Which best practice strategies are needed to capture and enable innovation within the firm, and what are the inherent implementation challenges and opportunities? What are the main obstacles to innovation that must be overcome? What are the pros and cons of buying-in vs. creating innovation internally? How can business innovation be translated into corporate performance and economic benefits? And can innovation efforts be tracked and measured effectively?

Andy Donner, Investment Director, Unilever Ventures
Abhi Ingle, Vice President, Ecosystem and Innovation, AT&T
Sridaran Natesan, Vice President, External Innovation (R&D), Sanofi

Moderator: Richard Waters, West Coast Editor, Financial Times

How are start-ups redefining and enabling global innovation? How are small ideas impacting corporate innovations in America? How can investments in new technologies, innovative start-ups or individuals be translated into real gains?

Sean Gourley, Co-founder and CTO, Quid
Peter Graf, Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President, SAP

Interviewed by: Andrew Hill, Management Editor, Financial Times

What has been the impact of recent IPO over-valuations and volatile M&A markets on innovation investing? What funding options exist for established corporations and small start-ups seeking to expand innovative projects and improve long-term liquidity positions? Which innovation value propositions and criteria do financiers actually look for when considering an investment opportunity? Which industry trends and innovations have garnered the most interest from investors and why?

Greg Brogger, President, NASDAQ Private Market
Rebecca Lynn, Managing Director, Canvas Venture Fund
Brad McManus, General Partner, Capbridge Group
Mario Kranjac, Partner,  Kranjac Tripodi & Partners LLP
Mood Rowghani, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB)

Moderator: Richard Waters, West Coast Editor, Financial Times

What culture must US corporations build to support innovation and what skill sets are critical to achieving innovation results? Should talent be bought-in from leading start-ups? How can university collaborations help to reduce the shortage of innovative individuals? What processes and rewards enable long-term innovative behaviors?

Sunil Chandra, VP of Staffing and Operations, Google
George Foster, Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Management Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
Andrew Pearce, Director of Technical Strategies, DreamWorks Animation
Laura Sherbin, EVP and Director of Research, The Center for Talent Innovation (CTI)

Moderator: Andrew Hill, Management Editor, Financial Times

Which innovations and key trends are shaping industries and business models in America? What lessons can be learned from industries that have capitalized on the opportunities created by innovation? What role do investors and leaders in government and non-profit organizations play in developing, encouraging and supporting innovation within business? How is innovation encouraged whilst still protecting patents and intellectual property?

Stephen Hahn, Research Fellow, The Dow Chemical Company
Stephen Hoover, Chief Executive Officer, PARC - A Xerox Company
Lisa Lambert, Vice-President and Managing Director, Intel Capital

Moderator: Andrew Hill, Management Editor, Financial Times