NineSigma's innovation ecosystems provide innovation seekers with the solutions
they need to meet business critical objectives. From new product development to
sustainability programs, our solution providers can help you meet business critical
objectives. The feedback from our solution providers speaks for itself.
View our Case Studies
or our Solution Provider
Insights to learn more about the NineSigma process.
Sumitra Rajagopalan
Co-Founder and Chief Scientist,
Bioastra Technologies Ltd. Montreal, Canada.
I learned of NineSigma through a direct solicitation from one of the NineSigma program
managers. We were a research group in Montreal specializing in smart materials for
medical applications - with an initial focus on wearable medical devices and textiles.
At the time, we were looking to go beyond academic R&D and set up a spin-off
within the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Business Incubator in 2007.
The opportunities presented through NineSigma allowed us to explore applications
of our core materials in fields as diverse as food packaging, consumer health products
and oil extraction. Thanks to NineSigma, we discovered spin-off applications that
we had never imagined.
The big advantage of NineSigma is an efficient streamlined application process -
well-written RFPs and a dedicated program manager agent for each proposal to answer
queries. The response likewise is a short 2-pager and to the point unlike academic
grant applications. NineSigma allows small outfits like us the opportunity to work
with Fortune 500 companies which would not be possible otherwise.
I am currently working on my second NineSigma contract with a large European company
and the experience so far has been very rewarding.
Advice to others:
Be short and to the point in your responses. Do away with long paragraphs with literature
review and the like. Use graphs and diagrams as much as possible. Do not divulge
any proprietary information but explain the underlying science of your solution
as much as possible. Do not hesitate to ask additional questions and clarifications
for each RFP from the NineSigma program manager. Be realistic about what you can
deliver. For example, if you are an R&D organization, let it be known that you
do not have any manufacturing capabilities. Clearly state the quantities you can
deliver.
Negotiate IP issues and royalties clearly beforehand.
Keep in mind that most NineSigma clients - even the big ones - see Open Innovation
as a cost-cutting measure. Keep the rates reasonably low and instead, look at these
contracts as an opportunity to build credentials in a particular sector through
alliances with the best in the field.
Kevin Weir
President and Executive Director
ISiB GmbH
International Solutions in Business
Center for Innovation and Strategic Development
I am a huge proponent and supporter of the Open Innovation model and have practiced
"outside –in" collaborative product and technology developments around the world
for the last 20 years. Whilst researching innovation best practices, I came across
a link for NineSigma (as a trained Six Sigma Blackbelt, the name intrigued me!).
The site quickly led me to a Pandora’s Box of problems and ideas that stimulated
my curiosity and problem-solving nature. I could immediately see opportunities to
improve adhesives, alter surfaces of plastics, develop new insulation products and
even offer solutions for smokeless fuels! I had no time to register my solutions
immediately and took them home to fill them in peace (whilst drinking a glass of
claret).
The value of the NineSigma approach is that it benefits my clients and company.
I have new reasons to discuss ideas and techniques with my established network of
scientists, business friends, cooperative partners and with companies I would like
to build a closer relationship with. I have learned much from this process, and
by trying to solve a NineSigma problem, we often develop an existing system to do
even more, adding value to the process.
To keep in touch with OI, I signed up as a member of the NineSigma Provider Network
and I receive both the weekly NineSigma Innovation Newsletter and individual RFPs
that match background and skills.
There are a number of Open Innovation companies. But what stands out with NineSigma
is the people. In my experience, NineSigma staff members are leaders, in terms of
their proactiveness. I have a direct relationship with Dr. Jozef Cenens in Europe.
He went the extra mile to profile my expertise and match it with the right problems.
I regularly receive targeted requests from him, sent right to my e-mail – so I don't
have to always go in to search the NineSigma website (I try to take at least a day
per month but I don’t always get the time!)
From perhaps 8 proposals sent into NineSigma, I have been in the final 3 twice,
and have been accepted as a technology provider once. We are currently working in
partnership with NineSigma and the client to design an innovative solution for the
building industry. To succeed in this, ISiB had to quickly build a consortium, including
a Fortune 100 company, to fund the development, further benefiting my company! I
have signed a development agreement and will financially benefit from the development
and launch of the technology. The technology can be applied to more industries,
so the financial benefits may multiply many times.
For me, working with NineSigma is an integral part of our business model. The issues
I encounter with implementing the model are based on a lack of trust and the mechanism
of value sharing between the 2 parties, particularly if there are significant differences
in the size, background and culture of the cooperating parties. NineSigma helps
resolve these issues and certainly, they have been with me every step of the way,
supporting me as and when required.
I would encourage those who have not tried OI to get in touch with NineSigma so
that we can come together to solve more industry problems!