What is InnoCentive?

Founded in 2001, InnoCentive connects companies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations with a global network of the world's brightest minds on the world's first Open Innovation Marketplace™.

These creative thinkers -- engineers, scientists, inventors, and business people with expertise in life sciences, engineering, chemistry, math, computer science, and entrepreneurship -- join the InnoCentive Solver™ community to solve some of the world's toughest challenges.

Seeker™ organizations post their challenges on the InnoCentive web site, and offer registered Solvers significant financial awards for the best solutions. Seeker™ and Solver™ identities are kept completely confidential and secure, and InnoCentive manages the entire IP process.

What is a Solver?

As a Solver, you can apply your expertise, stretch your intellectual and creative boundaries, and win cash prizes from $5000 to $1,000,000 for solving problems in a variety of domains. The problems you solve make a real impact on the world. You have the freedom to choose what you want to work on, when you want to work, and how much commitment you want to make.

View open Challenges in:

- Business and Entrepreneurship




- Chemistry




- Engineering and Design




- Life Sciences




- Math and Computer Science




- Physical Sciences

If you love a challenge, think out of the box, and want to earn significant rewards for what you do well, join now and get started right away.

Sample challenges

	Fast Combustible Material Deadline : 14th August, 2008 Prize : $40,000 Seeking an ideal combination of rapidly igniting, clean-smoldering solid fuel for an innovative application.
	Skin perfume by oral ingestion Deadline : 3rd September, 2008 Prize : $20,000 Compounds able to generate agreeable skin odors after oral ingestion are desired
	Miniature Capsules from Plant Based Materials Deadline: SEP 06, 2008 Prize : $50,000 A method to make miniature capsules using plant based materials is desired.
	Novel Photo-catalytic, Transparent Coatings on Flat Glass Deadline: OCT 01, 2008 Prize : $60,000 A novel transparent coating is needed that can be applied to flat glass. The coating should have photo-catalytic properties such that organic material on the coating should decompose in the presence of light.
	Characterizing Shampoo Foaming in Hair Process Deadline: OCT 02, 2008 Prize : $30,000 The accurate measurement of shampoo lather bubble size distribution between/amongst hair fibers is desired.
	Disintegrating Film Deadline: OCT 16, 2008 Prize : $30,000 A clear film is needed that dissolves or breaks apart when in contact with hot water or hot alkaline solution.
	Chewable Disintegrating Food Product Deadline: OCT 18, 2008 Prize : $100,000 Design a long chewing product that does not require disposal. The product can dissolve in the mouth or break-up and be swallowable with no negative health impact on the body.
	ALS Biomarker Deadline : 6th November, 2008 Prize : $ 1,000,000 A biomarker for measuring disease progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease/ Motorneuron Disease) is needed