Expect the Unexpected from Leading Global Innovators at NineSigma Leadership Summit, Sharing Winning Strategies to Advance Innovation

CLEVELAND, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NineSigma, Inc., the leading innovation partner to organizations worldwide, will hold its Innovation Leadership Summit, May 14-16, 2014 at the Global Center for Health Innovation, in Cleveland Ohio.

This is the premier industry event for leading innovators and organizations committed to breakthrough achievements through open innovation. Participants will learn how world-changing innovation is often catalyzed through unobvious connections, across disciplines and even across industries.

NineSigma clients, thought leaders and invited guests in sectors including manufacturing, oil and gas, medical and consumer products will share how they've been successful using Open Innovation (OI) strategies to accelerate the innovation process and increase efficiency. Key themes that will be explored in round-table discussions, case studies and distinctive interactive activities include:

• Creating a Sustainable Innovation Portfolio
• Creative & Advanced Manufacturing
• Becoming a Partner of Choice
• The Innovation Team of the Future
• Innovation Grand Challenges
• Big Data

Leaders in competitive global markets don't always follow the pack. They know how to innovate fearlessly – and with an OI strategy in place they confidently go where others haven't. This is how they're staying ahead of the game. An intimate conference setting will enable innovation leaders to build a community of practice, share approaches, and develop new collaborative models together while focusing on actionable strategies that can be applied within their own business. NineSigma CEO, Andy Zynga said, "With each event we try to push the envelope by uncovering new thinking on using open innovation to grow and expand competitive advantage. In this challenging global environment, maximizing value from open innovation is vital."

"This event is a must-attend for innovation leaders in every industry. It provides a great environment for attendees to share experiences, and opportunities to establish foundations for future innovation and collaboration. Each time, I come away with fresh perspectives, valuable insights and actionable information that helps my organization stay on top of our game," said Fred Boekhorst, Senior Vice President Philips Research, Program Manager Lifestyle, Philips.

"My first NineSigma Leadership Summit in 2012 was a highlight of my year and well worth the trip from Sydney, Australia. Not only were we able to meet with the organization that assisted us significantly in identifying new food processing technologies, we were able to do real networking. It was great to do this across industries rather than just in our industry. We have so much to learn from parallel industry partners. Since this Summit we have met with several of the new contacts we made there to discuss mutually beneficial business. In fact, one contact led us to a significant open innovation solution that will probably revolutionize our products over the coming decade," said John Menzies, SDI Research & Development Manager - Open Innovation, Sanitarium.

At the 2014 Summit attendees will hear from innovation leaders with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Harper Reed, CTO for Obama for America, will give a closing Keynote address. John Nottingham, President of Nottingham Spirk, the conference's platinum sponsor, will give a presentation on creative manufacturing together with Dr. Robert Godfroid from PepsiCo. Dr. Scott Bruder, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer, Stryker Corporation will share a presentation on creating a sustainable innovation portfolio in the evolving medical device sector. Three leaders from the largest oil and gas companies will share insights and new approaches to using open innovation in that sector. Jodi Berg, CEO of Cleveland-based Vitamix, will address her company's explosive growth and the role innovation has played. These are just a few topics that Summit participants will delve into. For more information and to download an agenda, visit www.ninesigma.com/ExpectTheUnexpected.

About NineSigma

NineSigma connects organizations with external innovation resources to accelerate innovation in private, public and social sectors. The company provides open innovation services to organizations worldwide, including Kraft Foods, Philips, Siemens, and Unilever, to solve immediate challenges, integrate new knowledge, fill product pipelines, and stay ahead of the competition. Named to the 2012 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private U.S. companies, NineSigma's proprietary process has produced billions of dollars in value for its clients. NineSigma has the largest open global network of solution providers and an extensive database of existing solutions spanning numerous industries and technical disciplines. NineSigma's online innovation community, NineSights®, is the world's first open innovation social media destination, connecting innovators of all sizes with resources and relationships to drive growth. Learn more at www.ninesigma.com and www.ninesights.com.

Media Contact:
Jackie Lucas, Warner Communications — [email protected], (978) 255-1159

SOURCE NineSigma