As everything goes remote, virtual conferences are becoming more common.
One of the central curiosities of the COVID-19 pandemic is that innovation festivals have had to show some innovation themselves. However, that also means that some of these conferences are in flux, with some speakers still being locked in. And you should keep a close eye on the potential in-person summits as they’re subject to change. Here are some to look out for.
Innovation Roundtable: Monthly Series
Normally, the Innovation Roundtable’s event convenes presenters from around the world. Needless to say, that’s had to change. Instead of one giant event, new events are announced monthly on their site, with a tighter focus.
For example, February’s focus on startup collaborations, agile mindsets, and innovation in sustainability practices. These two-hour sessions are perfect to step away from the desk and refresh your innovative energy.
The Future Festival: March and November 2021
One of the top innovation events has shifted online for the month of March, with a free virtual event each week. Covering international innovation, retail and marketing, media and entertainment, and CPG and food, each two-day event is free, although you will need to get a ticket.
The same is true of the World Summit for 2021 in November, also virtual and also free. The event structure is an experiment and one that promises some fascinating results.
THE Innovation Impact Summit: April 19–22, 2021
The Times of Higher Education is focusing on the academic side of the pandemic this year, with a particular consideration on where innovation goes, who benefits from it, and how we can ensure a fairer distribution of potentially life-saving research.
Attending conferences has never been easier.
The Adobe Summit: April 27–28, 2021
Another popular stop on the innovation circuit, Adobe’s customer experience focused event is going free and virtual this year. Especially if you’ve felt that you’ve had a crash course in UX over the last year, this will be a great way to take stock, pick up new skills, and see what else you can implement.
Gartner Application Innovation & Business Solutions Summit: May 26–27, 2021
One of the more respected research firms is taking its highly regarded events virtual. This one, in particular, stands out as remote working and online connectivity are more important than ever. And this conference explores how they interact and how businesses can use innovation strategy to design the right solutions.
TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo: October 18–20, 2021, Washington, DC
Focused, as you might expect, on technology, this in-person event boasts speakers from Corning, AstraZeneca, Stanford University, the U.S. Forest Service, and more, exploring new ideas and approaches in advanced materials, manufacturing, energy & sustainability, electronics, biotech, and agriculture. Keep an eye on the site; its call for papers and innovations opens in February.
2020 was a year that demanded innovation strategy and change management. These conferences will help ground you for the coming year and, even better, all you need is a computer to attend. To get the latest on innovation management, request a demo!
This article was originally published on the IdeaScale blog here.
