The R&D 100 Awards have served as the most prestigious innovations awards program in research and development for the past 55 years, honoring pioneers in science and technology. In 2015, the R&D 100 Conference was launched as an educational event that both celebrates the historic R&D 100 Awards and provides an educational opportunity that is unique for the R&D community.

This year, the third annual conference takes place at the Walt Disney World Swan Resort in Orlando, Florida, Nov. 16-17, and culminating in the R&D Awards gala event on the evening of Nov. 17. This annual meeting provides a unique opportunity to network with the industry leaders that are making an impact on today’s R&D world.  

The theme of the conference is “Emerging Capabilities in R&D” and it will explore these in-depth across various industries including Life Science, Information & Communication Technology, and Robotics & Autonomous Systems. Professionals from industry, government, and academia will gather to network, learn, and collaborate during the two-day conference. Throughout the R&D 100 Conference, cross-disciplinary sessions address a variety of important new developments. Keynote speakers and breakout sessions provide informative presentations on R&D trends, case studies, and more as the conference creates a collaborative environment for sharing ideas and networking with industry peers.

An important aspect of this year’s conference revolves around General Sessions and a special Technology Transfer Forum that will focus on R&D Strategies & Leadership. The Opening Keynote, “Perils, Pressures and Productivity: How R&D Needs to Reposition Itself” by Scott Kirsner kicks off the conference on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 9:00 a.m. with a look at R&D from a CEO’s point of view and how R&D leaders can exceed expectations.

“How to Succeed in R&D and Business: Lessons Along the Journey” by Pete Rudak will explore leadership and management techniques. Bradford Goldense will present “Optimizing R&D Performance Through Metrics,” a close look at measures and how they support strategy.

On Friday, Nov. 17, Dr. Layton H. Smith will present “Reimagining the Drug Discovery Process: Disruptive Innovation in Microcosm,” and the R&D Technology Transfer Forum (TTF): Unlocking the Potential, with speakers Ben Gibson, Sr., Daniel Lockney, Michael J. Paulus, Ph.D, Nick Dougherty, and  Vicki A. Barbur, Ph.D., will analyze the complex world of technology and leveraging success. “Sustaining Innovation: Managing the Challenges and Markets” by A.N. Sreeram, Ph.D., will focus on industry funding and return on the R&D investment.

Together, the 2017 R&D 100 Awards gala event and the 2017 R&D 100 Conference will explore significant strides in R&D, offering an enriching experience for R&D professionals of all levels and specialties. For registration and conference details visit www.rd100conference.com.