NineSigma Signs Supplier Sourcing Agreement with BNC Resources in China

CLEVELAND, OH - October 21, 2003 - NineSigma, Inc., a Cleveland, Ohio-based innovation sourcing firm, announced today that it signed an agreement with BNC Resources Co., Ltd. to identify potential science and technology providers in China. BNC Resources (BNCR), a consulting and outsourcing company, is a joint venture between Cleveland-based SupplierInsight, Inc. and Beijing New Century Certification Co., Ltd.

Under the agreement, NineSigma and BNCR will collaborate to develop new business by aligning their complementary business networks. Through NineSigma's Request for Proposal process, BNCR will help identify qualified candidates in China to respond to the technology needs of NineSigma's corporate clients. Known for its ability to cross industries, technologies and disciplines to find unobvious solutions for its clients, NineSigma taps into key research and development communities around the globe to find viable proposals to bring its clients. NineSigma is currently pursuing similar supplier sourcing agreements in Korea, India, and Russia.

"Our clients bring us their most challenging business needs that can range from high performance wireless components to research on improving human hair growth. We have developed a scalable solution to help our clients drive business growth through innovation and are continuously seeking to extend our network of solution providers globally," said NineSigma's Vice President of Business Development, Paul Stupay. "A strategic partnership with BNCR will better enable us to reach qualified solution providers in China."

NineSigma's clients are Fortune 500 companies spanning a variety of industries including automotive, biomedical, chemical, consumer products, electronics, optics, pharmaceutical, and telecommunications among others. Clients engage NineSigma on projects across the innovation value chain including upstream research, design and development, process improvements, finished products, and new applications and markets for existing technologies.

"BNC Resources has one of the largest databases of qualified Chinese suppliers in the world. We have highly experienced auditors that assess supplier capabilities in many of NineSigma's areas of focus including manufacturing, chemicals, metal parts and fabrication, food processing, and retailing," said BNCR's General Manager, Zhao Yan. "We believe that Chinese companies will be an important part of NineSigma's solution provider community, offering high-quality technology proposals and opportunities for many successful partnerships."

BNC Resources is a Beijing-based consulting and outsourcing company with sourcing professionals experienced in finding, qualifying and managing suppliers in China, and throughout Asia. BNCR launched as a result of a joint venture agreement between Beijing New Century Certification Co., Ltd. and Cleveland, Ohio-based SupplierInsight, Inc. SupplierInsight is a leader in helping corporations build world-class, global supplier networks. For more information on BNCR, visit www.bncresources.com.

About NineSigma

NineSigma serves the global research and development industry by facilitating "Open Innovation" strategies for clients seeking to acquire technical innovations developed outside their organization. NineSigma's clients are Fortune 500 companies spanning a variety of industries including automotive, biomedical, chemical, consumer products, defense, electronics, optics, pharmaceutical, and telecommunications among others. Through its proprietary Managed Exchange (M:X™) process that utilizes Ph.D.-level program managers, web-based tools, and a database of global solution providers, NineSigma matches technology seekers with unobvious or disruptive innovations faster, more effectively, and at a lower cost than conventional means.

NineSigma Contact:

  Bronwyn Monroe
  (216) 295-4822
  Marketing Manager