Press Release: Innovation Research Interchange Announces Innovation Excellence Award Finalists

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Innovation Research Interchange Announces Innovation Excellence Award Finalists

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2025  CONTACT: NAM Media Relations
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Innovation Research Interchange, the innovation management division of the National Association of Manufacturers that serves as a community of industry leaders dedicated to accelerating innovation and top-line growth, announced the finalists for the 2026 IRI Innovation Excellence Awards. These awards recognize organizations and individuals whose outstanding vision and pursuit of excellence are shaping the future of innovation across industries. Winners will be announced at the 2026 Innovators Summit.

2026 Innovation Excellence Awards:

Individual Finalists
The IRI Innovation Leadership Award celebrates visionary leaders whose exceptional contributions and transformative influence have advanced the landscape of innovation significantly.
Finalists:
Paola Appendini, Ph.D., Mars, Inc.
Thore Dankert, Novo Holdings
Edwin Freeman, Ph.D., Mars, Inc.

The IRI Promising Young Innovator Award recognizes individuals 35 and under at the time of nomination who have already begun to make an impact in the field of innovation in their organization, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
Finalists:
Matthew Baker, Ph.D., Dow Inc.
Chelsea Clark, Ph.D., Dow Inc.
Sumeru Nayak, Ph.D., James Hardie

Company Finalists
The IRI Excellence Award for Innovation in Sustainability recognizes recent outstanding achievement and projects that have made a meaningful impact and significant contribution to sustainability efforts in their organization or industry.
Finalists:
Armstrong World Industries: Industrial Wastewater Reclamation and Landfill Waste Reduction Using VSEP Technology
DuPont Water Solutions’ MLD Portfolio with FilmTec™ Fortilife™ Elements
Owens Corning: Decarbonization of Glass Fiber Manufacturing with Hydrogen

The IRI Excellence Award for Outstanding Innovative Culture recognizes organizations that foster inclusive, diverse, equitable and psychologically safe workplaces, cultivating an environment where innovation thrives. It honors companies championing upskilling and professional development to ensure their teams’ adaptability and success in a rapidly changing world.
Finalists:
From “Know-It-All” to “Learn-It-All”: DuPont & Qnity’s Lean Innovation Culture Journey

The IRI Excellence Award for Digital Innovation celebrates outstanding achievements in the development or application of digital and technological solutions. The award seeks to inspire innovation and encourage organizations and teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible in their respective industries.
Finalists:
Dow Inc.: Patent Sieve
Knauf Pro+ Mobile App
Novo Holdings: Redefining Digital Transformation

The IRI Excellence Award in Scientific Advancement is presented annually to innovation teams that have demonstrated remarkable leadership and accomplishment in scientific advancements.
Finalists:
Avient GlideTech™
Niron Magnetics: Iron Nitride Permanent Magnets
Revolutionizing Hydrogen Compression: Greene Tweed’s Record-Breaking Composite Impeller

The IRI Excellence Award for Open Innovation recognizes outstanding collaboration that drives innovation beyond organizational boundaries, celebrating partnerships and approaches that accelerate progress through external engagement and shared expertise.
Finalists:
IPG Photonics, PPG and Whirlpool Corporation: The Heat Is On: Revolutionizing Paint Shops with Laser Technology
Material Innovation Without Borders: The Owens Corning–Tata Consultancy Services Co-Innovation Engine
 
For more information on the awards and past winners, click here

-National Association for Manufacturer-
The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs 13 million men and women, contributes $2.75 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit nam.org. 

-Innovation Research Interchange-
The Innovation Research Interchange is the NAM’s innovation management division. The IRI is a community of industry leaders dedicated to accelerating innovation and top-line growth. IRI members drive impactful innovation, develop the research and development roadmaps and make the investments that keep manufacturing at the forefront of advancing technologies and improving the quality of life. For more information, please visit https://iriweb.org.