Reflections on leadership challenges and best practices for excellence in chemical research and innovation

Businesses are in a period of unprecedented rapid global change with seemingly permanent turbulence and volatility. This has resulted in unique leadership challenges for Research and Innovation Management. Over a five-decade career with Union Carbide, Dow Chemical and MATRIC, Dr. Wadia, the 2023 recipient of the Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management, inspired his organizations to successfully address these challenges and create value through the implementation of innovative technologies. Based on his learnings in a variety of technical and executive positions in Business and Corporate R&D, Technology Licensing and Entrepreneurial activities, the presentation offers experienced-based reflections on leadership and organizational paradigm challenges and best practices for building the Research & Innovation infrastructure of 21st. century companies.

Strategic areas discussed include: Fostering a flourishing organizational climate; Achieving a passion for market-oriented value creation; Developing a "web" of collaboration, connectivity and leverage; Creating a rapid learning and teaching environment; Implementing streamlined processes for disciplined resource allocation; Facilitating change management; and Utilizing appropriate risk mitigation strategies for new technology commercialization. Perspectives on leadership beliefs and values for coping and succeeding in this dynamic ever-changing environment are offered.

Examples of significant value creation from breakthrough research and bold innovation in the ethylene oxide/glycol, catalyst & process technology, while reducing carbon emissions, are highlighted.

As MATRIC's first CTO and a founder, Dr. Wadia instilled in the entire staff a dedication to excellence in chemical process/product R&D, process safety, engineering, pilot scale demonstration and manufacturing. From its inception in 2003, his leadership encouraged MATRIC to delight its global customers by being a strategic innovation partner of choice that provides uncommon expertise and infrastructure to solve challenging science and technology problems. At MATRIC, his application of the learnings and best practices for technology leadership have created value for customers and investors from concept to commercialization by utilizing experienced staff, unique facilities, and flexible intellectual property models. Select examples of breakthrough innovation at MATRIC are presented.