For a young innovative entrepreneur, getting an invitation to the G20 Young Entrepreneur’s Alliance Summit in Italy is a bit like an emerging actor getting their first Oscar ticket. And this is exactly what Jean-Sébastien Bouchard, president of SYNECDO, felt when he received his invitation to attend the event that brings together hundreds of young entrepreneurs from all over the world.
The G20 YEA Summit aims to boost youth entrepreneurship and make it a driver of economic growth, innovation, and social change. The event offers great networking opportunities for young entrepreneurs and is also the perfect place to share ideas with one another about various sustainable projects. The Summit is a great way to build an international network of business contacts and to explore worldwide growth opportunities.
No need to tell you that Jean-Sébastien Bouchard, whose company SYNECDO was previously coached by Cilex, didn’t need to be asked twice before accepting the invitation. He was among a pool of 45 entrepreneurs chosen by Futurpreneur Canada, of which only about a dozen were able to attend in the end, given the healthcare restrictions following the pandemic.
“We first had to send our application to the Futurepreneur Canada team. They were looking for the 50 most dynamic entrepreneurs in the country who also had unique business stories. They wanted entrepreneurs who could have a positive impact on their peers and inspire them. So, I had to show them the technology we developed at SYNECDO, and I think they liked it because they ended up accepting my application,” explained Mr. Bouchard.
He added that there was fierce competition to get a ticket for Italy at the time, given the worldwide health situation.
The theme of the G20 YEA Summit this year was sustainable innovative development and equal opportunities. When it came to the economy, people discussed the negative outcomes of fossil energies, as well as the importance of circular economy and the positive impacts of green supply chains.
Conference Mode
During his stay in Milan, Jean-Sébastien Bouchard was able to take part in the Accenture Research panel on the current state of environmental and sustainable development. He talked about the future of education technologies or EdTech, as well as forthcoming needs and expectations in workforce qualifications. Discussions also touched on the human skills of the future in a world of growing robotization.
“Regarding industrial operations, we are getting more and more in line with automation, thanks to the growing popularity of robotization. Rather, we should aim for a human-robot collaboration. According to the World Economic Forum, in the next decade one billion jobs will undergo changes due to the accrued presence of robots on the job market. It might be alarming but mostly it’s fascinating. North America will be greatly impacted by this market shift, especially in the digitization and transformation industries. We have to plan and bet on collaboration,” explained SYNECDO’s president.
According to him, robotization certainly brings its host of advantages, such as taking people away from traditional supply chains and their associated risks. Automation will also impact the cost of things, added Mr. Bouchard: “We will want brains, not brawn. Robotization will allow people to feel even more accomplished and will force businesses to quadruple their staff, since supply chains will be able to run day and night. No one will lose out.”
As Mr. Bouchard explained during the Accenture Research conference, robotization will drive people to become learning workers instead of qualified workers.
Strong Points
The G20 YEA Summit was the perfect time for Jean-Sébastien Bouchard to meet delegations from all over the world and set up new business opportunities.
“I had the chance to talk with entrepreneurs in the Swiss, German and French cybersecurity industries,” said Mr. Bouchard. “I also spoke with people from Hey Maet, a major producer of plant-based meat in China. I returned to Canada with several business cards in hand. Many people were there with commercialization and exportation in mind. When the time comes for SYNECDO to export its innovations, the phone will certainly ring overseas.”
According to Mr. Bouchard, the G20 YEA Summit definitely helped his company gain more notoriety on the international scene. Now the young entrepreneur wishes to appeal to various levels of government and make them turn their sights toward Quebec youth. “The province of Quebec is lucky to have driven, active young people that are full of bright ideas. We are the future. Decision-makers need to listen to us and work with us. Young entrepreneurs are innovative and aren’t afraid to take risks. Let’s look to the future,” said Jean-Sébastien Bouchard.
About SYNECDO
SYNECDO offers concrete solutions to improving human productivity by helping employees to become an added value to their workplace, making organizations more sustainable and resilient. With SYNECDO’s approach, organizations gain better knowledge implementation, increased motivation and concrete tools, all in order to increase their workforce’s productivity.
Whether you are starting out or expanding, the Cilex team can push you forward and guide you through your various innovative and technological projects. Outside help could help you push your work even further! Get in touch with our team to learn more about our various services and multiple accomplishments.
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