The organizers of the InnovateNB Celebration and Awards 2025 have announced the nominees for the innovation awards in nine categories.

The awards program recognizes individuals and organizations contributing to innovation across New Brunswick. According to organizers, the program is intended to spotlight achievements in a range of fields, from startups to social impact initiatives.

This year’s ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 27 at the Saint John Trade & Convention Centre. Tickets for the event are still on sale but sales close Wednesday. You can buy tickets here.

The event is organized by TechImpact in partnership with the McKenna Institute, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, Envision Saint John, and Propel.

Here are the nominees in nine categories:

EMERGING INNOVATOR AWARD

  • Punita Bhargava – Shreem Breeze Export Ltd
  • James French – White Pine Medical
  • Dr. Alli Murugesan – University of New Brunswick
  • Daniel Lirette – FloraTrack AI Inc.
  • Clodualdo Jr. Aranas – University of New Brunswick
  • Nathan MacDonald – ClinicForward Technologies Inc.
  • Shanthi Shanmugam – Urai AI Corp.
  • Brody Hanson – Work Water Inc.
  • Kara LeBlanc – MedReddie
  • Aaliyah Lahai – Gáamai Hair Inc.
  • Dustin Bowers – PLAEX Building Systems Inc.
  • Isaac Barkhouse – Victory Advanced Technologies
  • Lopsii Olagoke – Nezz
  • Brendan Wood – SnapTrade
  • Adetunji Adelakun – Scantranx
  • Gerrard Kilfoil – INNOV
  • Pascale Michaud – AgroGene Solutions
  • Jade Yhap – InteractiveNB

 

IMPACT INNOVATION AWARD

  • Thales
  • Anessa
  • SmartSkin Technologies
  • Eigen Innovations
  • CCNB-INNOV
  • Introhive

 

INCLUSIVITY & EMPOWERMENT AWARD

  • Amandipp Singh – Enabled Talent
  • Flora Gassier – Opportunities New Brunswick, Government of NB
  • Kateryna Omelianchenko – Southeast RSC
  • Kate Saeedi – Promise Partnership
  • Cree School Board
  • Karen Cummings – Centre for Youth Care
  • Pablo Montreuil – CCNB and JEDI
  • Roisin Connolly – Bloom Funding
  • Leon Morris – JEDI

 

INNOVATION IN ACADEMIA & RESEARCH AWARD

 Individuals:

  • Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi – University of New Brunswick
  • Edward Wilson-Ewing – University of New Brunswick
  • Dr. Barry Blight – University of New Brunswick
  • Dr. Alli Murugesan – University of New Brunswick
  • Dr. Anna Ignaszak – University of New Brunswick
  • Moulay Akhloufi – Université de Moncton
  • Kenneth Kent – University of New Brunswick
  • Erik Scheme – UNB
  • Jennifer Woodland – University of New Brunswick
  • Dr. Marc Surette – Université de Moncton

Organizations:

  • Partnering for Patti (Dalhousie Medicine NB + UNB + NBCC)
  • AgroGene Solutions
  • Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity
  •  University of New Brunswick – Institute of Biomedical Engineering
  • UNB Faculty of Nursing + SPECTRAL Spatial Computing Research Centre

 

INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OR SERVICE AWARD

  • AgroGene Solutions
  • Pathific
  • Parados
  • NLU Technologies
  • Bubbles Haircare for Kids
  • SpatialOne
  • MedReddie
  • Uresta
  • SnapTrade
  • hatch + parley

 

PUBLIC SECTOR TRANSFORMATION AWARD

  • NB Department of Education & Early Childhood Development
  • Project & Advisory Services, Government of New Brunswick
  • Anglophone East School District (ASD-E)

 

SCALE-UP OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • Kognitiv Spark
  • TrojAI
  • PLAEX Building Systems Inc.
  • SmartSkin Technologies

 

STARTUP OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • ASETS-CA
  • Premium Accounting Solution Services Inc.
  • saltwinds coffee
  • SpatialOne
  • MedReddie
  • Uresta
  • Bubbly Cup
  • Versos AI
  • ClinicGlide Technologies Inc.
  • Victory Advanced Technologies

 

THE BEACON AWARD FOR WOMEN IN INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP

  • Olga Palazhchenko – University of New Brunswick
  • Dr. Alli Murugesan – University of New Brunswick
  • Abby David – The McKenna Institute at UNB
  • Madison Bell – Promise Partnership (with Catherine Kerr and Kate Saeedi)
  • Laura Richard – Saltwinds Coffee
  • Kara LeBlanc – MedReddie
  • Josée Landry – Innov (CCNB)
  • Nancy Butler – Mariner