“Throughout my career, I have been passionate about leading organizations to greater success. I consider myself fortunate for the challenges and opportunities that allowed me to develop unique insights into a wide range of innovation roadblocks and solutions.
To me, InnoVentures is an opportunity to make a difference for both individuals and their organizations. By applying my knowledge and experience, I know I can help them to reach their highest level of achievement.”
Irene Spitsberg
Innovator. Speaker. Author.
Dr. Irene Spitsberg is an innovation thought leader, global technology / business development executive, author and entrepreneur. She holds a Ph.D. in Material Science from the Russian National University of Science and Technology and is the inventor and co-inventor on over 80 U.S. patents.
Irene is widely respected for her ability to articulate direction, for her exceptional problem solving acumen, and for her unique combination of technology and business expertise. She has participated in numerous speaking engagements on the topics of Strategic Innovation and Emerging Technologies at industry leading events. Coupled with a high-energy, results driven attitude, Irene’s comprehensive resume has helped her to lead organizations through the creation of exceptional market-leading solutions, turning ideas into commercial success.
A practiced strategist with 20-years of experience, Irene has excelled at developing innovation strategies and leading the execution of strategic initiatives. Her successes have ranged from organization building, to technology development and commercialization, to structuring and managing alliances to achieve strategic goals. She was most notably a recipient of the NASA “Turn Goals to Reality” award for her leadership in developing next generation composite technology that commercialized through GE’s jet engine program – technology which was also given the 2001 R&D 100 Award.
Driven by her passion for innovation and commitment the advancement of innovation theory and practice, Irene has also become a published author and speaker on innovation methodologies that provide practical guidance for application of key innovation concepts.
Irene has developed and honed her expertise by working with some of the worlds most respected technology and innovation firms.
During her tenure with GE Aviation, she became an accomplished technologist, widely recognized for her significant contributions to various technology and product innovations, and for her publications and speaking engagements. Irene played a key role in forming multiple research partnerships with Academia and Government.
At Kennametal she applied parallel technology, market and business model innovation leadership. From concept through to launch she built, connected, engaged and motivated multicultural, cross-functional teams to develop and commercialize new business platforms.
Irene has also made key contributions to advancing the organization’s capabilities to commercialize into new spaces. She was the key strategist and driver behind forming the Innovation Ventures Group, as well as designing and implementing organization practices for Innovation Venturing and Open Innovation. These processes resulted in significant new growth platforms and were acknowledged by the company’s receipt of “2010 Innovator of the Year Award” by PDMA.
Most recently, Irene was Director of Global R&D Business at Cristal where she led transformation of global R&D practices. Her role was to enable commercialization of new technology and to increase sales from new products.
Led cross-functional team to develop and commercialize R&D 100 technology
Developed Innovative Strategies
Brought large growth platforms to early commercialization
Built breakthrough organization practices
80+ U.S Patents
Published author on innovation practices
Speaker at Industry Leading events
