Perspectives on Innovation

The following post was written by Tim O’Brien, InnoCentive’s Marketing Manager.

A successful solution contains more than great ideas — the presentation of those ideas is equally vital. Solvers frequently ask us “how should I format my solution?” This is a difficult question, as every Challenge is different and there is no one-size-fits-all solution template (we’ve awarded submissions that range from two paragraphs to over 100 pages). Instead of providing an overly restrictive template or form for submissions, we suggest keeping in mind a few simple guidelines. Below are three past blog posts from our client services teams that highlight some common themes and best practices for developing and presenting a winning solution.

Blog post: 10 Tips for Writing a Winning Solution

Not sure where to begin? Start with these 10 tips based on previous winning solutions. Remember if you have a Challenge-specific question, you can communicate with the Seeker using the “Messages” tab in the Challenge Project Room. (more…)

by Christian Stevenson, Ph.D.
Innovation Program Manager, InnoCentive

As an organic chemist and Innovation Program Manager at InnoCentive, one of my favorite things to do is to work with our dynamic Solver community to help them solve our Seekers’ pressing problems. I recently had an opportunity to do that in a very direct way when we carried out two surveys of our Solvers. InnoCentive was seeking ways to make Solvers happier with our Novel Molecule Challenges (NMCs, Challenges in which Seekers desire delivery of small amounts of novel molecules for testing in their assays). We did this even though InnoCentive was already giving Solvers an opportunity to find potential uses for the compounds they already had (something we know you’re interested in, but that’s often difficult to do) and get rewarded for it in the process – for a total of over $350,000 in awards to date for NMCs alone.

In response to the survey results, here are the concerns that you, our Solvers, voiced, and what we at InnoCentive are now doing as a result:

1. Clarify the Intellectual Property (IP) implications of participating in NMCs. (more…)

Attention InnoCentive Solvers!

Do you know someone who would be a great InnoCentive Solver? Someone who is a visual thinker and a do-it-yourself tinkerer who is always asking “what if” and “why not” in their never-ending quest to make things “better.” Someone with eyes on the stars who can help NASA forecast solar flares with an 80% accuracy rate? Or a mechanical whiz who could create the next mosquito trap or enhance the next generation of BOGO lights for African villages? Or perhaps someone with creative ideas who loves to brainstorm about interesting concepts? If you do, refer them to be an InnoCentive Solver and have the opportunity to earn a cash bonus!

Referring someone is easy:  click here to learn more and get your referral link. Forward your link to anyone you think would like to be a Solver. When friends or colleagues click on your link and register with InnoCentive, you’ll automatically get credit for referring them. When they solve their first Challenge, you can earn up to $1,500!

Sincerely,

The InnoCentive Team

Hi Everyone–

I mentioned earlier in the summer that we would be asking for your input as we develop our strategic plan for 2011-13. The time has come: We’ve begun the fall strategic planning process at InnoCentive and we need you to weigh in about what is most important to the Solver community as we develop plans, initiatives, and priorities for the coming years of growth and success.

Our goal is to create and foster the most vibrant, engaged Solver community in the world by developing a robust work environment (products, policies, services) Solvers will use continually in the flow of their careers.

We’ve heard from some of you already and we’ve got some ideas about where to focus. Right now, you can help us by telling us what you think by taking a short survey (see below). Once we’ve gathered your input, there will be more opportunities to contribute to this process of developing the future of work for Solvers. Please participate!

Take the survey now by clicking here!

As always, many thanks!

JD

In the effort to build a culture of innovation, it is InnoCentive’s role to provide its Solver community with the opportunities they need to take full advantage of their potential. This means presenting you with as many challenges as we can, even if we don’t have a financial stake in them. That’s why earlier this year we started aggregating external challenges.

When you click on the External Challenges tab you will see a list of the almost one hundred challenges we’ve processed so far. These challenges have been pulled from all over the web, by organizations ranging from Starbucks to NASA, and are updated regularly. If an opportunity presents itself, you can find out about it here.

The types of challenges range from colossal projects like the NASA Centennial Challenges, to student technical paper competitions and awareness projects geared towards children (which are a great way to get kids involved in open innovation!). These challenges welcome participants from almost any background.

Open innovation is about finding creative solutions to problems, and the world is teeming with problems. We’re going to make it as easy as we can to connect you with those problems. Good solutions need to be found for these challenges, and you’re the best community to do it.