As technology continues to shape how we work, it’s also changing how our bodies feel, move, and perform. Screen-heavy, sedentary work has become the norm across Manitoba’s tech and knowledge-based industries — bringing new challenges related to pain, fatigue, focus, and burnout.
Built for the Future: Designing Healthy Humans for a Tech-Driven Workplace is an interactive, community-focused session exploring the human impact of modern work and how Manitoba organizations can build healthier, more sustainable teams. Through live audience insights, facilitated discussion, and small-group breakouts, participants will examine how physical well-being, data, and prevention play a role in workforce performance, retention, and long-term success.
This session is designed to spark conversation, share perspectives, and explore innovative, made-in-Manitoba approaches to supporting people in a technology-driven economy.
Get an exclusive behind the scenes look at how Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) at RRC Polytech is fueling Manitoba’s future through applied research, innovation, and industry collaboration.
This guided tour brings participants inside the Polytech’s leading research environments to explore Manitoba made solutions in sustainability, advanced technology, energy efficiency, digital innovation, and future ready workforce development. Attendees will meet researchers, see demonstrations, and learn how RPI works with companies, community partners, and public institutions to turn ideas into real world impact.
Tour Details:
The experience will feature Vehicle technology & Energy centre’s (VTEC) applied research in alternative energy, including demonstrations of the B2U fast‑charging initiative and the electric go‑kart project, highlighting innovation in sustainable transportation. Participants will then tour Building Efficiency Technology Access Center(BETAC), where applied research is advancing energy‑efficient, net‑zero‑ready buildings. The session will conclude with a demonstration of a digital transformation project by CAMTT team, showcasing how technology is driving real‑world impact.
A conference to learn about practical technology for real business productivity
Join business leaders and technology experts to explore practical applications of AI, automation, ERP systems, robotics, and modern software , all focused on improving productivity and business performance.
The Southern Manitoba Technology Conference 2026 is a focused, one-day, in-person professional conference tailored for manufacturing and operations leaders who are responsible for advancing business transformation through technology adoption. The event is designed to move beyond theoretical discussion and deliver practical, actionable insights from industry-leading practitioners, with an emphasis on real-world implementation of Robotics and Automation, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Attendees will:
- Gain clear, actionable guidance on adopting key technologies in manufacturing environments
- See firsthand how leading manufacturers approach automation, ERP, and AI
- Build professional connections with industry peers and technology solution providers
- Leave with practical strategies for addressing real operational and technological challenges
- Have the opportunity to network with peers and subject matter experts while gaining insights
Featured Sessions
- Live Hackathon Kickoff: Hands-on demonstration of real software solution development
- Keynote Address: Why technology adoption is essential for modern manufacturing
- Robotics & Automation Workshop: Practical robotics use cases and adoption strategies
- ERP in Practice: Tools and support available, with implementation insights
- AI in the Workplace: Real use cases showing how AI improves production outcomes
Panel and Interaction
- Industry Panel: ERP, Automation, and the path forward with industry leaders
- Hackathon Demo & Awards: Showcase of solutions developed throughout the day
- Networking Breaks: Purpose-driven interaction to establish connections and share insights
Breakfast and Lunch included in ticket price.
Sponsorship opportunities available, $500 – $1,200.

This session is designed for business leaders, operations teams, and decision-makers actively exploring how technology can improve efficiency, scale, and outcomes. Join Focused Forward for an interactive, station-based workshop designed to show you exactly how custom tech solves real-world bottlenecks.
This isn’t a sit-and-listen lecture. The Efficiency Lab is a high-energy “open house” where you can get under the hood of modern business tech. We’re opening up our toolkit to show you how we build, automate, and scale.
The Innovation Stations
• The Command Centre (Dragonfly CRM): See our custom-built CRM in action. Discover how to stop losing leads and start automating your sales pipeline with a tool built for growth.
• The Automation Alley (AI & Power Platform): Bring us a real operational challenge, and we’ll show you how we’d approach solving it using AI and automation.
• The Product Studio (Web Apps & Ottory): Explore the world of custom web development. From high-performance websites to specialized platforms like Ottory, see how we build intuitive user experiences that solve complex problems.
• The Strategy Clinic: Meet our architects to map out your digital roadmap. Get a “tech prescription” for your business’s specific challenges.
You’ll Leave With:
• Clarity: A clearer understanding of where AI and automation actually fit in your business.
• A Roadmap: A shortlist of processes worth automating first.
• A Framework: A mental model for evaluating when to build custom apps vs. buying off-the-shelf tools.
• Real Examples: Practical, local case studies and examples you can apply to your operations immediately.
What to Expect:
Live demos, expert strategy sessions, and direct access to Focused Forward’s developers and strategists in a collaborative, professional environment.

We all have folders of PDFs and policies that employees ignore until a crisis hits. But what if that static data could not only answer questions but actually teach your team?
In this live, high-energy session, Neovation will demonstrate how to solve this problem by taking a folder of raw, unorganized documents and transforming them into a “Corporate Brain” live.
You won’t just see an AI search engine; you’ll watch us use that same data to instantly generate interactive training scenarios, role-play exercises, and knowledge checks. We will bridge the gap between “Performance Support” (getting the answer) and “Active Coaching” (mastering the skill)—proving that your existing content is just one prompt away from becoming a 24/7 virtual mentor.
