Innovation Ahead by IRI

Hear how NVIDIA and Lubrizol are using AI to deliver tangible business results—from improving productivity and decision-making to unlocking new revenue and operating models. Learn what it takes to move from pilots to scalable deployments, align AI investments with strategic priorities, and measure impact that matters.

Explore how organizations balance innovation within their core businesses while simultaneously pursuing opportunities beyond them. Hear perspectives on aligning strategy, capabilities, and culture to drive growth both inside and outside the core.

Balancing structure and creativity in new product development (NPD) is a persistent challenge. A well-defined NPD process is essential for managing portfolios and accelerating project velocity, yet too much rigidity can stifle innovation. Learn about Milliken’s journey to strike that balance—resulting in a harmonized NPD framework that maintains core process elements across the organization while allowing tailored approaches for different types of product development. The harmonized system not only supports a vibrant innovation culture but also generates valuable data for assessing future portfolio value. It enables leaders to evaluate pipeline sufficiency and empowers individual project teams to adapt the process for maximum effectiveness.

Explore the global forces reshaping industry, technology, and innovation, and what they mean for organizations navigating rapid change. Gain perspective on how you can anticipate disruption, build resilience, and position your enterprise for long-term impact.

Join Saket Navlakha, Associate Professor at the Simons Center for Quantitative Biology at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, for a fascinating discussion on how artificial intelligence is reshaping scientific research and innovation. From his pioneering work on “algorithms in nature” to co-founding Knose.AI—a start-up digitizing smell—Navlakha shares how AI has accelerated discovery, transformed the innovation process, and fostered new partnerships. Explore the opportunities, challenges, and long-term implications of AI for research institutions and the future of science.

Discover how Hollister is innovating through strategic partnerships with universities, and learn about the organizational structure and vision that drive these collaborations. Hear firsthand about the motivations behind these initiatives, how Adrian Defante and his team align projects with Hollister’s goals, and what it takes to be a successful partner. Explore real wins and learn how ROI is approached, along with the challenges encountered along the way. Whether you’re interested in building industry-academic collaborations or simply want to stay ahead of future trends, this conversation will provide valuable perspectives and actionable advice for leaders and aspiring change-makers.

Panel discussion with Portia Yarborough, Chief Science and Sustainability Officer, Michelman, Nici Bush, Chief Innovation, Science, and Technology Officer, Mars, and Robert Fast, CEO, Fast Technology Advisors
Moderator: Lee Green, Executive Director, IRI
Leading IRI members look back on the day and highlight some of the key takeaways from the sessions and discussions, across key themes:
– Impact of AI
– Finding transformational opportunities
– Building resilience in the face of uncertainty
They’ll reflect and discuss some of the key next steps to put into action back at home to place you in the best position to innovate the future for your organization.

Facilitator: Jared Forman, Principal, Forvis Mazars, Rahim Rahim, Director, Forvis Mazars, and Hasan Agha, Managing Director and Chief Architect, ASME (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
Discuss the steps you have taken to cultivate new value chain partners — and those you believe you’ll need to take in the future — as well as how to develop the capabilities and technologies that your organization will need in order to work with them effectively. 

Panel discussion with Steven Montgomery, R&D Vice President, Bioindustrials, Cargill and Zara Summers, Chief Strategy Officer, LanzaTech
Moderator: Sean Ammirati, CEO and Co-Founder, Growth Signals
Many industries are going through transitions that mean the customers, partners, and suppliers of tomorrow may not be the same as those of today: Auto OEMs are working with electric utilities, polymer makers with waste management firms, and CPGs with biotechs. This session looks at how to identify and engage the new value chain partners you will need in the future.

Facilitator: Lou Gritzo, Chief Science Officer, FM
We are navigating a complex landscape where growth, sustainability, and supply chain resilience must coexist. This session invites you to share how you’re adapting your strategies and guiding your teams through uncertainty, regulatory shifts, and stakeholder demands. Together, we’ll explore emerging gaps and practical tools to strengthen decision-making and future-proof operations.