The World's Brightest Minds Converge On NineSights, to Drive Business Value and Global Transformation

CLEVELAND, April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Global innovation firm NineSigma today announced increased usage of NineSights.com as the online innovation community where solution seekers and providers are connecting to accelerate new product development, improve competitiveness, help change the world, and drive new growth.

NineSights presents a diversity of innovation opportunities for corporations and nonprofit organizations to highlight their needs, conduct expert searches and technology searches, and manage innovation contests and Grand Challenges.

For example, Mattel, Pfizer, Mondelēz International, Under Armour, GE, Samsung Display, Johnson Controls, Haier, Kraft, Agrokor, Sappi, ICL, Tata Steel, and Ohio Third Frontier have Innovation Galleries on the platform. These enable them to drive awareness of their commitment to innovation, post technology needs and Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and collaborate with a new network of technical experts, in one place.

The Galleries are generating hundreds of new and valuable introductions for solution seekers. Michael Thomas, Manager of Technology Scouting for Johnson Controls Automotive Seating said, "Publishing technology interest areas on our NineSights Gallery has helped Johnson Controls connect with numerous new potential partners, and ultimately resulted in kicking off multiple projects." Through the Gallery model, the companies can scale their innovation efforts by posting multiple needs and working collaboratively with NineSigma to establish an approach, monitor activity, and facilitate connections. NineSigma applies their best practices in cultivating solution provider response which continually drives new innovators to the site. "NineSigma's active outreach to their global solution provider community has been a key factor in our success with the Johnson Controls Gallery. When NineSigma alerted the right people to our needs, we received a number of new submissions," added Thomas.  

Several organizations currently manage Grand Challenges on NineSights, as well, and these programs account for nearly one-third of all activity on the platform. Through Grand Challenges, organizations reach out for solutions to large-scale problems of global impact - from head health to climate change. Grand Challenges currently running on NineSights include Cisco Security's initiative to secure the Internet of Things; and the Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation's initiative to reduce greenhouse gases.

For solution providers, Grand Challenges and Innovation Galleries have doubled the opportunities they can now find on NineSights, which launched in June 2012. Inventors, research labs, startups and enterprises like GE are all finding potential "homes" for their inventions, technologies, or products, along with new funding and partnership opportunities. Currently, there is more than $55 million in award funding available to these innovators.

"A significant piece of our company's growth has come from NineSigma projects," said Sumitra Rajagopalan, Founder and CEO of Montreal-based Bioastra Technologies, which provides a range of technology solutions based on smart temperature-, pH- and electro-responsive polymers. This private firm has formed partnerships with NineSigma clients in food/beverage, oil and gas, packaging, consumer products, medical devices and several other sectors.

"NineSigma launched NineSights as a secure online destination for solution seekers and providers of all sizes to interact and identify new business opportunities. As the pressure to accelerate innovation continues, NineSights enables real-time connections between talented innovators across industries and technical disciplines which can ultimately lead to fruitful, long-term innovation partnerships," said Andy Zynga, CEO of NineSigma.

Innovators: join NineSights today to post needs, respond to real opportunities and more! Registration is free and takes just a minute at www.NineSights.com. 

About NineSigma

NineSigma helps organizations in the public, private and nonprofit sectors find new solutions, knowledge and partners to accelerate the innovation cycle. The leader in creating 'unexpected connections' across industries and technical disciplines, NineSigma has produced billions of dollars in value for its clients. The company also helps for-profit and nonprofit organizations address problems of a global magnitude through Grand Challenges. NineSigma's online community, NineSights®, connects innovators of all sizes with the resources and relationships needed to drive growth. Learn more at www.ninesigma.com or www.ninesights.com.

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

SOURCE NineSigma