Edison Awards gala brings global innovators to Fort Myers

The future, at its most glamorous, began to arrive around 6 p.m. April 16 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers. 

An international group of innovators mingled in black-tie attire for the 39th annual Edison Awards gala, often dubbed the Oscars of Innovation, where they were recognized for developing technologies shaping the world to come. 

The gala capped two days in which the River District became a hub for the global innovation industry. The convention drew companies from around the world, including several from Southwest Florida, showcasing advances in robotics, agriculture, energy, aviation and other sectors. 

Chemical engineer Yuchi Wang traveled from Taiwan for the event. 

“It’s my third time, and the previous year I got a gold,” said Wang, project director of the Medical Devices Division Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories for Industrial Technology Research Institute. 

Fort Myers hosted the awards for the sixth year, celebrating the legacy of inventor Thomas Edison, one of the city’s most famous seasonal residents. 

Mayor Kevin Anderson opened the ceremony as attendees — executives, scientists, researchers, students and policymakers — settled into the ballroom for dinner. He highlighted Edison’s embrace of collaboration, experimentation and failure as part of the creative process. 

“Innovation rarely happens in isolation,” Anderson said. “The breakthroughs that truly transform our world are born when people come together across disciplines, industries and communities, united by a shared purpose. The Edison Awards embodies that idea.” 

Earlier in the day, expert panels explored the future of technology. One session focused on innovations expected to reshape the world by 2030. 

“I like to think that pretty soon here, we’re getting close to having robots as collaborators to ourselves … moving beyond being tools that we can use, but more like coworkers,” said Edward Tunstel, director of robotics research and development in the Intelligent Systems Division at Southwest Research Institute. 

Another panel examined the strain on global energy infrastructure. 

“We’re hurtling toward this AI driven future,” said moderator Aisling Carlson, chief growth officer of Greentown Labs. “And our current power systems were not designed to accommodate that kind of growth. If we stay on this path, do the lights actually stay on?” 

The question remained open, though panelist Marc Nichol of the Nuclear Energy Institute said renewed interest in nuclear power could help meet demand. 

“(The) growth in interest in nuclear is incredible, and it all goes back to recognition that energy, electricity, has to be reliable, economic, safe and clean,” he said. 

A discussion on artificial intelligence in health care also stressed collaboration. 

“If we're not having those conversations together, we end up in a space where people get paralyzed by uncertainty,” said Merage Ghane, director of responsible AI for the Coalition for Health AI. “What we do a lot at the Coalition for Health AI is bring the vendors, the health care delivery organizations, the patients, the payers, all into one room and say, let's solve this problem.” 

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush joined Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg to discuss restoration efforts and ongoing water quality challenges. 

“What do you say to entrepreneurs and innovators who are in this room, and not in this room, as they’re thinking about solving this challenge?” Eikenberg asked. 

Bush said he is still “waiting for some big technological advance” to address water quality issues and described the problem as a significant opportunity for innovation. 

“[How] you store water, how you keep it clean in a state that’s growing, still continues to grow, with millions of people wanting to come here, and millions already living here — it's got to be a massive opportunity,” he said. 

Companies also showcased a range of products, including a small personal aircraft. A robot named Mickey and robotic dogs from TVC Robotics drew particular attention. 

“It’s famous all over the world because it’s one of the most advanced robots and, so far, one of the most affordable ones,” said TVC Chief Operating Officer Artem Makhov. 

The robots are primarily used for research at universities and range in price from about $9,000 to $75,000, he said. 

A full list of award recipients is available at edisonawards.com.