CLEVELAND, OH and BATTLE CREEK, MI--(Marketwire - May 20, 2008) - In a new white paper titled "Open Innovation and The Value of Non-Confidential Exchange," NineSigma and Kellogg Company discuss how to establish Open Innovation (OI) strategies while preserving the critical intellectual property of all internal and external parties. The paper suggests that by implementing a consistent process of partner evaluation, non-confidential information can be used to identify and qualify new ideas and capabilities from external sources faster and more effectively than ever before.
"Using our proprietary process, which facilitates a structured flow of non-confidential information, NineSigma has helped Kellogg Company establish relationships with global solution providers that have sparked ideas and inspired new solutions to existing challenges," said Paul Stupay, vice president for NineSigma, Inc. "Our process helps to protect the information and manage the risks involved with evaluating external innovations. Effective integration of Open Innovation with an IP Strategy encourages cultural adoption and consistent utilization throughout the enterprise."
Stupay outlined three key messages from the white paper:
1. Sometimes organizations jump too quickly to confidential
discussions. This often prevents developers from other areas in
the company from participating in the discussions and, therefore,
the evaluation of external solution providers.
2. In order to facilitate the consistent use of external solutions
and technology, organizations must establish a corporate OI
infrastructure. This will ensure that the OI process consistently
aligns with corporate strategy, structure and culture.
3. An intermediary, such as NineSigma, can develop a customized
process that aligns with an organization's OI infrastructure to
facilitate non-confidential and anonymous discussions.
"At Kellogg Company, we have developed a culture of product innovation that has helped us become a world leader in the food industry," said Silvia Uribe-Saucedo, Advanced Technology Assessment, Kellogg Company. "During the last several years, with ever-changing business climates and consumer demand, we have enhanced our internal innovation processes by engaging NineSigma to help us reach out to the global community for new technologies and opportunities. As a partner, NineSigma ensures that non-confidential information exchanges with external sources operate smoothly and that Kellogg can complete an effective and efficient review of solution provider capabilities. With the help of an intermediary and a defined process and infrastructure, we are able to recognize the numerous benefits of Open Innovation while reducing risks associated with evaluating external innovators."
To download the complete white paper, visit http://www.eisenmanagementgroup.com/NineSigmaWP/.
About Kellogg Company
With 2007 sales of nearly $12 billion, Kellogg Company (
About NineSigma
NineSigma partners with Global 1000 companies to transform their innovation capabilities by connecting them with the very best innovators from around the world. NineSigma's proprietary process for Open Innovation enables companies to dramatically improve speed to market while lowering product development costs. NineSigma's open network of innovators is the largest of its kind and spans industries, geographies, and technical disciplines. Companies such as Xerox, GlaxoSmithKline, DuPont, Kraft, P&G, and Unilever engage NineSigma to build new innovation capabilities that leverage research and innovation globally to deliver greater value to their customers. NineSigma is a private company with offices in the United States, Belgium, and Japan. For more information visit: www.ninesigma.com.
Contact Information: Media Contact: Dan Dyer 513-478-7818 Kellogg Media Hotline 269-961-3799