Author: Craig Hamill

This past week was a journey through cutting-edge innovation and the future of STEM talent. It began at Arizona State University’s SkySong Innovation Center for the Frost & Sullivan Innovation Workshop and Tour, where thought leaders gathered to explore emerging trends in technology, innovation, and strategy. ASU SkySong is a hub for entrepreneurship, research, and industry collaboration, making it the perfect setting for forward-thinking discussions on innovation and transformation.

A highlight of the visit was touring Dreamscape Learn, ASU’s immersive education platform that merges VR, AI, and interactive storytelling to revolutionize the way students engage with complex subjects. Seeing firsthand how technology is redefining education reinforced the power of experiential learning in shaping the next generation of problem-solvers.

From Arizona, I traveled to Baltimore for BEYA 39, where I had the privilege of meeting exceptionally talented students and generational STEM leaders. The energy at BEYA was inspiring—filled with ambitious young minds eager to make an impact, alongside seasoned professionals committed to mentorship and innovation. The conference underscored the importance of bridging academia, industry, and community to cultivate the future of technology and engineering.

From the immersive learning experiences at ASU to the next wave of STEM talent at BEYA, this week highlighted the importance of innovation, collaboration, and investing in the future. Excited to continue these conversations and see where these advancements lead!

   

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined the inaugural cohort of the Chicago Innovation Fellows Program, hosted at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. This program brings together a diverse group of leaders, changemakers, and innovators from across Chicago to explore new ways to drive impact through innovation. Our first session set the stage for what promises to be an exciting journey filled with learning, collaboration, and fresh ideas.

via  Chicago Innovation Linkedin 

Last Tuesday we kicked off the inaugural cohort of the Chicago Innovation Fellows program at the Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management downtown campus! Our Fellows spent the morning learning about innovation best practices from our very own Tom Kuczmarski. They then heard from Kellogg’s Mohanbir Sawhney on Business innovation at lunch. The afternoon consisted of a riveting panel discussion featuring Chicago Innovation board members Maria Wynne Lascarro, Jai Shekhawat, and Kevin Willer. To wrap up the day, our fellows enjoyed drinks, dinner, and an inspiring presentation from Chicago Innovation Award Winner Pete Kadens at Swift Tavern in Wrigleyville.

We’re happy to announce the success of our very first session, and are excited for the remaining five for this cohort! We have a very special group of Fellows here, and we know that they will all do amazing things in the program! Stay tuned to learn more about our Fellows and their journey over the next 6 months!

CES 2025 underscored transformative advancements in AI, high-performance computing (HPC), digital twins, and sustainable technologies—areas that directly align with my professional goals to amplify technological research and innovation capabilities.

A key observation was the growth in AI’s integration since 2024, with a noticeable push to incorporate AI into products across industries. While AI is widely recognized as a game-changer, its execution often focuses on enhancing customer experience and product customization. There was a palpable sense that booths without AI were considered irrelevant. As with many hype-cycle innovations, AI’s potential is undeniable, but its current application frequently feels like a solution searching for a problem.

AI and Consumer Tech Integration
NVIDIA’s unveiling of the GeForce RTX GPUs and the expansion of Agentic AI capabilities represent a significant leap in computational efficiency and real-time assistance. These advancements are vital for enhancing HPC and AI-driven analytics. Additionally, NVIDIA’s partnerships to integrate their chipsets and AI technologies into autonomous vehicles signal the growing convergence of AI and automotive innovation. The next challenge lies in establishing universal safety and operational standards across industries to ensure these technologies evolve responsibly.

Digital Twins and Sustainability
Emerging wearables and AI-driven AR/VR devices continue to leverage AI for health monitoring and vision augmentation, demonstrating the increasing adoption of digital twin concepts in consumer technology. This trend parallels goals for expanding digital twins in research labs to drive operational efficiency and data-informed decision-making. Agricultural innovations, such as John Deere’s autonomous tractors and Kubota’s AI-powered precision tools, highlight the potential for digital twins to enhance sustainability. These developments offer opportunities to explore safety standards and frameworks for digital thread technologies that train and refine autonomous AI systems.

Smart Infrastructure and Automation
Honda’s EV models and BMW’s Panoramic iDrive reflect advancements in smart infrastructure and connected systems. These innovations resonate with efforts to integrate AI into cloud-based infrastructure and operational processes. Ensuring safety and privacy in these interconnected systems remains a critical focus.

Takeaways for 2025
CES 2025 emphasizes the importance of aligning AI, sustainable innovation, and advanced infrastructure to drive impactful outcomes. These trends present a growing demand signal and a clear foundation for achieving 2025 goals.

As 2024 comes to a close, it’s a moment to reflect on a year of transformative progress and impactful initiatives within the realms of innovation and technology.

This year marked significant strides in digital transformation, with a primary focus on advancing cloud-based infrastructure, AI-driven analytics, and process automation. These efforts not only enhanced operational efficiency but also laid the groundwork for scalable, future-ready systems.

The Center of Innovation (COIN) solidified its role as a hub for creative problem-solving and impactful outcomes. Key initiatives emphasized research-centric technology solutions, leveraging emerging technologies to propel forward-thinking projects. This work underscored the power of innovation in driving meaningful change across industries.

High-Performance Computing (HPC) took center stage, with the development of a comprehensive roadmap in partnership with TotalCAE. These advancements supported sophisticated research initiatives across UL’s five research institutes and set a new benchmark for computational excellence. The introduction of a digital twin for research labs demonstrated the convergence of technology and experimentation, fostering enhanced collaboration and data-driven decision-making.

Engagement with external organizations also flourished. Acceptance into Evanta, participation in TechCrunch Disrupt, and involvement with Chicago Innovation strengthened our network and influence. Joining the ‘Ageless Innovators’ program and contributing to the Great Lakes ReNEW initiative showcased our commitment to regional sustainability and innovation.

This year, the Research Computing Steering Committee was established to unify strategic goals across multiple disciplines. Moreover, milestones such as joining mHUB and being featured at the Gartner Symposium/XPO cemented our position as leaders in innovation.

As we look ahead to 2025, the momentum we’ve built in 2024 serves as a testament to what’s possible when creativity, collaboration, and technology converge. Here’s to another year of innovation and impact!

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟

I am thrilled to share that I have been accepted into the 2025 Cohort 13 of Chicago Innovation’s Ageless Innovators program, a unique initiative that fosters intergenerational collaboration and innovation. This opportunity resonates deeply with my passion for driving meaningful change through diverse perspectives and creative problem-solving.

Additionally, I am honored to have been selected for the Chicago Innovation Fellows program in partnership with Northwestern Kellogg’s Center for Research in Technology and Innovation. This fellowship will provide an incredible platform to delve into cutting-edge research and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the Chicago innovation community.

As I embark on these two transformative journeys, I look forward to learning, growing, and contributing to my shared mission of advancing innovation and technology. I am excited to connect with fellow innovators and leaders along the way!

#Innovation #Leadership #ChicagoInnovation #AgelessInnovators #NorthwesternKellogg #Technology #Collaboration

Over the past month, I’ve had the privilege of achieving several significant milestones that reflect my commitment to innovation, leadership, and collaboration. From being recognized by leading organizations to advancing strategic initiatives, these accomplishments highlight my dedication to driving meaningful impact across technology, research, and innovation ecosystems.

• Accepted into the Chicago Innovation Fellows Program, a prestigious leadership program in collaboration with Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
• Became a Full Member of Chicago Innovation and joined Cohort 13 of Ageless Innovators, showcasing my commitment to fostering cross-generational collaboration.
• Participated in Innovation in Action, tackling the Great Lakes ReNEW initiative, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Engine, laying groundwork for partnerships with the NSF.
• Partnering with Hudson Alpha on the Greening the Southeast initiative NSF Engine development.
• Accepted into Evanta Chicago CIO Community, expanding my network among technology leaders.
• Advanced thought leadership by preparing a blog post reflecting on key events like the Gartner Symposium/XPO, Microsoft Ignite, and TechCrunch Disrupt.
• Continued to drive innovation by engaging in efforts to proactively integrate standards development into research and technology initiatives.

Over the last 3 weeks I had the privilege of attending two distinct but equally impactful events: the Gartner Symposium/XPO, TechCrunch Disrupt, and joining the Evanta Chicago community.

At the Gartner Symposium/XPO, the emphasis was on strategic, high-level discussions surrounding digital transformation, AI’s expanding role, and how enterprises can accelerate innovation. One of the most striking insights was the emerging consensus on AI not just as a tool but as a core component of business strategy. Sessions on predictive analytics and ethical AI underscored the importance of guiding AI responsibly to harness its full potential. The symposium offered actionable frameworks for digital acceleration that I’m excited to adapt for our work at the Center of Innovation, especially as we further integrate AI-driven analytics and cloud solutions into our initiatives.

TechCrunch Disrupt brought a refreshingly raw, disruptive energy to the tech conversation. The event showcased startups breaking new ground across sectors—from sustainable tech to, well, obviously, AI and digital twin technology. It was inspiring to witness the boldness with which these startups are challenging norms, and I came away with new ideas to spark further innovation in how I continue to develop strategies around emerging technologies. The enthusiasm and forward-thinking spirit of TechCrunch served as a reminder of the power of agility and creativity in driving change and helped me build a better pitch mentality and tone for the projects I am working on.

Finally, joining Evanta Chicago was an invaluable experience that marked a new level of peer engagement and collaboration. Connecting with fellow executives will reinforce the importance of shared learning in tackling complex technological challenges. Evanta’s focus on building a robust network of leaders is vital in today’s fast-paced tech landscape, and I’m eager to explore data-driven decision-making and digital transformation strategies with the group.

These events have expanded my perspective from disruptive startup energy to strategic enterprise focus. As I bring these learnings back to my role, I’m looking forward to exploring new ways to foster innovation, drive transformation, and lead with a vision that aligns both emerging technologies and executive collaboration. This journey through diverse perspectives reaffirms the incredible potential of technology to shape our future.

I will be at the Chicago Innovation Nominee Celebration on September 12 at CineCity Studios. I look forward to connecting with the community and ideating with Chicago’s top innovators. If you are attending, let me know. I’d love to talk about tech innovation.

I have been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives.

I was selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of my experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

As a member of the Council, I will have access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help reach peak professional influence. My goal is to connect and collaborate with other respected leaders in a private forum. As part of the council I will also have the opportunity to share my expert insights in original articles and contribute to published Expert Panels alongside other experts on Forbes.com.

I am really excited to join the Forbes Technology Council and look forward to engaging with industry thought partners and proving my gain experience and perspective in the technology ecosystem.

ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive.

To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit https://councils.forbes.com.

Innovation Workshop & Tour: A Quarterly Series – Oracle Industry Lab | Sept 16^th-18^th  | Chicago, Illinois

• • Interactive Roundtable – No Derisk, No Reward. | SESSION FEATURED THOUGHT LEADER:  Craig Hamill, Director, Innovation, UL Research Institutes, craig.hamill@ul.org
  • Interactive Case History Zone 2 – Mapping Your Digital Product Experience Across the Ecosystem | SESSION FEATURED THOUGHT LEADER: Craig Hamill, Director, Innovation, UL Research Institutes, craig.hamill@ul.org

UL Research Institutes – Annual Research Symposium | Sept 30^th – Oct 4^th | Atlanta, Georgia

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo | Oct 21^st -24^th  | Orlando, Florida

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 | Oct 28^th– 30^th | San Francisco, California

Microsoft Ignite | Nov 19^th – 22^nd | Chicago, Illinois

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) | Jan 7^th – 10^th, 2025 | Las Vegas, Nevada

Updated (08/21/2024)