Ideas to Impact 2026
Ideas to Impact: Strengthening Community Innovation will take place on March 31, 2026, at Mohawk College’s Fennell Campus, bringing together industry partners, community organizations, funders, government and municipal leaders, and colleges for a half‑day of focused discussion on building capacity and adapting to new realities, in a climate of uncertainty. Running from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by a lunch and an optional tour of our research facilities, the event will explore how applied research continues to shape and strengthen innovation. Participants will engage with thought‑provoking panels tackling topics like the evolution & opportunities of Applied Research in southern Ontario, dual‑use in the 21st Century, and seeing how Applied Research intersects with tariffs. With this dissemination of ideas and discussions taking place, we are able to work together to strengthen collaboration and chart the future of community‑driven innovation.
IDEAS TO IMPACT 2025
Agenda | Ideas to Impact 2026
| Time | Agenda Item | Location |
| 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Capacity building with AR 101 | EA015 |
| 8:30 AM – 9:15 AM | Breakfast with Registrations | JCPI (Gallery + Upper Way) |
| 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Quick Break | — |
| 9:15 AM – 9:30 AM | Leadership Address | JCPI (Gallery + Upper Way) |
| 9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | IDEAWORKS Overview | EA015 |
| 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | Trends in Applied Research in Southern Ontario – Panel Discussion | EA015 |
| 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM | Understanding Dual-Use in the 21st Century – Panel Discussion | EA015 |
| 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Networking Break | — |
| 12:05 PM – 1:05 PM | Applied Research Innovation in a Tariff landscape – Panel Discussion | EA015 |
| 1:05 PM – 1:25 PM | Award Announcements | EA015 |
| 1:25 PM – 1:35 PM | Closing Keynote | EA015 |
| 1:35 PM – 3:00 PM | Lunch | — |
| 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM | Tours | — |
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Mohawk College’s Unmanned and Remote Sensing Innovation Centre (URSIC) partnered with Garden City Display Fireworks to explore how drones could safely deploy pyrotechnics for aerial light shows. The applied research team designed, tested, and validated a custom drone-mounted firing system that meets strict regulatory and safety standards, proving the potential for a new era of…
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