Accelerating Research & Development (R&D) Discovery Series: The New Skill Stack

This session is the third and final webinar in our executive series, Accelerating R&D Discovery. In this installment, Everest Group experts Jillian Walker, Vice President, and Vinay Venkatesan, Research Director focus on the evolving R&D skill stack and how AI-enabled experimentation and autonomous systems are redefining the capabilities required to sustain innovation performance.

As discovery and development workflows become increasingly digital and data-driven, traditional domain-centric models will need an update to stay relevant. Our experts will outline the hybrid capabilities emerging in modern R&D environments and provide a structured framework to assess talent gaps, rethink role design, and align workforce strategy with next-generation innovation models.

Accelerating R&D Discovery is a three-part executive series providing a disciplined, strategic examination of the current R&D evolution, led by developments such as synthetic data, agentic systems and digital-first environments. Rather than focusing on isolated tools, the series addresses how AI-enabled experimentation, autonomous systems, and evolving skill models collectively reconfigure R&D execution, governance, and competitive advantage. Leaders will leave with a clearer framework for prioritizing investments, managing risk, and aligning organizational design with next-generation innovation models to drive faster outcomes.

The questions we will answer:

• How is the shift toward digital-first discovery changing the capabilities required in R&D organizations?
• What hybrid skill combinations are becoming increasingly important in modern R&D environments?
• How should leaders evolve role design, training, and talent strategy to support sustained innovation performance and accelerated results?

Who should attend?

• Chief R&D Officers
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
• Chief Innovation Officer
• Chief Scientific Officer
• Head of R&D
• SVP / VP of Research & Development
• VP / Head of Engineering
• VP / Head of Innovation
• Director of R&D Strategy
• Head of Digital R&D
• Head of Advanced Research
• Head of Talent Strategy (R&D-focused)
• Director of Workforce Transformation (Technical functions)