In an age when viewers increasingly fast-forward past television commercials on their DVRs or bypass most advertisements altogether by streaming the programs, companies are constantly looking for new ways to reach consumers.

General Electric is the latest to experiment, with the help of big-name movie producers and directors. The company is working on a six-part documentary series about science and technology that will be broadcast on the National Geographic Channel beginning in November. The channel, which is co-producing the series, plans to announce it Wednesday at its upfront presentation in New York.

With the series, called “Breakthrough,” G.E. aims to create high-quality branded content that will highlight scientific innovation, some of it involving scientists who work for or with the company. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard of Imagine Entertainment — who both won Academy Awards in 2002 for “A Beautiful Mind” and have worked together on other blockbuster films like “Apollo 13” — are producers, along with Asylum Entertainment. Mr. Howard, Brett Ratner, Angela Bassett, Akiva Goldsman, Peter Berg and Paul Giamatti will each direct one of the hourlong episodes.

G.E., which has a global research division with nearly 4,000 scientists and engineers, said its goal with the series was not to sell more light bulbs or other G.E. products, but to spread awareness about the company’s contributions to science and technology. G.E. helped pick the topics for the series and gave the producers access to its research centers to generate story ideas.