News: Innovation And Entrepreneurship

Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) is pleased to announce that a local I&E innovator has moved their business idea through to commercialization. The SUPStick land paddle, invented by Brennan Innovations Inc., is now available for purchase on its newly launched website.

Over the last five years, I&E has helped Joel Brennan, president of Brennan Innovations Inc. and developer of the SUPStick, in making his idea a reality. The SUPStick is an ergonomic dry land Stand Up Paddle (SUP) designed to simulate the feeling of being on water, while using a skateboard on land. I&E played a central role in helping Brennan actualize his idea by supporting him through prototype design, manufacturing and testing, intellectual property protection, and product development.

Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) and Government of Yukon have launched this year’s Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP).  The theme for the 2021 prize is “innovation for recovery” in response to the global pandemic and its impact on the territory. 

The Yukon Innovation Prize has recognized and supported innovative solutions to address local challenges since 2015. YIP prize winners have the opportunity to further develop their ideas for the benefit of the territory, Yukoners and the rest of Canada.  

Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) is launching a Yukon business incubator, thanks to a $400K contribution from TD Bank Group. Over the next four years, this early-stage business incubation program, IncubateNorth, will support entrepreneurs throughout the territory to grow their businesses locally, nationally, and internationally. 

Yukon University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) is supporting social enterprise throughout the territory thanks to funding from the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Development Goals Funding program. 
 
I&E will use this funding to raise awareness about the benefits of social enterprise and support Yukon businesses to incorporate sustainable development goals (SDG’s) into their business practices. This support will address the needs of businesses new to sustainability practises, as well as further enhance Yukon businesses that have already adopted one or more sustainable development goals into their social enterprise. 
 

WHITEHORSE, YT: The tourism industry will be the industry hit hardest and longest by the effects of COVID-19. TIA Yukon has created a unique partnership with Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Yukon University, Yukon First Nation Culture and Tourism Association and the Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon to bring Yukon’s tourism industry the Yukon Elevate Tourism Program (ELEVATE). The program focuses on developing businesses for re-entry into tourism markets once travel restrictions are lifted, not to be confused with ‘business relief’, which supports tourism operators while current travel restrictions prevent them from generating revenue (and which is addressed by other programs).

WHITEHORSE, YT— Today, Yukon College Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) launched PIVOT., a new program to help local companies minimize the effects of COVID-19. The program is designed to support Yukon businesses of all sizes and stages during the global pandemic and beyond. PIVOT. was developed in partnership and supported by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) and Government of Yukon, Department of Economic Development.

WHITEHORSE, YT— Yukoner, Stefan Weissenberg has been named the winner of the 2020 Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP) by the Government of Yukon, Economic Development and Yukon College’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) for his hydrogen cell snowmobile idea. The announcement was made this afternoon, via a video posted on the Yukon College YouTube account.

In response to the 2020 YIP theme, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Weissenberg’s project addresses affordable clean energy and climate action by designing the first hydrogen fuel cell snowmobile in the world, giving northerners a cleaner engine for over-land transport in the winter. The reliable and durable design will outperform battery hybrid options by way of a longer range, quicker fill times and better performance in cold temperatures. Weissenberg received a $10,000 award and wrap-around business supports from I&E.

November 19th marks the official launch of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) North at Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E), Yukon College.

WHITEHORSE— Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) at Yukon College has broadened its supports for Yukon trailblazers. Formerly known as Cold Climate Innovation (CCI), the change in name is linked to an expansion in both the services the team provides and the type of innovators they support.   

WHITEHORSE— The Honourable Ranj Pillai, Minister of Economic Development for the Government of Yukon, has announced Cody Reaume and Thomas Jaquin and their company, Phylo Technologies, as the winner of the 2019 Yukon Innovation Prize.

WHITEHORSE—Four ideas from Yukon innovators have been shortlisted for the 2019 Yukon Innovation Prize. This year’s theme is clean technology. Each finalist will receive $10,000 to further develop their idea and compete for the $60,000 grand prize. 

Whitehorse – The 2019 Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP) competition offers Yukoners a chance at $70,000 for ideas that improve sustainability by using clean technologies.