2024 Year in Preview

Written by: Mike O’Donnell, CIRAS Director

At CIRAS, we take pride in being ready to help you solve your toughest problems.

As we enter 2024, we’re excited to build on our foundation with a range of initiatives designed to support your growth and success, fostering collaboration, promoting informed technology adoption, and maximizing access to world-class expertise.

Building a Smarter Construction Industry: CIRAS is bringing on a dedicated Construction Industry Strategic Advisor thanks to a grant from the Economic Development Administration. This expert will help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of software, technologies, and construction methods, helping you de-risk investments and embrace innovations that drive profitability.

Demystifying Artificial Intelligence: AI is no longer a futuristic buzzword; it’s a powerful tool transforming numerous industries, including yours. To help you navigate this confusing landscape, CIRAS is launching the “AI Series.” Kicking off on January 25th with “Navigating the Future of Work with AI,” this series will equip you with practical insights and actionable strategies to leverage AI’s potential in your business.

Learning from Each Other: At CIRAS, we believe in the power of peer-to-peer learning. That’s why we’re expanding the Iowa Lean Consortium’s Continuous Improvement Cohort program in 2024. In partnership with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI), we’ll continue MarketWise and look for more ways to help you collaborate with your peers.

Bridging the Research Gap: Iowa State University boasts a wealth of world-class research directly relevant to your industry’s challenges. In 2024, CIRAS help bridge the gap between academic breakthroughs and practical applications. We’re exploring innovative ways to connect researchers with industry leaders and vice versa, fostering a vibrant manufacturing ecosystem that fuels innovation and prosperity in Iowa.

Strength in Partnerships: We have a talented team at CIRAS, but we recognize that complex problems require collective solutions. As we move forward, you can expect us to forge even stronger partnerships across Iowa’s business ecosystem and leverage the expertise of subject matter experts to deliver even greater value to our community.

We invite you to partner with CIRAS in 2024 to unlock your full potential. Visit our website or contact us directly to learn more about our programs and initiatives.

Note: Google Bard provided editorial support for this article.

For more information, contact Mike O’Donnell, Director, CIRAS, modonnll@iastate.edu.