Innovating The Future 2025

Join us for Innovating the Future, where we’ll bring together industry leaders and experts to explore practical, actionable steps you can take today to prepare for both anticipated and unexpected changes ahead. Turning insights from experts, consultants, and early signals into strategy is challenging—this event is designed to help you bridge that gap. Each session offers the chance to dive deeper into key issues with your peers, discussing how these trends impact your company and industry. You’ll walk away not only with fresh ideas but also with a clear plan to implement them.

We are the Innovation Research Interchange

A unique and dynamic collaborative atmosphere.

Our network of cross-industry leaders is as diverse as the value we create across all fields of industry. We advance the field of innovation management by generating contemporary practices that accelerate value creation. The IRI is a division of the National Association of Manufacturers.

Upcoming Events

leaping to the next step

Shaping Innovation Leaders 2025

06/08/2025
at 11 am
06/13/2025
at 3 pm
Organizational Vision, Culture, Talent Management, Organization and Future of Work
Innovating Value Monthly Roundtable

Innovating Value Monthly Roundtable

06/11/2025
12 pm – 1 pm
07/09/2025
12 pm – 1 pm
Strategic Planning, Breakthrough Innovation, Continuous Improvement, Disruptive Innovation, Innovation Metrics, Portfolio Management
Webinar: The Innovation Shift: From Products to Services and Customer Outcomes

Webinar: The Innovation Shift: From Produ…

06/12/2025
12 pm – 1 pm
Product Development, Innovation
Digitalization and AI Monthly Roundtable

Digitalization and AI Monthly Roundtable

06/20/2025
11 am – 12 pm
07/18/2025
11 am – 12 pm
Digital Innovation, Leading Innovation Organizations
IRI Workshop: Managing Innovative People and Promoting a Culture of Innovation

IRI Workshop: Managing Innovative People …

06/25/2025
12 pm – 4 pm
Innovation, Culture
Webinar: Reinventing R&D Knowledge Access & Management with AI

Webinar: Reinventing R&D Knowledge Access…

06/26/2025
12 pm – 1 pm
R&D, Knowledge Management
Sustainability Monthly Roundtable

Sustainability Monthly Roundtable

06/27/2025
11 am – 12 pm
07/25/2025
11 am – 12 pm
Sustainability and ESG, Leading Innovation Organizations
IRI Workshop: Innovation 101: Essential Tools in Managing Innovation

IRI Workshop: Innovation 101: Essential T…

07/15/2025
12 pm – 4 pm
Innovation

Latest Resources

young professional presenting a slide about technology

Innovators Summit 2025 Sessions

05/19/2025
Presentation
Innovation, Enhance Sustainability, Artificial Intellegence, Transformation, Knowledge Transfer, R&D, Tools and Techniques
Community Forum – How do you build and prove the value case for cost savings without compromising quality or sustainability?

Community Forum – How do you build and pr…

05/09/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Enhance Sustainability
Community Forum – Have you conducted a global talent assessment? 

Community Forum – Have you conducted a gl…

05/02/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Talent Management, Leadership Assessment
Community Forum – How do you approach licensing-in of technologies?

Community Forum – How do you approach lic…

04/25/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Innovation, Managing Emerging Technologies
person talking into a mic at a computer

Launch It Forward: An Entrepreneurial Pat…

04/24/2025
Audio Presentation/Podcast
Innovation, Managing Emerging Technologies, Innovation Metrics
Community Forum – How are you navigating fast-paced changes under the new Trump Administration?

Community Forum – How are you navigating …

04/18/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Innovation

The Latest RTM

April Jeffries: Recognizing Human Stories for Growth

April Jeffries: Recognizing Human Stories…

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Artificial Intellegence, Digitalization
Digital Transformation and Changes in Organizational Structure

Digital Transformation and Changes in Org…

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Digitalization, Organizational Vision
Comparing Outside-In, Inside-Out, and Coupled Open Innovation Knowledge Flows

Comparing Outside-In, Inside-Out, and Cou…

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Innovation, Knowledge Management, Knowledge Transfer
Open Innovation Ecosystems: Lessons from Shenzhen

Open Innovation Ecosystems: Lessons from …

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Open Innovation and Contests
Harnessing Platforms for Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges

Harnessing Platforms for Innovation: Oppo…

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Innovation
Greenland’s Minerals: Treasure Trove or Unrealizable Rocks?

Greenland’s Minerals: Treasure Trove or U…

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Managing Emerging Technologies
Blockchain and the Future of Tokenization

Blockchain and the Future of Tokenization

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Digital Innovation
Needs, Wants . . . and Excuses: What Executives Can Learn from Zig Ziglar About Working with Universities

Needs, Wants . . . and Excuses: What Exec…

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Innovation
Adopting AI for NPD: A Strategic Roadmap for Managers

Adopting AI for NPD: A Strategic Roadmap …

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Project Management, Technology Roadmapping
Balancing Research’s Risks and Rewards

Balancing Research’s Risks and Rewards

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Risk Management
The Race to Clean Up Forever Chemicals

The Race to Clean Up Forever Chemicals

04/09/2025
RTM Publication
Enhance Sustainability
Integrating AI into the Front End of New Product Development

Integrating AI into the Front End of New …

02/25/2025
RTM Publication
Artificial Intellegence, Product Development

Recent Discussions

Community Forum – How do you build and prove the value case for cost savings without compromising quality or sustainability?

Community Forum – How do you build and pr…

05/09/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Enhance Sustainability
Community Forum – Have you conducted a global talent assessment? 

Community Forum – Have you conducted a gl…

05/02/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Talent Management, Leadership Assessment
Community Forum – How do you approach licensing-in of technologies?

Community Forum – How do you approach lic…

04/25/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Innovation, Managing Emerging Technologies
Community Forum – How are you navigating fast-paced changes under the new Trump Administration?

Community Forum – How are you navigating …

04/18/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Innovation
Community Forum – How can we strengthen our risk management in early-stage innovation?

Community Forum – How can we strengthen o…

04/11/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Innovation
Community Forum – Do you allow Individual Contributors to also be people managers?

Community Forum – Do you allow Individual…

04/04/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Innovation
Community Forum – What skills do we need as we expand our innovation team? 

Community Forum – What skills do we need …

03/28/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Innovation
Community Forum – What is your approach to your Vitality Index? 

Community Forum – What is your approach t…

02/07/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
R&D, Vitality Index
Community Forum – What cost-saving initiatives have you instituted?

Community Forum – What cost-saving initia…

01/31/2025
Survey (Community Forum)
Strategic Planning, Cost-Saving Initiatives, R&D
Community Forum – Can you recommend a partner that can help us conduct an assessment using Gen AI for innovation strategy work?

Community Forum – Can you recommend a par…

12/20/2024
Survey (Community Forum)
Innovation, Artificial Intellegence, Strategic Planning
Community Forum – What does your new hire rotational program look like?

Community Forum – What does your new hire…

12/13/2024
Survey (Community Forum)
Continuous Improvement, Culture, Efficiency, Employee Innovation, Employee
Community Forum – How long does it take you to launch a new product?

Community Forum – How long does it take y…

11/22/2024
Survey (Community Forum)
New Product Development, Innovation