Next-Gen Innovation: Prepare for the future!
From December 3-4 in Orlando, FL, we will delve into practical, actionable steps you can take today to prepare for the changes anticipated (and unanticipated) in the near future. Turning insights that you glean from experts, consultants, and monitoring weak signals into action is a daunting task. IRI’s aim with our Innovating the Future event is to help you plan out your actions from the conference while you’re there. Following each insightful presentation, you will have an opportunity to poke and explore each topic with your peers and discuss how it will impact you, your company, and your industry. When you return from the office, you’ll have fresh ideas along with the plan to actually implement them.
- WHY ATTEND
- AGENDA
- SPEAKERS
- HOTEL
- PARTNERS
- KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- CTO Forum
What to Expect at Innovating the Future:
- AI-Driven Innovation: Explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the landscape of innovation and driving transformative change across industry.
- Labs of the Future: Discover the cutting-edge advancements and visionary concepts shaping the labs of tomorrow.
- Sustainable Innovation: Learn about innovative strategies and technologies fostering sustainability, turning environmental challenges into opportunities for growth.
- Future-Ready Workforce: Gain insights into preparing your workforce for future demands, focusing on the skills and adaptability needed for tomorrow’s challenges.
- Next-Generation Customers: Understand how to track the evolving needs and trends of future customers, and how to anticipate and meet their expectations effectively.
Join fellow innovation professionals at this impactful event to explore strategies and technologies driving innovation, sustainability, and intelligence. Engage in discussions, share insights, and develop actionable strategies. Key takeaways include planning for AI-driven changes, promoting sustainability as an innovation opportunity, and laying the framework for developing your future workforce. The agenda maximizes collaboration and networking, ensuring valuable connections and insights.
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 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 facilitated sessions.
Get Practical with AI: Start preparing now for the changes that AI will bring to the way we work.
Gain Action Steps for Sustainability: Hear how leading organizations are preparing for the next level of sustainability needs.
Get Prepared: Develop practical steps to prepare for the future and gain confidence in you ability to prepare for the unexpected.
Future Workforce: Determine the structures that you need now to develop the workforce that you will need in the future.
| Tuesday, December 3 |
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| 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception |
| Wednesday, December 4 |
| 7:15 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast |
| 8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| 8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Opening Keynote: Innovating the Future How do you turn insights that you’ve gleaned about the future into actionable steps? This panel discussion will highlight the ways in which forward looking organizations approach this daunting task, from their methods for gathering insights to their efforts to cascade actions through the organization. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Interactive session: Looking to the Future with Purpose Learn different techniques, from roadmapping to backcasting, for making future insights actionable, then work with your peers to create a plan for identifying the right methods for your organization and the best ways to get buy in and roll them out. Facilitator: Jim Redden, Innovation Advisor, RTI |
| 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Networking Break |
| 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. AI and Innovation Hear how Cargill is working to enable innovation and R&D using current and future AI technologies. Speaker: Abhishek Roy, North America Leader of AI, Engineering and Data Sciences, Cargill |
| 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Interactive Session: Lab of the Future How will the increased use of AI and other advanced technologies shape R&D labs and the way we work? Learn about the possibilities and start planning your next steps now to ensure your infrastructure is ready. Facilitator: Noel Hollingsworth, Co-founder, Uncountable, Inc. |
| 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Networking Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Sustainable Horizons: Navigating the Future How are companies planning for their own future sustainability needs and goals as well as those of their customers? Hear Albemarle’s approach. Speaker: Wesley Hamilton, CTO/Vice President Research and Technology – Specialties GBU, Albemarle Corporation |
| 1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Interactive Session: Future-Proofing Sustainability Explore how to better anticipate and align with evolving sustainability regulations. Work with your peers to identify best practices and identify future challenges sooner. |
| 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Networking Break |
| 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Customer of the Future How do you create intimacy with your customers of the future? Explore the tools and techniques available today that will help you better understand customers of tomorrow. Speaker: Mark Donavon, Head of Digital Strategy and Ecosystem Development, Nestle Purina Petcare |
| 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Interactive Session: Exploring Future Customer Needs What mechanisms do you have in place to work toward identifying future customer desires? How are you making them actionable? This interactive session will help you work toward a plan for creating new mechanisms. Facilitator: Lee Green, AVP, Content and Strategy, IRI |
| 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Closing Keynote: Future Workforce Needs What can the data available today tell us about the next generation of innovation and R&D professionals? Speaker: Fiona Jameson, CEO, Spring International |
| 5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Closing Remarks |
| 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Networking Reception |
| Thursday, December 5 – CTOs (or equivalent) only |
| 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CTO Forum 2024: Building Smart, Sustainable, Innovative Organizations Join leading CTOs at this impactful event to explore strategies and technologies driving innovation, sustainability, and intelligence in innovation. Engage in discussions, share insights, and develop actionable strategies. Key takeaways include planning for AI-driven changes, promoting sustainability as an innovation opportunity, and best practices for building an innovation ecosystem. The agenda maximizes collaboration and networking, ensuring valuable connections and insights into industry challenges. (See tab above for details.) |
This year’s lineup of speakers includes industry pioneers, thought leaders, and visionaries who will inspire and educate attendees on the latest trends, strategies, and best practices in innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow innovators and learn from the best in the field!
Abhishek Roy
Cargill
Group Rate Information
Conrad Orlando
Book before Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Innovating the Future
$339.00/night
To make your reservations online, please click below and continue to book your room or call (407) 387 – 2000 and reference the 2024 NAM/IRI room block.
To make the most of your experience, take advantage of our exclusive group rate at the Conrad Orlando, where a block of rooms has been reserved for $339.00 per night. To make reservations online, please click on the reservation link above, and the group rate will automatically be applied or call the hotel directly.
The group rate reservation cut-off date is Tuesday, November 12, 2024. However, availability is not guaranteed once the room block is filled, which may occur before this date.
Partnership Opportunities with the IRI Innovating the Future
If you are interested in partnering with us, please fill out the form below or email Anna Chongpinitchai at AChongpinitchai@iriweb.org.
Who You’ll Meet
IRI’s Innovating the Future event is designed for CTOs, Directors, VPs, and leaders of R&D, innovation, new product development, technology, engineering, and growth. Past attendees at IRI events come from industry leaders such as Campbells, Boeing, Mars, PPG, Nestle Purina Petcare, NASA, National Gypsum, Timken, A.O. Smith, USG, 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. Experience fireside chats, panels, presentations, interactive sessions, and cocktail receptions.
Attire
The dress code for this event is resort style business casual.
The business casual dress code typically includes collared shirts, slacks, dresses, skirts, blouses, and sportscoats. We recommend avoiding jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, or overly casual clothing items while maintaining a professional appearance.
Nearby Airport
Orlando International Airport
- Address: 1 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827
- Phone number: (407) 825-2001
Kissimmee Gateway Airport
- Address: 401 Dyer Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34741
- Phone number: (407) 847-4600
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.
Hotel Parking
Self-Parking: Not available
Valet Parking: $50
EV charging: Available
Secured: Available
Covered: Not available
In & out privileges: Available
CTO Forum 2024: Building Smart, Sustainable, Innovative Organizations
December 5, 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join fellow CTOs for a facilitated deep dive into how to foster digital enablement, sustainability, and robust innovation ecosystems. This high-impact event will bring together leading CTOs to explore cutting-edge strategies and technologies that drive innovation, sustainability, and intelligence in the manufacturing industry. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, share insights with peers, and develop actionable strategies to implement within your organization. Key takeaways include understanding how others are planning for the changes that AI will bring, insights into how to promote sustainability as an innovation opportunity, and best practices for building your innovation ecosystem. The agenda is designed to maximize collaboration and networking, ensuring you leave with new connections and valuable insights into how other industry leaders are approaching the same challenges that you face.
CTO Forum Agenda
| Thursday, December 5 – CTOs only |
| 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Networking Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| 8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Large Group Discussion – Leading Organizational Transformation as CTO Discussion questions: – How do you align your strategy with overall business objectives and communicate that down the line? – Can you share an example of a successful change initiative you led and how you overcame barriers to get there? |
| 9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Roundtable Discussion 1 – Laying the Groundwork for Transformative AI Discussion questions: – We don’t yet know the extent of the changes that AI will bring to the way we work. How are you preparing your organization now to be able to adapt successfully down the line? – How do you measure the ROI of smart technology investments? – What future technology trends do you anticipate will have the biggest impact? – Based on this discussion, what are our tangible action items to move the needle on this when we’re back in our offices? |
| 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Large Group Report Out from Roundtable 1 |
| 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Break |
| 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Roundtable Discussion 2 – Strategies for Building Sustainable Organizations Attendees are requested to move to a different table to interact with different participants. Discussion questions: – How are you working to promote the mindset that sustainability is an innovation opportunity? – What is your approach to dealing with the cost vs. benefits challenges that some ESG initiatives present? – How are you working to influence the wider direction that regulations in your industry will take? – Based on this discussion, what are our tangible action items to move the needle on this when we’re back in our offices? |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Large Group Report Out from Roundtable 2 |
| 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Roundtable Discussion 3 – Driving Innovation Attendees are requested to move to a different table to interact with different participants. Discussion questions: – What structures and processes do you have in place to cultivate your innovation ecosystem? – How are you measuring and communicating innovation’s value to the organization? – How are you promoting a future thinking mindset while balancing short term needs? – Based on this discussion, what are our tangible action items to move the needle on this when we’re back in our offices? |
| 11:45 a.m. – 12:00. p.m. Report Out from Roundtable 3 |
| 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Summary and Closing Remarks |
| 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Networking Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. Adjourn |