Innovation Ahead by IRI

In this episode of the Edge of What's Next, hosts discuss AI guardrails and the critical role of keeping humans in the loop for R&D decisions. They explore challenges around credibility and institutional knowledge as AI...

Hosts Meetal Desai and Besher Al‑Maklouf interview Dr. Sumeru Nayak, Winner of the IRI’s Promising Early Career Innovation Professional Award, about his interdisciplinary career, mentorship at James Hardy, and how he...

The IRI podcast episode features Jonathan Welch, VP of AI and Machine Learning at Albert, discussing why many R&D organizations stall in their AI journeys and how a strong data foundation and purpose-built AI can unlock...

A central question confronting many innovation leaders today is how R&D systems that are optimized for today’s demands could also explore tomorrow’s opportunities. These opportunities offer significant potential but...

Dr. T. Edwin Freeman, recipient of the 2026 Innovation Research Interchange Innovation Leadership Award, has transformed sustainable packaging through advanced materials science, fiber-based alternatives, and systems...

This webinar explored how physics-based simulations and machine learning are helping chemical companies accelerate sustainable innovation while reducing development risk. Attendees learned how a "predict-first" digital...

Join IRI for a conversation with Eva Tuecke as she reflects on her path from physics research at Fermilab to SpaceX and the startup world, and the experiences that have shaped her perspective on scientific discovery and...

Join us for a conversation with Duane Morris partners Brian Pandya and Dan Tarr on how the rise of AI is reshaping patent strategy. We’ll cover what the USPTO is saying today, when (and whether) AI use should be...

In the first episode of The Edge of What’s Next, IRI explores the trends reshaping the future of innovation and R&D, including the K-shaped economy, private equity investment, physical AI, demographic shifts, workforce...

The Holland Award Address will be delivered by the recipients of the 2025 Maurice Holland Award, presented annually by IRI to honor the most outstanding paper published in the prior year’s volume of Research-Technology...

Work with your fellow innovators to identify the key issues that will shape innovation in the near future in this interactive session. Share challenges, solutions, and learn what issues are keeping your peers up at...

Learn about Evonik, ENEOS Americas, and NSF’s approach to partnering and venturing – and how co-innovation can accelerate your growth through relationships with traditional and non-traditional partners. You’ll walk away...

This session explores EMD’s new cross‑business initiative centered on Microphysiological Systems (MPS), cutting‑edge in vitro platforms that model human organ function to accelerate drug development and reduce animal...

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...

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...