THIRD INTERNATIONAL SDG INNOVATION FORUM

📅 Innovating for a Greener Tomorrow: Digital Solutions for SMEs – June 19, 2025
📍 Palais des congrès de Montréal
📎 Agenda

The SDG Innovation Network, founded in January 2019, brings together eight Quebec universities committed to advancing technological innovation for sustainable development. As part of this mission, the Network proudly hosted the Third International SDG Innovation Forum on June 19, 2025, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, under the theme:
“Innovating for a Greener Tomorrow: Digital Solutions for SMEs.”

This forum brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to collectively reflect on the challenges and opportunities of the digital and green transition. Professors, researchers, and students from all eight member universities actively participated through panels, workshops, and project presentations.

The event highlighted four key technological themes:

  • Advanced Air Mobility

  • Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

  • Sustainable Digital Technologies

  • Frugal Innovation

These topics were explored through inspiring talks, concrete case studies, and cross-sector discussions.

The forum also showcased collaborative projects developed with around thirty SMEs, in partnership with university teams as part of the OTN initiative. These projects illustrated the tangible impact of applied research in driving innovation and competitiveness for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Finally, several interactive workshops engaged over 100 students on emerging technologies, future skills, and responsible innovation practices — fostering meaningful connections between experts and young talents, and empowering the next generation of changemakers.

SECOND INTERNATIONAL SDG INNOVATION FORUM

Another great success for the second edition (2022)

📍 Palais des congrès de Montréal
📎Agenda
📌 Event: November 9, 2022

The second edition of the International Forum, titled “Beyond Industry 4.0/5.0: Toward an Intelligent, Digital, and Sustainable Society,” was successfully held on November 9, 2022, in partnership with the multisectoral strategic committee of the Palais des congrès de Montréal and the Quebec Industrial Expertise Centers Network 4.0 (RCEI4.0), bringing together partners such as DEL, CNIMI, DESTL, and Québec International.

Focused on the transition toward an intelligent, digital, and sustainable society, the Forum explored Industry 5.0 technologies and their implementation in key sectors such as manufacturing, transportation, aerospace, energy, and healthcare.

The program included sessions dedicated to collaborative projects between universities and companies, a special presentation on Society X.0 and data-driven management in France, as well as an exhibition of recent technologies, complemented by a student poster session that concluded with an award ceremony.

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SDG INNOVATION FORUM

1st Edition of the International Forum on Innovation 4.0
📍 Palais des congrès de Montréal
📎 Agenda
📌 Event Date: November 6, 2019

Organized in partnership with the Innovation 4.0 Network and Les Entretiens Jacques-Cartier, this event marked the launch of an inter-university collaboration dedicated to supporting the digital transition of Quebec’s businesses. The Forum highlighted Industry 4.0 technologies applied to strategic sectors such as aerospace, smart manufacturing, energy, logistics, and healthcare.

The program featured keynote speeches by international leaders (Accenture, Airbus, Bombardier, Siemens, Microsoft), thematic workshops on AI, the Internet of Things, digital twins, and factories of the future, a technology exhibition, as well as discussions on workforce training and support for SMEs.

The event brought together 31 speakers from industry, academia, and associations, laying the foundation for a strong Quebec ecosystem around Industry 4.0.