Open Innovation

The commercial R&D world is experiencing a globally competitive marketplace in which technological capability is expanding rapidly, a marketplace where speed, agility, and creativity are a prerequisite for success. In parallel, advances in virtual communication mean that knowledge and information transfer is happening faster than ever before. In order to stay competitive, professionals must look outside the traditional R&D structure to increase the flow of ideas and solutions to technological and commercial challenges. AOCS provides the environment to match internal R&D core competencies with a well-developed global web of connections. AOCS works with our constituents to increase opportunities for success by promoting open innovation.

A New Annual Meeting Feature

AOCS Connect, funded by the AOCS Foundation, will allow full technical registrants of the AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo to set up confidential profiles to facilitate social networking based on technical needs.  All full technical delegates will be give an opportunity to complete an online, individual profile which will be the tool to connect with other delegates with similar wants and needs. 

AOCS and NineSigma are partnering to bring you new opportunities whether you are an innovator with a technology or an organization seeking to leverage the external innovation community to overcome a business or technology challenge.

Are you an innovator with a business or technology solution? 

Access NineSigma’s Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

NineSigma partners with Global 1000 companies to transform their innovation capabilities by connecting them with the very best innovators from around the world. NineSigma’s open network of innovators is the largest of its kind and spans industries, geographies and technical disciplines. Client companies such as Xerox, GlaxoSmithKline, DuPont, Kraft, P&G, and Unilever utilize NineSigma to find new sources of innovation and knowledge not readily available in the public domain.  

NineSigma offers a straightforward process to address your company’s specific Open Innovation needs including:

• Customize a sustainable and successful Open Innovation program
• Access novel approaches, solutions, and advisors globally to solve critical business and technology challenges
• Find unobvious sources of innovation outside your industry or traditional network
• Provide in-depth tracking of your area of interest and generate ongoing primary and secondary research

Are you an innovation seeker interested in learning more about NineSigma’s services? Email innovation@ninesigma.com for more information.

Founded in 2000, NineSigma is a private company with offices in the United States, Belgium and Japan. For more information visit: www.ninesigma.com.

Resources:

• Looking for tips on how to write a winning response to an RFP? Download NineSigma’s White Paper “Selling Your Innovation”. (pdf)
• Learn more about NineSigma and the areas of science and technology covered through their services. Download a NineSigma brochure (pdf).

Additional Information

April 2008 inform: Open innovation: Managing confidentiality risk December 2007 inform: Company creativity, innovation flourish in “small-world” networks November 2007 inform: Open Innovation in action July 2007 inform: AOCS Annual Meeting Hot Topic Summary: Open Innovation (pdf) August 2006 inform: Connect + Develop by Keith Grime, Procter & Gamble