Innovators from top institutions take center stage at conference in Boston

The world of innovation will look to the northeast next week, as Innovation Outreach unfolds in Boston, October 15-17. Top minds and influencers from Global 500 organizations, including Microsoft, and more will be on hand to discuss the impact of the most critical technologies, including big data, analytics, and artificial intelligence. 

Pattie Maes, Professor at the MIT Media Lab, is among the speakers for the event. An expert in human and computer interactions, Maes is slated to discuss AI and cognitive enhancement as part of her address. Other speakers include David Bell, President of Idea Farm Ventures, and Amy Webb, Founder of the Future Today Institute.

Webb, a quantitative futurist and professor of strategic foresight at the NYU Stern School of Business, spoke at SXSW 2019 about technology’s present and future role in some of the most fundamental issues in society, including privacy and ownership over biometric and other personal data.

Webb’s work as the founder of the Future Today Institute has been focused on preparing leaders around the world tackle the most complex issues that come with rapid technological innovation. 

Innovation Outreach’s other presenters include Nick Rockwell, Chief Technology Officer at The New York Times; Mark Tocher of NATO; Carrie Moore, Experience Design Lead at Delta Air Lines; and Josh Baillon, Digital Innovation Manager at Nestlé; and several others. The conference will feature speeches, roundtable discussions and exhibitions.

The conference is a follow-up to the Innovation Outreach conference in Dublin, the last major event put on by the organization back in July. In Dublin, Innovation Outreach member companies discussed future innovative disruptions, especially in the context of future spaces: homes, cars, hospitals, schools, workplaces, and more. 

Innovation Outreach is focused on global collective sharing thinking on technologies that ignite transformation. Members are focused on better understanding innovations and the disruptive changes they have on businesses and industries, as well as finding common ground and opportunities for collaboration. Microsoft is the managing member company of Innovation Outreach.

The discussions and insights generated from the conference will undoubtedly impact innovators from organizations at every stage, including startups. Adeo Ressi, CEO of The Founder Institute and one of the most influential figures in the world of startups their founders, is among the scheduled speakers. 

The co-host of this event is Flex’s Boston Innovation Center, a 17,000-square foot hub in the heart of Boston that supports both local startups and large multinationals. The collective space, with tech and university partners across the east coast, boasts 3D printers, modeling and CNC equipment, high-precision injection molding, and more. 

The conference looks to build on the considerable buzz and momentum generated from the Dublin event in July 2019, which was the innovation organization’s largest gathering to date.