A Division of the National Association of Manufacturers
“IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT BUSINESS YOU’RE IN, THE CHALLENGES SEEM TO BE THE SAME FOR INNOVATION. THE IRI’S ANNUAL SELECTION OF INNOVATION GROWTH DRIVERS DEFINES THOSE CHALLENGES AS WELL AS ASPIRATIONS. THEY HELP US FOCUS, EXCHANGE IDEAS AND BEST PRACTICES, LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, AND IMPROVE OUR ORGANIZATIONS.”
—R&D Director, global chemical company
Each year, our organization identifies key innovation growth drivers, reflecting the most relevant topics for our work.
The selection process begins in May at the Innovators Summit, where members discuss emerging trends and technological
breakthroughs. Insights from these discussions as well as member feedback, key themes from IRI’s Quarterly Trends Analyzer,
and distilled information from member company annual reports are presented to the Board of Advisors, who, in a facilitated
session, draft the following year’s themes. Members then provide feedback on the draft themes via check in calls and surveys
and the Board ratifies the final version in October. This process ensures our focus remains aligned with industry advancements,
fostering continuous innovation and growth
Fuel the Innovation Pipeline
- Craft multigenerational product and service strategies for greater impact
- Utilize open innovation as a tool for speed and sustainability
- Nurture transformational innovation
- Improve strategic road mapping for horizons planning based on changing business needs
- Upgrade your IP strategy to better leverage technology and market opportunities
Drive Speed and Growth with Augmented Capabilities
- Leverage AI and quantum computing
- Equip your teams to take advantage of new technologies
- Improve knowledge management
- Build structures and governance for effective rollout and scale-up of tools
Embrace Sustainability as the New Innovation Strategy
- Develop resiliency and a willingness to take risks
- Foster a culture of future-focused innovation
- Accelerate upskilling and knowledge transfer
- Expand and develop the next-generation talent pool
Cultivate and Leverage the Talent of Next Generation Innovators
- Develop resiliency and a willingness to take risks
- Foster a culture of future-focused innovation
- Accelerate upskilling and knowledge transfer
- Expand and develop the next-generation talent pool
Maximize Returns on Innovation Investments
- Maintain a healthy, balanced portfolio aligning with strategic goals
- Fully leverage profitable opportunities across technology platforms
- Pinpoint the most relevant metrics for organizational success
- Enhance decision-making for optimized resource allocation
Ready to connect and collaborate with innovation experts and peers on these critical issues
and more? Visit iriweb.org/membership to explore IRI membership. Already a member?
Email iri@nam.org, to get help finding the IRI resources that will most benefit
your business this year.
“IRI MEMBERS DEFINE FOCUS POINTS FOR THE YEAR. THAT MEANS THE CONTENT AND EVENTS ALWAYS HAVE INSIGHTS AND TOOLS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO ME, AND THE PEOPLE I ENCOUNTER ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES I’M DEALING WITH.”
—VP of Innovation, large construction products company
“THE IRI’S CRITICAL ISSUES AGENDA REALLY SETS THEM APART FROM OTHER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. I CAN KNOW INSTANTLY THAT CONVERSATIONS WILL BE MORE IN-DEPTH, THE PEOPLE I MEET ARE FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES, AND WE’RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS COMMON GOALS TO BETTER OUR BUSINESSES AND THE INDUSTRY.”
—VP of Innovation, large construction products company