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Buffalo Niagara's tech sector is experiencing significant growth, with a 21% increase in tech job growth over the past decade, contributing $2.8 billion to the local economy.

For area businesses part of the region's emerging tech hub, staying ahead means embracing cutting-edge innovation that is also sustainable.

On Feb. 13, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership convened top tech leaders for the 2025 Tech Industry Leaders Forum (ILF), examining environmental, social, and technological sustainability strategies that are shaping the future of the industry and the economy.

The Challenge: Sustainability in a rapidly changing tech landscape

The conversation revolved around the ways sustainability intersects with technology, raising key questions like:

How can companies integrate sustainability into their business models while maintaining innovation and competitiveness?
What role does technology play in creating environmentally and socially responsible solutions?
How can businesses adopt sustainable tech practices to ensure long-term growth and resilience?

Expert insights from industry leaders

A distinguished panel of Buffalo Niagara’s tech and business leaders provided valuable perspectives on the evolving role of technology in sustainability:

• Chavuanne Cousins, EVP, Sustainability, M&T Bank
• Jeffrey Botteron, President & CEO, TechBuffalo
• Jane Chen, Co-Founder & CEO, Stepwise
• Jon Powers, President, Clean Capital
• Elizabeth Vennari, Team Leader, Recruitment & Strategic Initiatives, Odoo

Panelists discussed the growing role of sustainable finance and investment strategies, the importance of green infrastructure and energy-efficient technology, and how workforce development plays a critical role in preparing businesses for the future.

Why it matters

The Buffalo Niagara region is positioning itself as a hub for technological innovation, with sustainability at the heart of that transformation. As companies adopt new AI-driven efficiencies, energy-saving solutions, and sustainable business models, they help create an ecosystem that benefits not just businesses, but the entire WNY regional economy.

The 2025 ILF series will continue to tackle the common tie of sustainability across industries, bringing together business leaders to collaborate, strategize, and problem-solve around the most pressing challenges in manufacturing, healthcare, small business, finance, and more.

Stay tuned for insights from upcoming ILF sessions. Want to be part of the conversation? Learn more about BNP’s Industry Leaders Forum here.