Community Forum – Open Innovation Partners

Can you recommend an open innovation intermediary?

Does anyone have recommendations for any open innovation partners, scouting firms, or intermediaries who specialize in or have capabilities aimed specifically at finding more fully developed product solutions? We have found that many of the OI intermediaries excel at finding ingredients, components, or technologies in early development, but we are interested in focusing on opportunities farther down the commercial readiness scale – nearing “ready-to-go” full product solutions. We wish to tap more into the small company, product inventor, and entrepreneurial groups, but would like assistance and management of the global scouting and initial vetting process. – R&D Manager, Consumer Products Company

Community Responses

Andy Kintz, Open Technology Innovation Manager, LORD Corporation
Working with large non-profit technology research organizations, like Research Triangle Institute International, may be the type of partner for which you are looking.  These large non profits are expert at advancing technology to a readiness level that is almost production ready and then they must find a commercialization partner. Their non-profit business model does not make it easy for them to take technology all the way to commercialization without a partner. As much of their funding comes from government supported programs, they also seem well connected with SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) companies. 

Spencer Pugh, VP and Manager, Business Development and Open Innovation
Check out Edison Nation and their sister organization Enventys. 

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