Abtrasct
This study examines the skills, capabilities and organizational models manufacturing R&D teams will need to succeed over the next five to seven years as artificial intelligence, workforce shifts and growing global complexity reshape innovation. Drawing on IRI research, industry trends, discussions with R&D leaders and input from a working group of senior innovation executives, the study finds that future readiness will depend on much more than technical expertise or AI adoption alone.
The findings identify communication and relationship building, business acumen and strategic insight, systems thinking, cross-functional collaboration, AI and digital fluency, and continuous learning among the most critical capabilities for future R&D organizations. As R&D becomes increasingly AI-enabled, globally distributed and connected across organizational boundaries, scientists and innovation professionals will need to combine deep technical expertise with human judgment, creativity, adaptability and the ability to translate scientific possibilities into business value.
The study also explores illustrative future R&D teams across incremental, adjacent and transformational innovation, demonstrating how human expertise and AI agents could work together to accelerate discovery, strengthen knowledge reuse and improve decision-making. Ultimately, the study provides R&D leaders with a practical framework for assessing capability gaps and beginning to build the talent, learning pathways, leadership practices and operating models required for the next era of innovation.
