About INNOVATE North America
INNOVATE North America 2025 is the premier event for innovation leaders and professionals who are passionate about driving impactful change within their organizations. Over two transformative days in Chicago, this flagship conference by HYPE Innovation brings together a diverse community of global experts, practitioners, and thought leaders. Immerse yourself in an environment designed to inspire new ideas, foster collaboration, and equip you with actionable strategies in innovation management.
Why Attend?
Learn practical innovation methods and industry best practices to implement in your organization.
Cutting-Edge Insights & Knowledge
Stay ahead of the curve with exclusive access to the latest trends, tools, and best practices in innovation management. Gain actionable insights from world-class experts that will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to lead impactful innovation and remain competitive in a fast-evolving landscape.
Collaborative Problem-Solving & Creative Growth
Join a dynamic group of professionals to tackle shared challenges, exchange ideas, and brainstorm solutions. Immerse yourself in an inspiring atmosphere designed to ignite creativity, uncover growth opportunities, and empower you to overcome barriers with innovative strategies.
Build Lasting Relationships & Expand your Network
Forge meaningful connections with peers, industry experts, and thought leaders. INNOVATE North America creates a collaborative environment where you can build lasting relationships to support your innovation journey and expand your professional network with valuable insights.
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INNOVATE Agenda 2025
- Pre-Event - April 1st
- Day 1 - April 2nd
- Day 2 - April 3rd
Ice-breaker Cocktails at Chateau Carbide - Rooftop Lounge
The night before the official start of the forum, we invite you to an informal get-together dinner. This is a fantastic opportunity to break the ice, meet other participants, and feel at ease with your fellow attendees before the forum kicks off.Address: PENDRY CHICAGO, 230 N Michigan Ave, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601.
Please take the elevator to the 24th floor.
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Check-In
Kick off your INNOVATE experience by picking up your name badge, grabbing a coffee, and exploring the event app to start making meaningful connections. The energy starts here—with a full day of inspiring sessions and insights ahead!
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
INNOVATE North America 2025 Opening
Sonia Couture, Head of Demand Generation at HYPE Innovation
Welcome to INNOVATE North America 2025! Join us as our MC kicks off this incredible day, packed with transformative sessions and invaluable insights. Let’s get started!
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Morning Energizer: Let’s Play
Scott Kirsner, CEO at InnoLead
If driving innovation inside an established organization is a game, it’s one set to “Advanced.” We’ll use a large-format discussion document created by InnoLead and HYPE to discuss, in small groups, some of the challenges you’ve encountered - or ways you’ve jumped ahead.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
HYPE Unbound: The Future of Innovation—Unified, Intelligent, Autonomous
Frank Henningsen, CEO & Founder and Ludwig Melik, CRO at HYPE Innovation
Get ready for the boldest session at Innovate HYPE 2025. Our executive team, including our CEO, will reveal how HYPE is rewriting the rules of innovation—empowering organizations to break free from outdated systems and thrive in the Age of Autonomous Innovation. Be the first to discover The Platform of the Future – an end-to-end innovation solution that unites AI, strategic intelligence, and execution in one powerful offering.
Here’s what to expect:
- Game-Changing Partnerships: Build a dynamic trend radar, integrate R&D insights, and strengthen IP intelligence—all in one place.
- ISO 56001 Blueprint: Adopt a systematic approach to innovation, connecting strategy, execution, and measurable ROI.
- Future-Fit Manifesto: Embrace agility to leapfrog the competition and build resilient innovation systems that last.
This is more than a session—it’s a wake-up call for leaders who refuse to be left behind. The future is unbound. Will you be part of it?
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
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HYPE Product Portfolio Update: The Smart Innovation Platform
Jesse Nieminen, Vice President Product at HYPE Innovation
Discover the latest updates on HYPE products and explore the future of innovation with us! We'll take a look at some of the recent changes to the HYPE Platform, and you'll also get a glimpse into our upcoming roadmap, preparing you for the age of agile and automated, AI-driven innovation management.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
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Networking Coffee Break
Take the opportunity to talk to the speakers and network with your peers.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
HYPE Product Workshops – Exclusive 90-Minute Deep Dives
Dive deep into HYPE’s innovation tools through interactive workshops. Choose from expert-led sessions:
1.Mastering Your Innovation Portfolio: Balancing Short-Term Wins with Long-Term Growth,
2.A Hands-On Dive into HYPE’s AI Innovation Tools,
3.Partner Quest: The Ultimate Tech & Startup Scouting Adventure Game,
4.From Structure to Strategy: Crafting a Resilient Innovation Culture
1.Mastering Your Innovation Portfolio: Balancing Short-Term Wins with Long-Term Growth
Today’s innovation isn’t one-size-fits-all. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn practical strategies to manage your portfolio effectively—balancing quick wins with long-term impact. We’ll explore proven models like phase-gate, agile, and venture-client to help you prioritize resources, mitigate risks, and streamline decision-making. Walk away with actionable insights to drive tangible results across diverse projects and time horizons.
2.A Hands-On Dive into HYPE’s AI Innovation ToolsJoin our interactive workshop to experience HYPE’s cutting-edge AI vision for innovation management. Discover our AI roadmap and see firsthand how the Innovation Graph and Generative AI revolutionize idea management and scaling. Test these tools in a practical, hands-on session and learn how to apply them to drive measurable results in your organization. We’ll conclude with a collaborative debrief to share insights and tailor real-world AI use cases that deliver tangible outcomes.
3.Partner Quest: The Ultimate Tech & Startup Scouting Adventure Game
Step into Partner Quest, an immersive workshop that transforms tech and startup scouting into an adventure. Detect emerging trends, build strategic partnerships, and outmaneuver competitors through hands-on scenarios. Learn to leverage external talent and resources to become a partnering master. In this fun, interactive session, sharpen your ability to spot weak signals, scout disruptive solutions, and strategize for success with actionable insights. Perfect for changemakers eager to enhance their scouting and trend management capabilities—can you secure the right partners and drive innovation?
4.From Structure to Strategy: Crafting a Resilient Innovation Culture
Join our interactive roundtable to explore how leading organizations are rethinking innovation. We’ll discuss restructuring innovation teams, defining their mandates, and the evolving role of idea management—from campaign-driven initiatives to continuous, company-wide ideation. Share insights on how you decide which ideas to champion, balance strategic goals with real-world challenges, and create a resilient, sustainable culture of innovation. Gain actionable best practices and peer advice to refine your approach and drive lasting impact. Don’t miss this chance to learn and network with fellow corporate innovation leaders.
Networking Lunch Break
Enjoy a delicious lunch buffet and network with fellow attendees. Take this time to share insights, challenges, and lessons learned with your peers.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Panel Discussion: From Launch to Legacy - Creating Innovation Programs that Last
Scott Kirsner, CEO at InnoLead, Michelle Cohen, Senior Director Innovation & Acceleration at CME Group and William A. Singleton III, Executive Director at Mars
Innovation drives success and sets organizations apart from competitors. However, sustaining innovation over time can be a challenge. To ensure long-term value, businesses need the right strategies, leadership commitment, and an understanding of what makes innovation programs endure.
Join us for an engaging live panel discussion featuring industry leaders and Scott Kirnser, CEO and Founder of InnoLead, as they share their perspectives and insights on creating innovation programs that continue to deliver results in an ever-evolving business landscape.
This session is your chance to hear firsthand experiences and learn from experts on how to build innovation programs that stand the test of time.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Innovation @ Minnesota Vikings
Meaghan Fors, Innovation Strategy Manager, Minnesota Vikings
More details to be announced soon.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Networking Coffee Break
Take the opportunity to continue the conversation with the speakers and network with fellow attendees.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
AI Innovation: From Vision to Value
Gavin McClafferty, Innovation Lead at Subsea7
AI holds immense potential for transforming industries—but how do you move from isolated pilots to meaningful business impact? Gavin McClafferty, Innovation Lead at Subsea7, will share the evolution of their AI journey, highlighting key lessons learned, success factors, and challenges in scaling AI initiatives.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
The 3 building blocks and the 5 ground rules of foresight
Panu Kause, CEO at FIBRES
Panu’s keynote focuses on the best practices of a truly valuable foresight and futures intelligence practice in a corporate setting.
Essentially you may expect to learn about the following:
- What are the main building blocks of a successful futures intelligence practice?
Reflections and Insights: Wrapping up Day 1
Sonia Couture, HYPE Innovation
Let’s wrap up day one of INNOVATE America 2025 with reflections, insights, and a look ahead to tomorrow’s exciting sessions.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Evening Event at Five Iron Golf: Networking & Fun in River North
Join us for an unforgettable evening at Five Iron Golf in Chicago's vibrant River North! Enjoy exclusive access to golf simulators, Duckpin Bowling, shuffleboard, and more as you unwind and network with fellow attendees.
📍Five Iron Golf, River North
The State of Innovation - insights into the critical trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping corporate innovation
Colin Nelson, Chief Innovation Consultant at HYPE Innovation
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Panel Discussion: Leveraging ISO 56000 to improve innovation performance
Joanne Hyland, rInnovation Group, Tyler Drenth, SGS North America and Colin Nelson, HYPE Innovation
Gain insights into how ISO 56000 is transforming innovation practices, helping organizations improve performance and drive lasting impact.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Networking Coffee Break
Another chance to connect with your peers and speakers.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
HYPE Product Workshops – Exclusive 90-Minute Deep Dives
Choose from four interactive workshops led by experts in the field:
1. The AI Innovation Exchange: Shaping the Future of Enterprise Innovation
2. Uncover Your Innovation Potential: Interactive Self-Assessment Using ISO 56000 & 56004
3. Experience HYPE in Action: The Smart Innovation Platform
4. Anticipate & Shape the Future: Strategic Foresight in Action with HYPE & FIBRES
1.The AI Innovation Exchange: Shaping the Future of Enterprise Innovation
Join us for an interactive roundtable where innovation leaders share real-world experiences and insights on harnessing AI in innovation management. In this open forum, discuss the challenges you face, explore the potential of generative AI, and discover practical ways to maximize AI’s value as it evolves. This collaborative exchange will spark fresh ideas and offer actionable strategies to enhance how your organization manages innovation. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from your peers and shape the future of AI-driven innovation.
2.Uncover Your Innovation Potential: Interactive Self-Assessment Using ISO 56000 & 56004
Join our free, interactive workshop to unlock your organization's innovation potential using the Innovation Management Assessment (IMA) tool—built on ISO 56000 and 56004 standards. Designed for enterprise professionals and leaders, this session offers a structured, data-driven approach to evaluate your innovation capabilities and pinpoint areas for improvement. Collaborate with peers, share insights, and discover actionable strategies to drive sustainable growth.
3.Experience HYPE in Action: The Smart Innovation Platform
This interactive session offers an in-depth exploration of the latest capabilities of the HYPE Suite, focusing on new user experiences and key modules. The workshop will kick off with a brief introduction to the Suite's overall vision and its latest updates, followed by a hands-on testing session where participants can explore features such as the new start page, navigation system, module switching, and newly introduced modules like Projects, Boards, Partnering, and T&T. Afterward, we will gather feedback, discuss the user experience, and brainstorm ideas for further development and improvements on the Suite roadmap.
4.Anticipate & Shape the Future: Strategic Foresight in Action with HYPE & FIBRES
In this joint demo, HYPE and FIBRES showcase how integrating HYPE’s Trend & Technology Management module with FIBRES’ futures intelligence capabilities empowers corporate innovators to anticipate and shape the future. You’ll see how a seamless scouting-to-foresight-to-innovation workflow connects trends and emerging technologies to your innovation pipeline – ensuring that strategic insights are translated into real outcomes. This is a must for forward-thinking teams aiming to stay ahead of disruption and drive actionable innovation strategies.
Networking Lunch Break
Enjoy lunch and connect with other attendees, sharing insights and challenges.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Building a Challenge-Based Innovation Program for the Entire Enterprise
Suzanne Kang, Manager, iD8 Colleague Experience, TD Bank
Join Suzanne as she shares insights from TD Bank's innovation journey in supporting 100,000 employees worldwide.
Suzanne will discuss the successes and challenges of their global iD8 program, the pivotal role of highly engaged leadership in fostering an innovation culture, the highs and lows of overcoming obstacles, and what the future holds for innovation at TD Bank.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Redefining Industry Standards through Innovation Management
Jennifer Saari, Innovation Solution Manager, Doosan Bobcat
Discover how Bobcat redefined construction machinery with the all-electric T7X Compact Track Loader.
Join Jennifer Saari, Acceleration Specialist at Doosan Bobcat, as she reveals how the HYPE platform accelerated innovation—transforming bold ideas into breakthrough outcomes.
Uncover the behind-the-scenes process that turned real-world challenges into industry-leading impact and learn key strategies you can leverage to drive sustainable innovation and gain a competitive edge.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
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Networking Coffee Break
Take the opportunity to talk to the speakers and network with your peers!
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Beyond Borders: Where Silos Crumble, Innovation Flourishes
Dan Kaus, Innovation Council Director, Bristol Myers Squibb
Join Dan Kaus to discover insights from the BMS Innovation Program. Stay tuned for more details.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Hackathons That Deliver: How to Drive Real Innovation & Impact
Jenny Xu, Senior Technology Consultant at Southwest Airlines
Hackathons are a powerful way to drive creativity, accelerate problem-solving, and engage employees in innovation. In this session, Jenny Xu, Senior Technology Consultant at Southwest Airlines, will share insights from her experience leading the Technology Hackathon event.
She will discuss best practices for planning and executing impactful hackathons, the role of rapid prototyping, and how the HYPE platform can be leveraged to maximize engagement and outcomes. Whether you're looking to launch your first hackathon or refine an existing program, this session will provide practical strategies to spark innovation within your organization.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
Reflections and Insights: Wrapping up Day 2
Sonia Couture, HYPE Innovation
Let’s wrap up day two of INNOVATE America 2025 with reflections and insights from our impactful sessions.
📍Polka – Catalyst Ranch
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