken, NC Department of Commerce, and Britax
2013 Theme – Bridging the gap between ideas and execution
Host location: NC A&T in Greensboro, NC
Keynote speakers: Chris Trimble, author of The Other Side of Innovation
Other speakers from Carolinas Health Care System, National Gypsum, Center for Design Innovation, InVue, Stage-gate International, New Edge
Video Highlights courtesy of Trig Innovation
2014 Theme - Building Your Career Toolkit: Innovative Paths for Innovative Product Development.
Host location: NC Biotechnology Center in RTP, NC
Keynote speakers: Keith Sawyer, Author Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity
Other speakers from SmartOrg, FutureThink, FasterGlass, The Adept Group, Perception Partners
2015 Theme – Discovering Customer Needs
Host location: UNC - Charlotte, Center City Campus
Keynote speakers: Scott Fitzgerald, author of Middle Class Meltdown
Other speakers from Railinc, Duke Energy, Pragmatic Marketing, Prophet
Video Highlights courtesy of Trig Innovation
2016 Theme – Innovating beyond the product
Host location: UNC - Charlotte, Center City Campus
Keynote speakers: Dr. Lance Bettencourt
Other speakers from Lowes, FasterGlass, Duke Energy
2017 Theme – Accelerating Ideas to Market
Host location: NC Biotechnology Center in RTP, NC
Keynote speakers: Andy Cohen
Other speakers from Trig Innovation, The Service Design Group, Gear Stream and others
See photos here
2018 Theme - Ignite Your Innovation Vision: Practices Large and Small Companies Can Teach Each Other
Host location: NC Biotechnology Center in RTP, NC
Keynote speakers: Duke Chang, Fidelity
Other speakers from Planview, RTI, AICPA, NcRiOT, Veolia, Packard Place, Eastman Chemical, Service Design Group