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Industrial Research Institute

Innovation Research Interchange (IRI) is a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, a nonprofit association based in Washington, D. C., United States. IRI was founded as a private non-profit association in 1938 and merged with the NAM in 2022. IRI's mission is "To enhance the innovation leader's and innovation teams' ability to create new value and growth by providing platforms and learning opportunities to share best and next practices, improving team and individual competencies, providing strategic information on the future of innovation execution and leadership, and enhancing and supporting a vibrant community for innovation leadership."

American Optical Company

Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Company

Champion Paper and Fibre Company

Colgate-Palmolive Peet Company

Collins and Aikman Corporation

Crane Company

Fitchburg Paper Company

Handy and Harman

Hercules Powder Company

The Hoover Company

Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation

Procter & Gamble

Taylor Instruments Company

Universal Oil Products

1938, IRI is established as a department within the National Research Council's Division of Engineering and Industrial Research (DEIR).

[6]

1945, IRI separates from the National Research Council and forms an independent organization.[8]

[7]

1946, IRI establishes the .

IRI Medal

1952, IRI hosts a meeting with the (OEEC) and the Mutual Security Agency to discuss the management and organization of applied science.

Organisation for European Economic Co-operation

1958, The need to publish research findings results in the creation of IRI's journal .[9]

Research Management

1960, IRI collaborates with the to develop an executive management course called Seminar on Management of Industrial Research and later the Special Industry Training Program, which is offered annually henceforth.[10]

Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration

1966, The organization assists the OEEC in developing a proposal for the construction of a college in Europe meant to teach scientists how to manage and lead. This eventually leads to the creation of one of IRI's sister organizations, the European Industrial Research and Management Association (EIRMA).

[11]

1968, After failing to convince the (NSF) to sponsor the creation of "research-on-research" centers in U.S. universities, the IRI Board appoints a Research-on-Research (ROR) Subcommittee to initiate the work.

National Science Foundation

1971, the ROR Subcommittee evolves into one of IRI's central units: Research-on-Research (ROR) Working Groups, each exploring a specific topic in research and innovation management, with oversight of the diverse groups managed by a central committee.

1973, IRI establishes the .

IRI Achievement Award

1982, IRI establishes the .

Maurice Holland Award

1984, IRI creates a program to allow an individual to serve in the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) at the White House.

fellowship

1985, IRI and its journal begin publishing the results of an annual survey regarding expected expenditure levels among R&D labs. The report is known as the R&D Trends Forecast.

[12]

1988, Research Management is redesigned and renamed as part of the institute's 50th-anniversary celebration.

Research-Technology Management

1989, the IRI Board decides to relocate IRI headquarters from to Washington, DC.

New York City

1994, the Special Industry Training Program at Harvard University is relocated to the at Northwestern University, Chicago, and renamed the Shaping Innovation Leaders Executive Program.

Kellogg School of Management

1995, the IRI Board changes the constitution of the institute to allow for organizations without a U.S.-based lab to become members, helping to expand membership internationally.

2001, RTM begins to be offered online via .

Ingenta

2003, IRI headquarters is moved from Washington, D.C., to Arlington, VA.

2007, IRI celebrates RTM's 50th year of publication.

2008, IRI drafts policy speeches on science and technology for both candidates in the presidential election.

2012, IRI's journal, RTM, is redesigned and reformatted starting in the January–February 2012 issue.

[13]

2013, IRI celebrates its 75th anniversary.

2018, IRI changes its name to Innovation Research Interchange.

Governance[edit]

IRI governance resides in its membership. Each member organization is responsible for choosing a voting representative to vote on its behalf in IRI elections. A simple majority is required for any action to be taken. The membership is led by an elected sixteen-member Board of Directors, with each member serving three years. The board also appoints a president who serves as Chief Staff Administrator and deciding voter should a tie occur.[14]

Membership[edit]

To qualify for IRI membership, an organization should have as its primary purpose the creation, production, and marketing of physical or intellectual products or services based on technological innovation. Federal laboratories involved in technological innovation, research, design, or technical support of products and services may also join as Associate Members. The Board of Directors retains the right to offer limited membership to others at its discretion.[15]


Membership includes free attendance to IRI events and a subscription to IRI's official journal, Research-Technology Management (RTM).

Publications[edit]

IRI maintains a bimonthly journal, Research-Technology Management (RTM). It publishes peer-reviewed articles covering the full spectrum of technological innovation, from R&D through product development to commercialization. Oversight of the journal is provided by an appointed Board of Editors; the Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Editor provide day-to-day management of RTM.


IRI also issues weekly e-newsletters, press releases and other marketing materials on important events, and occasional white papers on a variety of topics.

IRI Medal

IRI Achievement Award

Maurice Holland Award

(RTM)

Research-Technology Management

Innovation Research Interchange (IRI)

Research-Technology Management - Homepage