We are proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 IRI Excellence Awards, presented by the Innovation Research Interchange (IRI). These awards honor individuals and organizations that are driving innovation, shaping industries, and advancing sustainability, culture, digital transformation, and scientific discovery. We’re also excited to recognize the winner of the 2024 Maurice Holland Award for the most outstanding article published in Research-Technology Management.
2025 Innovation Excellence Awards Finalists
Innovation Leadership Award
Recognizing senior leaders advancing innovation:
– Dr. Carmen Flosbach, Axalta Coating Systems
– Dr. Amitabh Gupta, Linde
– Dr. José Méndez-Andino, Owens Corning
Promising Young Innovation Professional Award
Honoring innovators under 35 making early impact:
– Dr. Kenneth Hernandez, DuPont
– Dr. Eric Sirianni, INVISTA
– Dr. Zheyue Yang, DuPont
Excellence in Innovation – Company Awards
Sustainability
– Eastman: A Better Circle
– GAF: California Cool® Shingles
– PPG: SIGMAGLIDE® 2390 Coating
Innovative Culture
– DuPont: Dead Projects Day
– Greene Tweed: Culture of Excellence
– James Hardie Building Products
Digital & Technological Innovation
– Dow: Polyurethanes Predictive Intelligence Platform
– Eastman: Fluid Genius 3.0
– INVISTA: Virtual Subject Matter Expert
Scientific Advancement
– AquaEC Flex Cathodic Electrodeposition
– Hammerhead™ FR Composite Panels
– Niron Magnetics: Permanent Magnet Technology
2024 Maurice Holland Award Winner
“Rhetorical or Genuine Slack Time? Temporal Attributes, Barriers, and Outcomes of Slack Time”
By Heidi M. J. Bertels, City University of New York – College of Staten Island
Award winners will be announced at the Innovators Summit 2025, May 19-21 in Chicago!
The IRI Innovation Excellence Awards represent an unwavering commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries to set new organizational standards in research and development. These awards honor organizations and individuals whose outstanding vision and tireless pursuit of excellence are already impacting our lives today and shaping the industries of tomorrow.
Companies of all sizes and industries are encouraged to participate. Consultants and university partners may nominate their colleagues to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments.
The awards ceremony recognized and honored more than 14 companies amongst 6 category winners in 2024.
Questions? Reach out to iri@nam.org.
Want to know more?
Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about the awards, the benefits of submitting, and more.
If you still have questions, you can email us as iri@nam.org and someone from the IRI will reach out to assist.
2025 Company Excellence Awards
Innovation in Sustainability
The IRI Excellence Award for Innovation in Sustainability is designed to recognize recent outstanding achievements and innovative projects that have made a meaningful impact and significant contribution to sustainability efforts within an organization, industry, or more broadly. These efforts not only demonstrate leadership in sustainability but also set a benchmark for others to follow.
Outstanding Innovative Culture
The IRI Excellence Award for Outstanding Innovative Culture award celebrates organizations that have created workplaces where innovation is not just encouraged but thrives in the form of a true innovative culture. This award recognizes companies that actively cultivate inclusive, diverse, and safe environments where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute their ideas. These organizations understand that true innovation stems from fostering strong relationships, maintaining consistency, and upholding accountability across all levels. The recognized companies serve as models for others, demonstrating that a thriving, supportive workplace is the foundation of success in a rapidly changing world.
Digital Innovation
IRI Excellence Award for Digital Innovation award honors individuals who have effectively adopted new tools and technologies to enhance processes, products, or services within their organization. By celebrating these achievements, it aims to inspire others to embrace digital innovation and take bold steps in advancing technology.
Scientific Advancement
The IRI Excellence Award in Scientific Advancement recognizes innovation teams for exceptional leadership and achievements in advancing scientific knowledge. This award celebrates teams whose pioneering work has led to significant breakthroughs, expanding possibilities and driving progress. By highlighting their contributions, it emphasizes the importance of scientific discovery as a cornerstone of innovation and celebrates the collaborative efforts that push the boundaries of knowledge.
2025 Individual Excellence Awards
Leadership Award
The IRI Innovation Leadership Award celebrates visionary leaders whose exceptional contributions and transformative influence have significantly advanced the landscape of innovation. Recipients of this award have been recognized as advocates and educators, demonstrating exceptional leadership in fostering a culture of innovation and inspiring progress across their field.
- Category 1: Individuals from large organizations (annual revenue $1B+)
- Category 2: Individuals from other organizations (annual revenue <$1B, nonprofits, universities)
Promising Young Innovator
The IRI Promising Young Innovation Professional Award is designed to celebrate and honor individuals who, at 40 years of age or younger at the time of their nomination, have already started to make a significant impact in the field of innovation within their organizations. This award highlights the achievements of young professionals who have demonstrated exceptional talent, creativity, and a forward-thinking approach, leading to meaningful contributions in their respective areas. More than just recognizing their accomplishments, the award also acknowledges these individuals as role models within their organizations and beyond.
- Category 1: Individuals from large organizations (annual revenue $1B+)
- Category 2: Individuals from other organizations (annual revenue <$1B, nonprofits, universities)
Winners Archive
Meet the past winners of the IRI Excellence Awards
