Innovation is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Climate change demands $4 trillion in annual investment through 2030. Meanwhile, the energy grid faces $50 billion per year in modernization needs just to keep pace. Yet only 6% of CEOs are satisfied with their organization’s ability to innovate. The gap? Siloed teams, slow decisions, and “pilot purgatory” that traps good ideas before they scale.

This session reveals how Portland General Electric (PGE) broke the cycle—using AI-powered, challenge-led innovation to deliver real operational savings and speed. With 62% faster pilot cycles, over $563K saved per idea, and an 800X ROI, PGE’s Innovation Impact Report proves that large, regulated utilities can move with startup-level agility—without increasing budget or headcount.

You’ll learn how AI is transforming innovation from a fragmented, elite-driven process into an inclusive, ecosystem-based engine of outcomes—and walk away with a blueprint for turning complexity into clarity, and ideas into action.