Author: jbadmin

Discover Fort Myers, Florida’s Innovation Through Collaboration Initiative
Fort Myers winter resident Thomas Edison once declared, “There is only one Fort Myers, and 90 million people will find this out.” That notion is thought to have inspired the city’s expansion back in 1925. And that same observation holds true today, a century later – only the number of people (and companies) who have “found out” is exponentially larger. And so are the opportunities.

Cited by U.S. News & World Report as among the fastest growing cities in the country, Fort Myers is focused on Innovation Through Collaboration, where bold ideas evolve into new possibilities and partnerships drive opportunity.

When Thomas Edison chose Fort Myers as his winter retreat and lab in 1885, he wasn’t just looking for warm weather. He saw potential – a city where ideas could flourish, where experimentation was welcome, and where collaboration with other great minds, including Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, could lead to progress. Today, that same spirit of innovation through collaboration fuels Fort Myers’ evolution.

But innovation isn’t just something the city simply celebrates – it’s a vision Fort Myers actively cultivates as it emerges as a partner for businesses seeking a business-friendly location with an amazing quality of life.

What have the following companies “found out” about Fort Myers, as Edison proclaimed, that your company could soon discover with its own lightbulb moment?

• Amazon is making a significant investment in Fort Myers with plans to build a state-of-the-art, 650,000-square-foot robotics fulfillment center. This facility will feature Amazon’s latest robotics technology, enhancing efficiency in picking, packing and shipping. This development underscores Fort Myers’ growing prominence as a location of technological innovation.
• Fort Myers-based Aviation Precision Technology, a global leader in aviation component repair and manufacturing, is leveraging the city’s expanding tech infrastructure and skilled workforce. On the horizon is a partnership with the Lee County School District to launch a high school training program for jet engine repair, boosting workforce development paths in aerospace and advanced manufacturing – positioning Fort Myers as a location where technology, talent, and business success take flight.
• Local company EmCyte is transforming regenerative medicine with cutting-edge technology. Specializing in Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapies, it develops systems enhancing healing in orthopedics, sports medicine, and wound care. A leader in minimally invasive treatments, EmCyte is shaping patient care while positioning the region as a biomedical hub.
• With headquarters in Southwest Florida, Arthrex, a worldwide leader in orthopedic surgical instruments, is set to significantly enhance its presence with a state-of-the-art, 1-million-square-foot logistics facility, adjacent to the Southwest Florida International Airport. The new center underscores Arthrex’s commitment to innovation and regional growth.

Building on this momentum, Fort Myers offers something truly unique: a host of innovative opportunities centered on the four pillars of its economy: retirement, real estate, recreation and retail.

• Retirement: Senior Living’s Smart Future – With one of the country’s fastest-growing senior populations, Fort Myers is a prime hub for medical device R&D and manufacturing, as well as innovative pharmaceutical trials.
• Real Estate: A Property Innovation Playground – Technology designed to improve real estate development, sales and management presents a natural opportunity for collaboration. A Fort Myers-based initiative could bring AI-driven real estate tools, smart home developments, and climate-resilient building innovations to the forefront.
• Recreation: Lifestyle Sports Hub – Fort Myers is a hotbed for boating and fishing, golf, tennis, and pickleball, making it a prime testing ground for cutting-edge sports and recreation technology. With a strong local market and a culture of active living, Fort Myers is the perfect launchpad for game-changing partnerships in sports tech and manufacturing.
• Retail: Where Innovation Meets Customer Experience – Retail is changing fast, and Fort Myers’ thriving commercial landscape offers an ideal testing ground for e-commerce logistics, AI-powered inventory management and customer experience technology.

Edison’s Ingenuity… Reignited
With Florida’s tax climate rated as the fourth-best in the nation, Fort Myers offers business advantages and burgeoning opportunities for firms looking for an attractive alternative to the congestion and high costs of larger metro areas.

For companies seeking a dynamic city where innovation and collaboration spark opportunity, Fort Myers is a place where Edison’s ingenuity is not just remembered – it’s reignited in a city that’s open for business and wired for success.

To learn more about doing business in the City of Fort Myers, contact Economic Development Director Steve Weathers at sweathers@fortmyers.gov, or call 239-321-7912.

We’re honored to be featured in Forbes as the Edison Awards announce the 2026 finalists. The article explores how this year’s honorees are pointing the way forward for innovation, highlighting emerging trends, breakthrough technologies, and the real-world impact shaping what’s next across industries. Read the full Forbes story to see how today’s innovators are defining the future.

Read the article: https://www.forbes.com/

As we close out 2025, one truth stands out: this was a year unlike any other in Edison Awards history. From record-breaking nominations spanning 20+ countries to an unforgettable celebration in Fort Myers featuring visionaries Jensen Huang, President and CEO of NVIDIA and Michael M. Crow, President of Arizona State University, the global innovation community demonstrated that breakthrough thinking knows no boundaries.

The numbers tell a compelling story, but behind every statistic is a team of innovators who refused to accept the status quo and instead asked “yes, AND?” and then built the answer.

By the Numbers: 2025 Nomination Season

This year’s nomination cycle shattered every previous record:

• Global Reach: Innovations poured in from over 20 countries worldwide, reinforcing the Edison Awards’ position as the premier global platform for recognizing game-changing solutions.
• Category Leaders: Health, Medical & Biotech innovations led all submissions, followed closely by Materials Science and Energy & Climate Resiliency, reflecting the urgent challenges and breakthrough solutions defining our era.
• The Power of Community: Over one-third of our reach came from winner recommendations, demonstrating the lasting value participants find in the Edison Awards. When innovators return year after year and actively encourage their peers to participate, it speaks volumes about the credibility and impact of this platform.

Why Innovators Nominate: The data reveals three primary motivations driving submissions:

• Global Visibility (29.8%): Positioning innovations on the world stage
• PR & Media Exposure (13.7%): Amplifying breakthrough stories
• Team Recognition (13.3%): Celebrating the brilliant minds behind the technology

Broad Representation: From emerging startups with 1-50 employees (40% of nominees) to established enterprises with 1,000+ employees (35%), the diversity underscores the Edison Awards’ credibility across the innovation spectrum. Whether you’re disrupting from a garage or transforming industries from a global headquarters, excellence finds recognition here.

What 2025 Taught Us

Looking back at both the nomination data and the Fort Myers celebration, several themes emerge:

• Innovation is accelerating. The record number of submissions reflects not just increased awareness of the Edison Awards, but a global surge in breakthrough thinking across industries.
• Collaboration drives progress. From the one-third of nominees who came through winner recommendations to the networking and partnerships forged at the Fort Myers event, the innovation community thrives on connection.
• Quality transcends company size. Whether you’re a 10-person startup or a 10,000-person enterprise, game-changing innovation can emerge from anywhere. The Edison Awards recognizes excellence regardless of organizational scale.
• The future is being built now. The technologies showcased in 2025—from AI systems to sustainable materials to breakthrough medical devices—aren’t concepts for tomorrow. They’re solutions being deployed today, changing lives and reshaping industries in real time.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

As our judges currently evaluate the record-breaking pool of 2026 nominations, we’re energized by what lies ahead. The finalists will be announced in mid-January, followed by another extraordinary gathering in Fort Myers on April 15-16, 2026.

REGISTER NOW –>

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been announced as our first 2026 Achievement Award honoree, with a second visionary leader to be revealed in January. The momentum is building, the innovations are groundbreaking, and the global innovation community is stronger than ever.

• To every innovator who submitted in 2025: Thank you for sharing your breakthrough thinking with us. Your work is shaping the future.
• To our sponsors: Thank you for enabling us to spotlight breakthrough innovations and honor the visionaries behind them.
• To the global innovation community: 2025 was extraordinary. Let’s make 2026 even better.

Join us in Fort Myers: Experience the 2026 Edison Awards on April 15-16, 2026. Register now to be there when we reveal the next generation of breakthrough innovations.

Ready to showcase your innovation? Nominations for the 2027 Edison Awards will open in summer 2026. Learn more about the benefits of nominating and explore our winners gallery to see the caliber of innovations we celebrate.

The way we generate, store, and distribute energy is undergoing a transformation unlike anything seen since Thomas Edison first illuminated lower Manhattan in 1882. According to BloombergNEF, global investment in the energy transition hit $2.1 trillion in 2024, up 11% from the previous year, while the climate tech market is poised to reach $220.3 billion by 2035.

The message is clear: breakthrough technologies are moving from laboratory concepts to real-world deployment at unprecedented speed, and our past Edison Award winners are leading the charge.

Edison Award Winners Setting the Standard

Our past Energy & Sustainability winners showcase exactly how innovation is revolutionizing energy systems today:

Redwood Materials is building America’s first domestic supply chain for EV battery materials, recycling critical minerals including lithium, nickel, and cobalt to create the most sustainable cathode material available. By reclaiming these valuable components, Redwood is solving both the supply chain challenge and the environmental impact of battery production.

NAMI developed a groundbreaking safe EV battery with non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte (QSE) that provides 10 times extended cycle life under extreme conditions and a 20°C thermal stability improvement over liquid alternatives—addressing one of the biggest safety concerns in electric vehicle adoption.

Brenmiller Energy’s bGen™ ZERO thermal battery is revolutionizing industrial heat by converting renewable electricity into zero-emission heat stored in crushed rocks. Currently being installed at Tempo Beverages (a Heineken and Pepsi producer), the 32 MWh system will replace fossil fuel boilers, mitigating over 6,200 tons of carbon emissions annually while saving an estimated $7.5 million over 15 years—proving clean industrial heat is both economically viable and scalable.

Hyperion’s XP-1 hydrogen-powered hypercar delivers 450-1,000+ miles of range with rapid refueling and zero emissions, proving sustainable transportation doesn’t require performance compromises.

ITRI is also making an impact for their AI-powered energy management. was a 2025 winner for their Adaptive Cold Energy Management System that uses Deep Reinforcement Learning algorithms to optimize energy use in commercial sites like supermarkets and wholesale stores, adapting in real-time to environmental conditions.

Expanding the Innovation Ecosystem

Supporting the next generation of climate innovators requires collaboration. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with Greentown Labs, the world’s largest climatetech and energy incubator. Together, we’re creating bridges that connect entrepreneurs with the networks, resources, and recognition they need to scale their solutions.

With over 200 startups in their current portfolio and 625+ companies supported since 2011—having collectively raised more than $9.6 billion in funding—Greentown’s community represents the cutting edge of climate innovation. This partnership ensures more of these breakthrough solutions receive the visibility and connections that accelerate market growth.

As Frank Bonafilia, CEO of the Edison Awards, notes: “We’re not just fostering innovation, we’re searching for revolutionary solutions that can genuinely improve lives and protect our planet.”

Six Game-Changing Trends Reshaping Energy

1. Next-Generation Battery Storage for Vehicles

Solid-state batteries are revolutionizing energy storage by cutting charging time from 30-45 minutes to as little as 12 minutes while lasting 15-20 years—double the lifespan of conventional lithium-ion batteries. Toyota plans production by 2026, while Mercedes-Benz completed road tests in early 2025 with prototypes achieving over 620 miles of range.

2. Fusion Energy Goes Commercial

After decades as a distant dream, fusion power is becoming reality. Commonwealth Fusion Systems will build the world’s first grid-scale commercial fusion plant in Virginia, with Google securing 200 megawatts from the facility. Private investment in fusion exceeded $7 billion by early 2025, with over 40 startups globally pursuing innovative approaches.

3. Next-Generation Nuclear: Small Modular Reactors

Advanced fission technology is delivering results today. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are revolutionizing nuclear power through factory fabrication, reducing construction time from 5-10 years to just 24-36 months. Bill Gates’ TerraPower is building its Natrium reactor in Wyoming—a $4 billion project that will replace a retiring coal plant with 345 MW of clean, 24/7 baseload power by 2030. With integrated molten salt storage that can boost output to 500 MW, it’s ideally suited for complementing renewable energy sources.

4. Geothermal’s Hidden Potential

New drilling technologies are unlocking vast geothermal resources. The Clean Air Task Force estimates that just 1% of America’s superhot rock potential could produce 4.3 terawatts of clean firm power—almost four times the country’s current total installed electricity-generating capacity. Unlike solar and wind, geothermal provides baseload power 24/7, regardless of weather conditions.

5. Carbon Capture at Building Scale

A breakthrough announced in October 2025 enables carbon-capturing air filters to be installed in existing building ventilation systems, achieving 92% net carbon removal efficiency. The researchers estimate this approach could remove around 25 million tons of CO2 annually across the US and 596 million tons globally—by leveraging billions of ventilation systems already in place.

6. Green Hydrogen Economics

Hydrogen production costs are expected to decrease by 50% through 2030. By 2050, green hydrogen in regions like the Middle East, Africa, and parts of the US will cost just €1-€1.5 per kilogram—making it cost-competitive with fossil fuels for hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation, shipping, and steel production.

The AI Acceleration Effect

Artificial intelligence is supercharging clean energy innovation across multiple fronts:

• Grid optimization: AI systems balance supply and demand while enhancing renewable energy storage
• Emissions reduction: PwC research shows AI could decrease CO2 emissions by over 4% by 2030
• Industrial transformation: The European Investment Bank and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst backed INERATEC with €70 million in 2025 to develop Europe’s largest e-fuel plant using AI-optimized production

From Breakthrough to Scale

“When I see a tough problem, my first thought is always, ‘How can innovation help solve this?'” says Bill Gates, whose Breakthrough Energy organization has supported more than 150 clean energy companies. His insight captures the moment we’re in: companies have made dramatic progress on better and cleaner solutions across every sector. What many need now is private-sector capital and partnerships to reach the scale where they’ll have real impact on emissions.

The world deployed 280 gigawatts of clean electricity last year—about 23 times New York City’s electricity consumption. The International Energy Agency projected that investments in cleantech and infrastructure hit $2 trillion in 2024, roughly double the investment in fossil fuels.

A Future Worth Building

The innovations transforming energy today would have seemed impossible just a decade ago. From the recycled battery materials of Redwood Materials to the hydrogen-powered performance of Hyperion’s XP-1, from AI-optimized energy systems from ITRI to fusion plants under construction, breakthrough technologies are proving that a sustainable, prosperous future isn’t just possible… it’s already being built.

The Edison Awards celebrates the visionaries building technologies that fundamentally reimagine how we power our world. From laboratories to factory floors, from pilot projects to commercial deployment, innovators are proving that we can transform our energy systems faster than many thought possible.

As we look toward 2026 and beyond, the question isn’t whether we can revolutionize how we source, process, and distribute energy… it’s how quickly we can scale the breakthrough innovations already emerging.

Ready to showcase your innovation? The Edison Awards’ Energy & Climate Resiliency category highlights innovations that drive a sustainable, climate-resilient future. Nominations for 2026 are now open. Learn more about past winners and download our 2026 Nomination Guide to learn more about how you can highlight your breakthrough with a 2026 Edison Award. 

Silver to be honored for visionary leadership driving unprecedented growth across the NBA’s global ecosystem

NEW YORK, NY — October 15, 2025 — Edison Awards, the world’s most renowned innovation award, announced today that National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver will be honored with the 2026 Edison Achievement Award. Silver is being recognized for his remarkable leadership in driving the unprecedented growth, innovation, and sustainability of the leagues under his purview, which include the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League, and the Basketball Africa League.

The prestigious Edison Achievement Award is presented annually to distinguished leaders who have made a significant and lasting contribution to innovation and human-centered design throughout their careers. Past recipients include visionary leaders such as Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, and Ginni Rometty.

“Adam Silver has not only upheld the NBA’s legacy as a premier global sports league but has boldly reinvented it for the 21st century,” said Frank Bonafilia, CEO of the Edison Awards. “Edison’s inventing the lightbulb was not the true root of his legacy; rather it was his brilliant connection of all the players to create a whole ecosystem that made electric light practical and available to all. Similarly, Adam performed a remarkable feat of uniting the players, team owners, broadcasters, cities, global fans, sponsors, and the NBA staff to join in a common mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.”

Innovation and Growth Under Silver’s Leadership

Since becoming Commissioner in 2014, Silver has overseen a period of extraordinary expansion and innovation across the NBA’s portfolio of leagues.

Key achievements include:

• Global Expansion: Launched a professional basketball league in Africa (Basketball Africa League) and drove the continued global growth of the game, including in markets such as Asia, Europe and Latin America, solidifying basketball as the number two sport in the world and the fastest-growing sport. Today, a record 30% of NBA players were born outside of the United States, including the last seven MVP award winners.
• New Groundbreaking Media Rights Deals: Oversaw negotiations on landmark, 11-year media rights agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon.
• Increased On-Court Competition: Launched the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament and the Emirates NBA Cup in-season tournament, driving increased competition in the NBA.
• WNBA Expansion and Growth: The WNBA entered its largest growth phase in league history – adding new franchises like the Golden State Valkyries (2025) and announcing plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030. In 2025, the WNBA set a new all-time attendance record, had its most-watched season in 27 years, and saw franchise values nearly triple, according to Sportico.
• Creation of the NBA 2K League: Created the NBA 2K League – the first official esports league operated by a U.S. professional sports league – in partnership with Take-Two Interactive.
• Enhanced Fan Experience: Implemented groundbreaking technology to engage fans, including a reimagined NBA App featuring entirely new personalization features and unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to NBA players and teams. Subscribers of NBA League Pass, the league’s out-of-market live game service, also have access to customized viewing experiences with additional camera angles, betting-focused content, influencer and analytics-driven options, and feeds in multiple languages, among other options.
• A Commitment to Sustainability: Through NBA Cares, the league positioned itself as a global leader in environmental sustainability, making meaningful commitments to reduce its ecological footprint. The NBA is a member of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, with ambitious goals to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. Notable sustainability initiatives include:
  • Carbon Reduction: Adjusting team travel schedules to minimize cross-country flights and working to offset unavoidable carbon emissions.
  • Arena Initiatives: Encouraging arenas to adopt greener practices, including the use of renewable energy for events like the NBA All-Star Game and implementing food waste and recycling programs.
  • Sustainable Partnerships: Partnering with suppliers to explore and source sustainable materials for merchandise like jerseys and footwear.

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season featured a record-tying 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries.  The NBA’s digital assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.5 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.

About the Edison Awards

Established in 1987, the Edison Best New Product Awards™ honor excellence in innovation, celebrating the products, services, and leaders transforming how we live and work. Inspired by Thomas Edison’s legacy, the program recognizes game-changing solutions across industries worldwide, offering global recognition, credibility, and connections that drive growth. The 2026 Edison Awards will be held April 15–16 in Fort Myers, Florida. Learn more or submit a nomination for a 2026 Edison Best New Product Award™ now through November 14th at www.edisonawards.com.

Media Contacts:

Edison Awards
Rachel Reed
Director of Marketing
rachel@edisonawards.com

NBA

Mike Bass
EVP, Communications at NBA
mbass@nba.com

Applying for (and winning) awards is a powerful strategy for any company looking to stand out, gain credibility, and accelerate growth. Recognition from a respected third party can validate your work, build trust with customers and investors, and differentiate your brand in a crowded marketplace. Awards also create moments worth sharing on your website, in press releases, across social media, and in conversations with stakeholders, making them a smart tool for both marketing and morale.

The Edison Awards amplify all of these benefits and more. As a nominee, you’ll gain:

• Expert evaluation from category-specific leaders who understand your field.
• Thoughtful, constructive feedback to strengthen your innovation.
• Exposure through Edison’s social media, network, and media partners.
• Opportunities for new partnerships, investor interest, and networking.

As one of the most prestigious honors in innovation, a nomination alone offers immediate value. Each submission is reviewed by an interdisciplinary panel of experts from industry, science, and academia. These leaders understand what innovation looks like and why it matters. Whether or not you take home a Gold, Silver, or Bronze award, your innovation is evaluated by leaders who shape the future of business and technology. Every nomination receives thoughtful, constructive feedback designed to strengthen your work and support its continued growth.

Visibility is another major advantage. Edison Award nominees gain exposure across multiple channels, including social media, newsletters, and the broader Edison network. This kind of attention can drive awareness at critical moments, whether you’re launching a product, attracting funding, or expanding into new markets. Many past nominees report that being part of the Edison ecosystem has led to new partnerships, media coverage, and increased customer interest.

Successful innovation isn’t just about what you create. Known for tying invention to market success, Thomas Edison’s legacy reinforces the idea that real innovation solves real problems, and gets adopted. A nomination signals that your company is doing more than creating something new; it shows you’re creating something meaningful and viable. For customers, investors, and even future team members, that seal of approval can have a lasting impact.

Nominees receive a digital seal that designates their innovation as a 2026 Edison Award Nominee. This asset can be used across websites, sales decks, packaging, and promotional materials. It’s a trust signal and marketing tool all in one. And beyond the promotional value, the nomination process itself encourages teams to clarify their concept, articulate value, and demonstrate impact, three elements essential for strong positioning in any market.

Ultimately, applying for awards is a proven way to elevate your brand, and the Edison Awards take that value to another level. Whether you’re a fast-moving startup or an established company evolving for the future, nominating your innovation is a strategic move with long-term payoff. 

It’s more than a competition, it’s a platform for recognition, validation, and momentum.

Learn more about nominating for a 2026 Edison Award here.

In his latest Fast Company feature, Florian Schattenmann, Cargill’s chief technology officer, breaks down four major trends transforming the way we eat and innovate. From the rise of personalized, nutrient-dense foods to indulgent options with less sugar, salt, and fat – but all the flavor – consumer expectations are shifting fast. Schattenmann also explores how at-home dining is getting a premium upgrade, and how generative AI is reshaping product development with speed and precision.

His message is clear: the food system is being redefined in real time and the opportunity is there for those ready to rethink what’s possible, lead with purpose, and partner across the supply chain to scale what works.

Read the full Fast Company article here:

The top 4 food innovation and technology predictions of 2025