Perspectives on Innovation

This week, InnoCentive announced that is has become a General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule contractor. Essentially what this means is that it is now easier for U.S. federal government agencies to engage with InnoCentive to develop and launch Challenges.

As many of our Solvers know, we’ve done some pretty interesting work with the government. In January 2010, NASA’s Johnson Space Center launched an open innovation pavilion on InnoCentive.com. Of NASA’s initial seven Challenges – ranging from protecting astronauts and equipment in space from solar flares to keeping food fresh during long space missions – nearly 3,000 of our Solvers from around the world participated, and more than 350 solutions were proposed. NASA designated full or partial monetary awards for all seven Challenges, and the average time-to-solution for each of the Challenges was only four months.

I always liked this quote from Solver Yury Bodrov, who was rewarded for his submission to NASA’s Improved Food Packaging Challenge: “I was not sure I would be successful, but having NASA scientists evaluate my work was a primary motivation…It is a dream to be recognized by the scientific level of NASA quality.” 

More recently, in March 2011, InnoCentive and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) announced a collaboration to advance innovation in military research. Through this partnership, the AFRL has successfully solved Challenges, including methods for dropping humanitarian aid without injury to people on the ground and stopping a fleeing vehicle without damaging the vehicle or the driver. The AFRL has since launched new Challenges, most recently Fast Rope Glove Device, currently open to the public and seeks innovative ways for military personnel to descend quickly from a helicopter in hostile situations.

Let’s face it: While we consider all of our Challenges to be important, there’s something cool about participating in NASA, AFRL, and other Challenges posted by government agencies. They spark our collective imaginations and enable us to truly reach for the stars. Stay tuned for other agencies to launch new Challenges on InnoCentive.com in the coming months.

Attention non-profit and public sector organizations – a few weeks ago, InnoCentive announced a program just for you.  We’ve had some good response to this program so far, but we think there are more organizations in need that haven’t heard about it yet, and our goal is to help as many people as possible.  So here it is again – please spread the word.

Throughout 2010, InnoCentive will waive its typical fee for posting and managing a single Challenge for selected non-profit and public sector organizations.

Participating organizations have the same access as our corporate Seekers to InnoCentive’s expert services and diverse international network of 200,000+ Solvers – scientists, inventors, engineers, researchers, and innovators from all walks of life – who can help you solve key challenges facing your organization and your community.

Just imagine that.  200,000 people trying to help you figure out how to get fresh water to earthquake survivors.  Or how to build a better mosquito trap for people in malaria zones.  Or even how to get people to recycle more.  You tell us your problem, we’ll see if we can get it solved.  If your organization is selected, we’ll provide the platform, manage the process, and provide advice along the way – free of charge.  The only cost to you is the award you’ll pay the winner.

The Process.

InnoCentive staff will work with you to help you define your Challenge, and collaborate with you on a marketing plan to ensure that your Challenge not only reaches our extensive Solver network, but additional experts in your particular field.  The Challenge will then be posted on the InnoCentive website.  Interested Solvers submit their ideas on line, and our staff manages the process, answering questions and performing initial screening of solutions.  You then select the winner.  Once a Challenge is defined, the process typically takes 2 – 4 months, depending on the complexity of the Challenge.

How are organizations selected to participate?

InnoCentive is looking for a range of diverse organizations in terms of mission, geography, and types of Challenges.  All Challenges must be focused on delivering a benefit for the public good.  InnoCentive reserves the right to determine whether it can accommodate a particular organization’s Challenge and whether the InnoCentive Solver community can make a real difference.  Other than that, the promotion is generally on a first-come basis.

For more information.

For information about the 2010 Challenges for Public Good Promotion, please contact Kathy Plazak (kplazak@innocentive.com).