Innovation Research Interchange

Enabling Data-driven Decision-making

Digitalization and AI Thought Leader Interview with Thomas Thurston, Chief Technologist, Ducera Partners and Greg Hannon, former CTO, W.L. Gore

Listen as Thomas Thurston, chief technologist at Ducera Partners, and Greg Hannon, former chief technology officer at W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., delve into the development of a tool that brings increased clarity to innovation portfolio decisions. They cover industry applications, the process of creating such a tool, and the transformative role of AI in shaping the future of innovation. Gain valuable perspectives on leveraging data for informed decision-making in your organization.

How Milliken eliminated PFAS from its operations with Jeff Strahan, Director of Research Compliance and Sustainability

In the latest installment of IRI's Sustainability Thought Leader series, we chat with Jeff Strahan, the Director of Research Compliance and Sustainability at Milliken and Company. Strahan provides an intriguing insight into his personal journey in sustainability, the difficulties and opportunities in dealing with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and Milliken's assertive approach to sustainable development.

Strahan shares his experience of discovering potential challenges PFAS could pose for Milliken in 2019 and the steps he took to understand the problem at its core. He tackles the regulatory obstacles posed by PFAS and how Milliken responded by integrating customer demands with the company's values.

We gain insight into how he managed to align the company leadership with the necessary changes, highlighting the role of effective communication and understanding regulatory demands. Strahan also underscores the importance of proactive supply chain management amidst changing regulations.

In a deeper dive into the implications of PFAS omission in the textile industry, Strahan discusses the technical difficulties, varying impacts of PFAS replacements, and the role of fluorine as a water-repellent agent. He also tells the story of Milliken's massive R&D efforts in an attempt to eliminate PFAS usage.

Despite noteworthy strides in PFAS replacement, the episode explores prevalent industry challenges, like developing a textile that can repel oil while meeting exacting textile standards. The episode also sheds light on the various analytical techniques used in PFAS detection and their respective limitations.

Wrapping up the episode, Strahan discusses the business strategies Milliken had to adopt to cope with the decision to sever relationships with customers still using PFAS. The episode offers invaluable learning about Milliken's dedication to sustainability and presents an insightful roadmap for businesses setting forth on similar paths.

The Challenge of Horizon 2: Implications for effective opportunity development

Discover the intricacies of Horizon 2 (H2) opportunity management and learn how to effectively build an organizational culture that embraces innovation. This white paper, "The Challenge of Horizon 2, Implications for Effective Opportunity Development," by Scott Matthews and Stephanie Hartwig, provides insights into the successful implementation of a governance framework for H2.

Exploring the complexity of H2 opportunity development, the paper presents best practices on fostering an entrepreneurial culture that embraces risk-taking and encourages cross-divisional collaboration. The importance of leadership buy-in and continuous improvement are underscored, demonstrating their vital role in H2 execution.

Dive into the research-backed methodologies and an extensive literature review that supports the creation of a dedicated H2 Opportunity Governance Framework. Learn about the crucial elements of the Three Horizons model and why Horizon 2 holds a unique position in opportunity development. Understand the need for a governance body to manage H2 opportunities effectively, create brand extension, and diversify revenue streams.

The exhaustive case study featured in this white paper provides practical applications of the Opportunity Governance Framework. Follow along to discover the ways a global manufacturing company successfully tackled their H2 challenges using a structured choice architecture.

The paper concludes with a deep dive on managing various H2 opportunity types, stressing the need for differentiated governance structures to handle the distinct nature of each opportunity. Learn how to exploit and explore opportunities, use a concept card, and manage transitions effectively. Managers will find the final focus areas especially indispensable in improving their approach to H2.

This study serves as a comprehensive blueprint for practitioners who want to successfully develop H2 opportunities. With its detailed guide, it offers practical approaches that are sure to yield great decision satisfaction and create next-generation core business products.

AI in Science: Thought Leader Interview with Rebecca Willett, Professor of Statistics and Computer Science, University of Chicago

Explore the immediate impact of AI on scientific processes, from foundational tasks to failure mode identification, and gain perspectives on its future trajectory in scientific applications, alongside insights into student engagement with this transformative technology.

Telling BASF’s Sustainability Story

Thought Leader Interview with Luiziana Ribeiro, Director of Sustainability, BASF

Setting your organization’s sustainability strategy and goals is one step in the sustainability journey.  The next is to be able to tell a compelling story to bring along staff, shareholders, customers, and other key stakeholders.  Luiziana Ribeiro, director of sustainability, BASF, shares how she is working to tell BASF’s story in ways that will help the organization to progress its goals and strategy in an inclusive, customer focused way.

AI Use Cases at INVISTA

Thought Leader Interview with Chitra Kumar Sai, Data Scientist, INVISTA

Talk of AI is everywhere now, but are companies actually using new tools in a systematic way? If so, how? Chitra Kumar Sai, data scientist at INVISTA, shares examples of how they are using AI tools, including natural language processing, large language models, computer vision, and machine learning for root cause analysis. Learn how their data governance has enabled them to move quickly on these new technologies and how they are rolling tools out in the organization.

Finding the right innovation and R&D structure to meet strategic needs

Learn from experienced innovation leaders how they have organized their R&D and innovation functions to adapt to changing priorities and environments while also capitalizing on internal expertise and resources. 

Panelists:  Darin Latimer, Vice President, Strategic Innovation, Danaher Corporation; Srinivas Veeramasuneni, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, USG Corporation; Moderator:  Carlton Gibbs, Senior Manager, Packaging Development, Global R&D, Mars-Wrigley Snacking 

Raising Sustainability to New Heights at Boeing

Thought Leader Interview with Sheila Remes, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, at The Boeing Company

With an organization of over 145,000 people and a product with over a 20 year lifespan, Boeing should not be able to change quickly. However, the drive for sustainability has brought the organization together to work toward industry-wide change. Learn from Sheila Remes, vice president, environmental sustainability, how Boeing has been able to bring together the many efforts on sustainability around the organization to drive toward cohesive goals. Sheila will also speak to how they’ve engaged customers and other stakeholders in their processes and how they approach the daunting task of doing a life cycle analysis on an airplane.

How Milliken removed PFAS from its operations

Sustainability Thought Leader Interview with Jeff Strahan, Director of Research, Compliance, and Sustainability at Milliken & Company

In this podcast, we explore Milliken's proactive response to the challenges posed by PFAS, from initial realization to strategic shifts in R&D and analytics. We delve into leadership alignment, communication with customers, and SAP-related challenges, concluding with an evaluation of the PFAS supply chain's reaction and Milliken's current status post-PFAS removal.

Staying at the bleeding edge of digital innovation - Digitalization Thought Leader Interview with Brian Standen, Global Head of Digital Innovation at BASF

Learn how BASF stays at the forefront of digital innovation. Brian Standen gives highlights of their process, from identifying potential trends to placing bets on which technologies will have the most impact to incubating then rolling those technologies out more widely in the organization. He shares techniques for managing a portfolio of new technologies (Spoiler: Don’t be afraid to be bold.) and ways to get buy in from relevant parts of the organization.