Dr. Cooper is the keynote speaker for the PDMA Ignite Innovation Summit 2026, he draws on latest thinking to show precisely how artificial intelligence is transforming each stage of the new product process — from the earliest glimmers of opportunity discovery all the way through to market launch and post-launch learning.
His argument is bold and evidence-backed: AI does not replace the structured innovation process — it supercharges it, making every decision more data-rich, every forecast more reliable, and every team more productive.
Read more about Bob Cooper’s approach.
AI can help you win at new product development – Dr Robert Cooper says now is the time to act
About the PDMA Ignite Innovation Summit
PDMA focuses on the unique set of integrated activities involved in the full lifecycle of product development and management, including innovation.
The aim of the PDMA Ignite Innovation Summit is that through immersive workshops, interactive sessions, and cohort collaborations, attendees will walk away with practical tools and real-world applications from the experts.
The conference is followed by the 2026 JPIM Research Forum which is affiliated with the Journal of Product Innovation Management.
From Trade-Offs to Breakthroughs: How TRIZ, Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD), and GenAI Turn Constraints into Competitive Advantage
In this interactive workshop, hosted by Jay Nakagawa, Director, Dell Technologies and William (Bill) Reid, Vice President, Boulder Imaging, participants apply Jobs-to-be-Done, TRIZ, and Generative AI to their own product challenges and leave with concrete solution concepts and a repeatable framework for solving tough innovation problems.
Product teams are skilled at identifying customer needs and translating them into JTBD. The harder part is execution: building products that satisfy those jobs while navigating competing constraints.
TRIZ is one of the most powerful innovation frameworks, it is often viewed as difficult to learn and apply. Jay demonstrates how Generative AI can dramatically accelerate TRIZ application, making advanced problem-solving accessible to every product manager-not just experts.
