Flashpoint

By Ed Bernstein, President, Industrial Research Institute

Seventy-five years ago today, the National Research Council (NRC) steering committee, led by Maurice Holland, Director, NRC’s Division of Engineering and Industrial Research, formed an association of companies to be called the Industrial Research Institute (IRI). It was the start of something great. Something that would change the industry – and the world that we live in – forever.

As we reflect on our 75th anniversary, there is much to celebrate. Through innovation borne of collaboration and knowledge sharing, IRI and its members have made their mark in history. For the past 75 years, through cross-industry collaboration, IRI has helped organizations create the strategies to best manage their research and development processes. Most of today’s globally recognized innovation management concepts were first explored within the research groups of IRI. It is this ability to manage innovation that has allowed IRI members to propel our economy and improve our lifestyle for the past three-quarters of a century.

And while we commemorate our founding and the past 75 years of innovation, we also must celebrate our members — past, present, and future — for they are the lifeblood of our organization. Without them, IRI would not be what it is today. We have come a long way together, and we have much to look forward to.