ULRI Champions the Power of Collaboration and Trust in Innovation
Oct. 22, 25—UL Research Institutes’ President and CEO, Jim Hudgens, facilitated a compelling session at the recent UIDP Annual Conference, focusing on how collaboration and trust can drive scientific innovation forward to improve public safety.
Drawing on his diverse career, Hudgens emphasized how partnerships across academia, nonprofit, government, and industry are key to tackling real-world challenges as the pace of scientific and technological change accelerates and new, complex risks arise.
He discussed how ULRI, a global leader in safety science, recognizes the urgent need to keep safety at the forefront and focuses on its key objective: protecting lives through safety science. This commitment is apparent in every ULRI collaboration – from fire safety partnerships with first responders, to battery safety and digital safety research with top universities. By convening diverse stakeholders, ULRI helps accelerate scientific progress and amplify societal benefit.
Today’s safety landscape is defined by multi-dimensional challenges, however. In addressing current risks to collaborative innovation, Hudgens highlighted the erosion of R&D expertise in the federal sector, financial strains on academic research, public skepticism toward science, and the rapid pace of commercial innovation. To counter these risks, he said ULRI invests in strategic partnerships, commits to open science initiatives, and builds robust data infrastructure to accelerate discovery and impact.
Hudgens stressed the importance of trust – especially in high-risk fields – to remind attendees that innovation only occurs when stakeholders believe in and adopt new solutions. He concluded his session by urging the community to embrace open, mission-focused collaboration, stewardship of intellectual property, and transparent engagement with the public. “Trust is the foundation,” he said. “With trust, we can build successful partnerships and amplify the impact of our science for society’s benefit.”
As both a catalyst and collaborator, ULRI is committed to shaping impactful partnerships for a safer, healthier future. Learn more at ul.org.
UIDP member UL Research Institute contributed this post. If you would like UIDP to amplify your announcements, let us know at info@uidp.net.