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Tech Challenge 2020

A banner for the International Tech Challenge 2020, with vector illustrations of a cityscape
October 05, 2020

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Tech Challenge 2020

For seven years, the Johnson Controls Tech Challenge has brought diverse engineering teams across the company together through two chapter events in India and Milwaukee to showcase new ideas and collaborate on key business challenges. This September, the four-day global event went virtual for the first time. With a clear vision of the future, more than 1200 engineers from 17 countries contributed to innovative future focused ideas. Our executive leaders and partner organizations presented and discussed the future of building technologies and innovation, and its importance for the future of Johnson Controls.

 

 

Technovate

Technovate allows for the capturing, realizing, and showcasing of customer-focused innovations, product ideas, and process improvements from JCI's innovative minds.

Eighty-five teams (~350 employees) showcased futuristic ideas in 6 categories, presenting a prototype to senior leaders and a global audience of peers. Brings to light new, marketable product or feature ideas or methods of reducing operations cost through process improvements.

A poster for the Technovate Virtual Expo, with graphics of people and rocket taking off

TechnoTalk

A Talkathon on future possibilities in Building Technologies, TechnoTalk is a competition where participants speak on futuristic ideas that help Johnson Controls leap ahead of competitors.

This year, participants from 14 countries across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia went through regional evaluations with a panel of judges. The top 18 semi-finalists competed on a global platform.

A poster for the Technotalk talkathon, with graphics and icons depicting technology

Industry Speak/Leadship Talk

Experts from industry partners Cisco, Microsoft, and Intel presented on future focused areas like power over ethernet, digital feedback loop, enhancing agility with digital twins to name a few.

Executive leadership shared their vision on innovation and thought leadership:

George Oliver, Chairman & CEO – the rich legacy and culture of innovation at Johnson Controls

Mike Ellis, EVP Chief Customer & Digital Office – Innovation and thought leadership in digital transformation

Jeff Williams, VP & President Global Products – How innovation fuels business growth

A poster for a Leadership Talk on power and the future of industies, at Tech Challenge 2020

Ignited Spirit

At Tech Challenge, innovation is not limited to products. In this video, Johnson Controls employees show their talents using music and dance to celebrate local culture and come together as a team even as we work remotely.