News: Innovation And Entrepreneurship

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.

WEKH cover photo

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

I&E team
Innovation & Entrepreneurship team (L - R): Alessia Guthrie, Lauren Manekin Beille, , Bronwen Duncan and Clement Richard. Missing: Caitlyn MacMaster. 

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.   

YIP cheque presentation
(l-r) Minister Pillai, Thomas Jaquin, Cody Reaume, Lauren Manekin Beille.

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.

graphic with words clean tech

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. 

clean tech

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