In this session, two leading innovation organizations and their city and utility partners will share innovation best practices that have spurred impactful economic development and energy resilience solutions from North Texas to the Pacific Northwest. 

Hear how the North Texas Innovation Alliance (NTXIA), a consortium that includes governmental organizations, utilities, private companies, and academic institutions, has created a culture of innovation that embraces forward-thinking solutions to improve economic and social outcomes. NTXIA member city, McKinney TX, will share how they are leveraging innovative technologies and smart city initiatives to bolster economic development and job growth while improving quality of life. 

In the Pacific Northwest, Portland General Electric’s (PGE) Strategic Innovation Team is using an AI-powered innovation management platform from InnovationForce to find new technologies that address climate risks and better prepare for extreme weather events. InnovationForce and PGE will discuss the recently released PGE 2024 Innovation Impact Report where they have been able to accelerate collaboration and reduce pilot times by 62% to upgrade the grid.