Innovation

VX 2022 Game Changers: Meet The Innovators—ERI’s John Shegerian & RWI Synthetics’ Myrna Bittner

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In this excerpt from 2022’s luncheon plenary titled “Game Changers: Meet The Innovators,” VX News highlights two innovative business leaders in very different fields: ERI Co-Founder & Chairman, John Shegerian, and RWI Synthetics' Founder and CEO,Myrna Bittner, moderated by Jim Kelly of S&C Electric. Read along as Shegerian tells the story of his early entrance into the ever-growing e-waste economy with ERI, followed by Bittner’s remarkable world-building software to help visualize all futures, imaginable or otherwise. A recording of the entire plenary can be found here.

VX News Exit Interview with Greg Spotts—StreetsLA’s CSO & Executive Officer

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Greg Spotts

Reflecting on his time as a dedicated public servant in Los Angeles, VX News is pleased to present this exit interview with Greg Spotts as he leaves in September to become the new Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation.

Transformative Capital Improvements Underway at LAX: LAWA’s Samantha Bricker

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VX News spoke with Samantha Bricker, Los Angeles World Airport’s Chief Sustainability and Revenue Management Officer, about the numerous (ongoing and future) capital, operational, and workforce investments happening at Los Angeles World Airports.

Joshua Schank on Transport Innovation & Learning from Failure

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Per Joshua Schank, Metro’s former Chief Innovation Officer, more than capital is needed. Schank, in this interview, notes that in addition to capital investment, the LA County agency needs to continue to seek creative solutions to solve the region’s mobility problems. Schank explains that not being afraid of failure and tapping more into the potential of public-private partnership are two ways Metro can move forward successfully, especially with appropriated funding from the State and Federal governments expected and on the way.

The Milken Institute’s Matt Horton on Reigniting California’s Innovation Economy

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Matt Horton

Facing significant revenue shortfalls at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, California legislators in June 2020 paused the state's R&D and other business tax credits.

Driving Canada’s Cleantech Innovation: Foresight’s CEO, Jeanette Jackson

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Jeanette Jackson

VX News asks CEO of Canada's most successful clean tech accelerator, Jeannette Jackson, to both elaborate on the nonprofit’s ecosystem-wide approach to supporting Canada’s transition to a net-zero economy through innovation and share the competitive advantages that Vancouver BC offers cleantech, agtech, and industrial innovation companies.

Getting London Ready for the Transition to Connected, Automated and Shared Transportation

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Michael Hurwitz

Transport for London’s Transport Innovation Director Michael Hurwitz illuminates a successful approach to fostering a "sandbox" for new mobility platforms that equitably serve the city.

Japan’s Shinzo Abe Opens STS Forum: Advancing the Lights & Managing the Shadows of Science & Technology

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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Remarks from Prime Minister Abe, STS Founder Koji Omi, former U.S. DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz, and Toyota Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada at the recent STS Forum in Kyoto. They all highlighted the great advancements in science and technology to unlock the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but warned against the downsides of disruption.