Join us at the Innovators Summit and drive growth in 2025
Innovators and experts are converging in Chicago to focus on building capabilities and strategies for GROWTH. If you want to explore innovation growth drivers and discover ways to stay at the forefront of innovation, don’t miss the Innovators Summit from May 19-21.
- WHY ATTEND
- AGENDA
- SPEAKERS
- HOTEL
- PARTNERS
- KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- CTO Forum
What to Expect at the Innovators Summit
- Unlock the tools and strategies to fuel your innovation pipeline and stay ahead in rapidly evolving marketplace.
- Discover how sustainability, next-gen technologies, and talent development can transform your business for long-term growth.
- Learn from industry leaders how to maximize returns on innovation investments while driving speed and impact
- Connect with top innovators to explore actionable frameworks for future-focused capabilities, roadmapping, and co-innovation.
What You Will Gain
Build Relationships: Connect with subject matter experts, industry leaders, and fellow innovators during formal and informal networking time.
Collaborate: Find your next partner, big idea, or solution to a challenge during collaborative, interactive workshops and breakout sessions.
Get Cutting-Edge Insights: Straight from the experts, get a combination of high-level perspective and practical action items you can apply to your organization.
Meet the Experts: Rub elbows with keynotes and other top innovators during small group discussions.
Discuss Timely Topics: Participate in small-group discussions during lunch to tackle some of the biggest issues facing innovators today.
Tech Treks: Join a Tech Trek to get a window into other innovators’ work and see new technologies in action.
| Monday, May 19 |
|---|
| Optional Pre-Conference Workshop 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Beyond Traditional Innovation: A Market-First Framework for Technology Solutions How do you identify which technology solutions can transform markets and create significant economic value? Join innovation leaders Nicole Mignacca and Ellie Kim for an interactive workshop that reveals how beginning with quantifiable market needs – rather than technical capabilities – can transform your approach to commercialization. For more information on the event, please click here. You must pre-register for this session at the summit registration link above as seating is limited. |
| Conference Begins 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| 1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Opening Keynote: Alaina Harkness, CEO of Current |
| 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. The ROI of Bold Ideas: Fueling the Innovation Pipeline Panelists: Drew Child, Vice President of R&D, Milliken & Co. and Stéphane Bazzana, Global Technical Director, Automotive Coatings, PPG Moderator: Nicole Mignacca, Director, DownSelect®, Innventure |
| 2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Networking Break |
| 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Collaborative Whiteboard Sessions (Select one) Crafting Multigenerational Strategies for Product and Service Impact Collaboratively map out approaches to align product and service roadmaps with evolving market demands and multigenerational needs. Building Governance Structures for Scaling Next-Generation Tools Brainstorm frameworks for rolling out and scaling AI, quantum computing, and other transformative technologies while empowering teams to leverage them effectively. Co-Innovation for Sustainability and Business Model Evolution Work together to identify opportunities for co-innovating across the value chain to enhance profitability, creativity, and regulatory readiness. |
| 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Transition Break |
| 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Transformational Innovation: From Vision to Value Speaker: Pam Henderson, CEO & Founder, NewEdge |
| 5:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Networking Reception |
| Tuesday, May 20 |
| 8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Breakfast |
| 8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. DARPA’s Breakthrough R&D in Materials and Manufacturing Speaker: Andrew Detor, Program Manager, DARPA |
| 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. The Regulatory Landscape: Current State and Potential Challenges Panelists: Josh Greene, Corporate Vice President, Government, Regulatory, and Industry Affairs, A. O. Smith and Elisa Seddon, Technical Fellow, The Lubrizol Corporation |
| 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Networking Break CTO Forum track meets from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. See CTO Forum tab for full details. |
| 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Deep Dives (Select one) Open Innovation: Driving Speed and Sustainability Explore strategies for fostering collaboration across the value chain, overcoming barriers to co-innovation, and leveraging open innovation for sustainable business transformation. Speaker: Tom Culver, Senior Innovation Advisor, RTI End to End Solutions: Integrating ELNs, LIMS, and AI/ML Understand how integrating Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs), Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), and AI/ML can streamline R&D workflows, enhance data integrity, and accelerate innovation. AI in Innovation: Empowering Teams and Transforming Processes Learn how to apply AI to enhance R&D, prepare teams for next-generation tools, and implement effective governance for scalable AI initiatives. |
| 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch |
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Live Case Studies (Select one) The promise of Quantum Computing and strategies for advancing applications Explore how quantum computing has the potential to transform R&D, from material discovery to complex optimization problems, unlocking new frontiers in innovation. Speaker: Preeti Chalsani, SVP and Chief Quantum Officer, Intersect Illinois Building High-Impact R&D Teams: Lessons from the Field Learn from real-world examples of how leading organizations have fostered strong R&D cultures, developed innovation-driven leadership, and navigated change to drive breakthrough results. Accelerating Design through Formulations Modeling at the Molecular Level Discover how predictive modeling and computational chemistry can accelerate sustainable product development by identifying promising ingredients, formulations, and packaging materials, enabling virtual testing to understand molecular interactions, stability, and shelf-life. Speaker: Jeffrey Sanders, Product Manager and Scientific Lead, Consumer Goods, Schrodinger |
| 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Networking Break |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Facilitated Session: Anticipating Innovation Challenges for the Future Delve into current trends, internal dynamics, emerging technologies, collaboration strategies, and ethical considerations to collectively foresee and address the challenges that will shape the innovation landscape over the next year. Speaker: Lee Green, AVP Research and Strategy, IRI |
| 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Innovating in a Sustainable World Speaker: William A. Singleton III, Executive Director, Global Packaging Innovation & Sustainability, Mars, Inc. |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Reception and Innovation Celebration Join us in celebrating the winners of IRI’s 2025 Innovation Excellence Awards! |
| Wednesday, May 21 |
| 8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Breakfast |
| 8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 2024 Maurice Holland Award Winner Address: Rhetorical or Genuine Slack Time? Temporal Attributes, Barriers, and Outcomes of Slack Time Award Winner: Heidi Bertels, Professor of Management, City University of New York – College of Staten Island |
| 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tech Treks Sign up at registration! Limited spots available. Choose from: Mars Global R&D Hub 9:45 a.m. – Return to hotel: 12:15 p.m.; or Drop off at ORD: 12:30 Registration for this tour is limited to companies that are not direct competitors to Mars, Inc. Explore Mars’ new 44,000-square-foot Global R&D Hub, the largest innovation site in Mars’ global Snacking R&D network. This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to chocolate and nut testing, research, and innovation, supporting Mars’ goal to double its Snacking business in the next decade. Plus, the facility runs entirely on renewable electricity, showcasing Mars’ commitment to sustainable innovation. MxD: The Digital Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Institute 9:45 a.m. – Return to hotel: 12:15 p.m.; or Drop off at ORD: 12:30 Experience the future of U.S. manufacturing at MxD (Manufacturing x Digital), the nation’s premier hub for digital innovation, cybersecurity, and workforce development. MxD helps manufacturers modernize by integrating digital tools, securing supply chains, and developing a highly skilled workforce. The Future Factory demonstrates how legacy machines can be retrofitted for digital adoption, while advanced cybersecurity initiatives protect interconnected manufacturing systems. Cutting-edge digital engineering solutions improve efficiency and reduce errors, and supply chain innovations enable real-time logistics tracking and faster delivery. As the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing, MxD plays a critical role in safeguarding the future of U.S. industry while preparing the workforce for next-generation manufacturing careers. Argonne National Laboratory 9:45 a.m. – Drop off at ORD: 1:30 p.m.; or Return to hotel: 2:00 p.m. (Lunch is included.) Registration for this tour will close on May 1 (April 28 for foreign nationals). As ANL is a U.S. Department of Energy facility, we will send you a link generated by ANL so that you can provide them with your personal information to register you for the tour at their end. Discover the cutting-edge research happening at Argonne National Laboratory, a leading U.S. Department of Energy facility driving innovation in materials science, computing, and advanced manufacturing. This tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at three groundbreaking research centers where scientists tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges. Tour Stops: – Materials Engineering Research Facility (MERF): Explore a 55,000-square-foot facility dedicated to accelerating materials synthesis, scaling up new chemistries, and developing emerging manufacturing technologies. See DOE’s advanced battery recycling center, ReCell, which is pioneering lithium-ion battery recycling techniques. – Advanced Photon Source (APS): Witness one of the world’s most powerful x-ray sources, where electrons are accelerated to nearly the speed of light to enable breakthrough discoveries across scientific disciplines. Learn how this facility contributed to the work of 2024 Nobel Prize winner David Crane. – Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF): Get an inside look at Polaris and Aurora, two of the most powerful supercomputers, used to tackle complex problems by combining AI, machine learning, and massive data analysis. Discover how companies like 3M leverage this computing power to enhance energy efficiency and streamline manufacturing processes. |
This year’s speaker lineup will feature industry pioneers, thought leaders, and visionaries ready to inspire and educate on the latest trends, strategies, and best practices in innovation. Seize this opportunity to connect with fellow innovators and gain insights from the best in the field!
Drew Child
Vice President of Research & Development, Regulatory and Sustainability, Milliken & Company
Josh Greene
Corporate Vice President, Government, Regulatory & Industry Affairs, A. O. Smith
Lee Green
Assistant Vice President, Innovation Strategic Community, Innovation Research Interchange
Group Rate Information
Loews Chicago Hotel
Book before Monday, April 28, 2025
IRI Innovators Summit
To make your reservations by phone, call (312) 840-6600 and reference the 2025 NAM IRI Innovators Summit.
To make the most of your experience, take advantage of our exclusive group rate at the Loews Chicago Hotel, where a block of rooms has been reserved for just $289.00 per night. To make reservations online, please click on the reservation link above, the group rate will automatically be applied.
The cut-off date for reservations at the group rate is Monday, April 28, 2025, however once the room block is filled (which may be before cut-off) availability and group rate are not guaranteed.
Hotel parking details can be found here.
Overnight self-parking is $59.00.
Overnight Valet parking is $79.00.
Partnership Opportunities with the IRI 2025 Innovators Summit
If you are interested in partnering with us, please fill out the form below or email Anna Chongpinitchai at AChongpinitchai@iriweb.org.
Thank you to our sponsors.
Who You’ll Meet
IRI’s Innovators Summit is crafted for CTOs, VPs, Directors, and senior leaders in R&D, innovation, technology, engineering, and new product development. Attendees at previous IRI events represent top industry players, including Sonoco, Colgate-Palmolive, Caterpillar, DuPont, Energizer Holdings, GE Aerospace, Halliburton, Michelin North America, Novelis, Owens Corning, and many more!
What to Expect
The IRI connects you with a community of innovators and experts who can help you increase speed to market, save time and costs, and bring out the best in your team. To keep you on the leading edge of innovation management, the IRI provides content, training, and peer-to-peer opportunities focused on five innovation growth drivers determined by your peers each year. Experience presentations, fireside chats, workshops, collaborative whiteboard sessions, live case studies, receptions, deep dives, and Tech Treks.
Pricing Starts at:
- NAM, IRI, MLC Members: 1,900.00
- Non-Members: 2,400.00
Attire
The dress code for this event is business casual.
The business casual dress code typically includes collared shirts, slacks, dresses, skirts, blouses, and closed-toe shoes. We recommend avoiding jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, or overly casual clothing items while maintaining a professional appearance.
Attire required for Tech Treks:
Closed toed shoes, no heels, long pants, no shorts / skirts.
Business Cards
We encourage attendees to bring business cards to network and exchange contact information easily with other attendees, fostering valuable professional connections. They serve as convenient tools for making a lasting impression and staying connected beyond the event.
Nearby Airport
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Chicago Midway International Airport
Tech Treks
Tech treks are guided tours of local labs offering participants insights into the latest advancements, industry trends, and networking opportunities within the tech field. It’s an immersive experience to explore and learn from professionals in the technology industry.
Hotel Parking
Hotel parking details can be found here.
Overnight self-parking is $59.00
Overnight Valet parking is $79.00
Who should attend: This portion of the Innovators Summit is open to CTOs (or equivalent) only.
Description:
In a time of rapid shifts, CTOs must balance short-term execution with long-term innovation. This interactive session will explore how to separate signal from noise, align portfolios with strategic vision, and adapt to disruptive change without losing agility. Through peer-driven discussions and problem-solving exercises, attendees will gain actionable strategies to stay ahead and drive sustained impact.
Key Takeaways:
- Strategic Adaptation in Disruptive Times: Learn how to balance immediate business needs with long-term innovation strategies amid ongoing change.
- Portfolio and Agility Alignment: Discover approaches to integrating external market forces into your portfolio while maintaining flexibility and vision.
- Decoding Signals: Gain insights on distinguishing between short-term trends and lasting shifts to make informed investment decisions.
- Peer-Tested Problem-Solving: Engage in collaborative discussions to tackle real-world challenges and leave with actionable solutions tailored to your organization’s needs.
How to register:
To attend the CTO Forum, please register for IRI’s Innovators Summit and select yes to the question, ‘Do you plan to attend IRI’s CTO Forum?’.
| Tuesday, May 20 |
|---|
| 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Welcome and Introductions Facilitator and attendees all introduce themselves. |
| 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Presentation: The CTO’s Dual Role – Vision and Execution Discussion questions: – How are you balancing the need for short-term results with long-term innovation given the disruptive change we are seeing? – How are you adapting to disruptive change, and what strategies are helping you stay ahead? – How do you separate signal and noise? How do you know what will be a blip and what is lasting change? – Where are you on your current S-curve, and how is that shaping your investment in future technologies? Are you actively searching for new S-curves? |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Table Discussions Discussion questions: – What steps do you take to ensure that your portfolio is aligned with your strategic vision? – How do you ensure that resource allocations follow this? – How are you factoring in agility without compromising vision? |
| 12:15 p.m. – 12:35 p.m. Table Report Outs and Group Discussion |
| 12:35 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Networking Lunch |
| 1:15 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. Turnaround Solutions: Collaborative Problem-Solving (at each table) At each table, a volunteer shares a challenge they’re currently facing with their tablemates, who then provide potential solutions. Round 1: – Presenter shares their challenge and then turns their chair around so their back is to the group (3 minutes). – Group discusses solutions while the presenter listens quietly (15 minutes). Presenter turns back around and the group presents their ideas (7 minutes). Round 2: – Rotate roles and repeat the process with a new presenter. |
| 2:05 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Take-aways and Action Items Attendees share their most valuable lessons and next steps inspired by the session. |
5 Innovation Growth Drivers
To maximize the value you receive from the Innovators Summit, the entire agenda is curated to address the top five growth drivers in innovation, as determined by your peers each year.
- Fuel the innovation pipeline
- Drive speed and growth with augmented capabilities
- Embrace sustainability as the new innovation strategy
- Cultivate and leverage the talent of next-generation innovators
- Maximize returns on innovation investments
