Where CTOs Shape the Future of Innovation
Where CTOs Shape the Future of Innovation
Join a private, invitation-only convening of R&D and innovation leaders to exchange insights, tackle complex challenges, and explore the trends reshaping the future of innovation.
The IRI CTO Forum is a premier gathering of senior R&D and innovation executives from leading organizations. Designed as a trusted space for candid dialogue, the Forum brings together peers to benchmark strategies, explore emerging trends, and collaborate on solutions to today’s most pressing innovation challenges.
Each session is highly interactive and member-driven, ensuring discussions reflect the real priorities and decisions facing innovation leaders today.
Next CTO Forum
An exclusive, half-day Forum for a select group of CTOs
Date
December 4
Time:
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location:
Orlando, FL
Held immediately following Innovating the Future, this exclusive, half-day Forum brings together a select group of CTOs for focused, high-value exchange.
What You’ll Experience
The CTO Forum is designed for meaningful dialogue, practical insight, and peer connection.
Peer Exchange
Small-group discussions to benchmark strategies and share solutions to current challenges
Trend Provocation
Forward-looking insights from expert speakers, followed by facilitated discussion
CTO Curated Dialogue
Member-driven conversations focused on the strategic questions that matter most
Networking & Collaboration
Dedicated time to build trusted relationships with fellow CTOs
Types of Discussions
Forum conversations are practical, strategic, and highly interactive—designed to help you navigate both immediate challenges and long-term uncertainty.
Discussion formats include:
- Scenario-based group challenges exploring complex decisions
- Small-group exchanges with diverse peer perspectives
- Facilitated discussions on member-submitted topics
- Interactive dialogue following expert insights
Sessions are structured to encourage open sharing and ensure every participant both contributes to and benefits from the discussion.
Agenda
8:00 – 8:30 AM | Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 AM | Opening Remarks, Welcome & Introductions
9:00 – 10:00 AM | Relationship-Ready R&D: Building Strategic Partnerships to Accelerate Commercialization
As AI use grows, scientists will need to become even stronger relationship builders—able to engage customers, suppliers, universities, startups, and other partners to translate external insight into real-world value. This session will explore how R&D leaders can build the strategic partnerships and outside-in perspective needed to keep innovation relevant and avoid technology push.
We will discuss how stronger relationships across the innovation ecosystem can shape better portfolio decisions, stage-gate inputs, and commercialization pathways. The conversation will focus on what R&D teams need to learn from external partners, how to build those connections earlier in the innovation process, and how partnership-centered R&D can accelerate commercialization, capability building, and more relevant growth.
10:00 – 10:15 AM | Break
10:15 – 11:00 AM | Featured Speaker
Beyond its technical promise, AI is raising important questions about ethics, responsibility, and societal impact. In this provocative session, we will explore issues ranging from data center energy consumption to public perceptions of AI and the evolving regulatory landscape. Participants will be challenged to think differently about the role of innovation leaders and the responsibilities that accompany transformative technologies.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | CTO Curated Dialogue
One of the most valued elements of the CTO Forum, this interactive session is driven by questions submitted by attendees in advance. We will work through as many questions as time allows, inviting participants to share their experiences, perspectives, and practical insights, creating a candid peer-to-peer dialogue on the issues that matter most to today’s R&D leaders.
12:00 – 12:15 PM | Wrap-Up
12:15 – 1:00 PM | Lunch
1:00 PM | Adjourn
Previous Topics Covered
Driven by member priorities
Topics reflect the evolving landscape of R&D and innovation leadership. Examples include:
- Organizational structure and readiness for change
- The impact of AI on R&D and innovation strategy
- Managing global R&D capabilities and footprint strategy
- Balancing resource constraints with innovation goals
- Aligning portfolios with shifting market and customer demands
- Navigating geopolitical and regulatory complexity
- Building future-ready organizations and workforce models
What Makes the CTO Forum Different
A peer-only environment built for candid exchange
- Peer-only environment: Engage exclusively with fellow CTOs and senior innovation leaders.
- Confidential discussions: Open, candid dialogue in a trusted setting.
- Action-oriented: Walk away with practical insights you can apply immediately.
- Future-focused: Gain early insight into emerging trends and disruptions.
- Member-driven: Content shaped by the real challenges you bring to the table.
Who Should Attend
The CTO Forum is designed for senior leaders responsible for shaping innovation strategy and execution, including:
- Chief Technology Officers (CTOs)
- Heads of R&D
- Senior innovation executives
Participation is limited to ensure meaningful dialogue and high-value exchange.
