This document provides an overview of NineSigma and their prize-based competition model for driving innovation. It discusses NineSigma's global network of over 2 million solution providers, their cross-functional team approach, and how they use alternative prize strategies to incentivize a diverse portfolio of winners. The document also outlines NineSigma's competition methodology, from program design through submission, evaluation, and award stages. Sample case studies and client examples are provided to illustrate NineSigma's approach.

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Rick Wielens
INNOVATION IMPACT
PRIZE-BASED COMPETITIONS

2. Copyright 2015, NineSigma 2
Moving your innovation program forward
Innovation Impact: Prize-Based Competitions
Sample Competitions
NineSigma Overview
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AGENDA

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NINESIGMA OVERVIEW
2+ MILLION
SOLUTION
PROVIDERS HEADQUARTERS & PARTNER OFFICES
U.S.
Belgium
Japan
Korea
Australia
South Africa
Brazil
Canada
OUR EXPERIENCE
3,500+
DIVERSE CLIENTS
Multinationals
Middle Market
Non-Profit
Government
OVER 700 CLIENTS
52% Business 34% Universities 14%
Government
Inventors
Consultants
Non-profit
Netherlands
NINESIGMA NETWORK
FROM 32
Innovation
Challenges
Industries

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WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO DO?
An overview of NineSigma’s services

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WHAT DIFFERENTIATES OUR MODEL?
Proactive technical
engagement of A GLOBAL
NETWORK of more than
2M Solution Holders
A CROSS-FUNCTIONAL
TEAM of business leaders,
innovation consultants
& PhD-level scientists
ALTERNATIVE PRIZE
STRATEGY approaches to
incentivize a diverse
winner portfolio

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ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS
WITH A NINESIGMA COMPETITION MODEL
Clearly Defined
Technology
Objective
TOPIC CRITERIA TIMELINE JUDGING AWARDS
Evaluation
Criteria
Design, Launch
and Award
Timeline
Evaluation
Protocol
Prize
Strategy

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NINESIGMA COMPETITION MODEL
PROGRAM METHODOLOGY
PROGRAM
DESIGN
SUBMISISON
PERIOD
CLOSE AND
ASSESS
AWARD
WINNERS
DEVELOP
ENGAGE
EVALUATE
SELECT

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NINESIGMA COMPETITION MODEL
PROGRAM METHODOLOGY
PROGRAM
DESIGN
SUBMISISON
PERIOD
CLOSE AND
ASSESS
AWARD
WINNERS
NineSigma works with Clients to refine the competition
strategy and goals.
DELIVERABLES:
• Align goals
• Articulate aspirational Need Statement
• Refine Need Statement
• Develop outreach and communications strategy
• Develop prize strategy
• Define criteria and judging protocol
• Develop rules, terms and conditions
• Develop competition website

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NINESIGMA COMPETITION MODEL
PROGRAM METHODOLOGY
NineSigma executes dual outreach strategy to amplify
the competition and identify unique technical
capabilities.
DELIVERABLES:
• Launch the competition
• Open submission period
• Execute outreach
• Manage submissions via competition website
• Execute amplification plan
• Manage Solution Provider support and communications
• Program Management – reporting and metrics
PROGRAM
DESIGN
SUBMISISON
PERIOD
CLOSE AND
ASSESS
AWARD
WINNERS

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NineSigma’s proprietary “dual call to action” outreach combines integrated
technical outreach with traditional PR/Marketing.
NINESIGMA'S DUAL OUTREACH PROCESS
IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS
(Technical Outreach)
PR OUTREACH
(Catalyst to Stakeholders)
Research Centers
Corporations
Universities
Suppliers
Start-ups | Entrepreneurs
NGOs
Industry
Local Stakeholders
Governments
Public

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GLOBAL OUTREACH TO TARGETED
CROSS-DISCIPLINE NETWORKS
PROJECT IS LAUNCHED VIRAL NETWORKING RESPONSES RECEIVED

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NINESIGMA COMPETITION MODEL
PROGRAM METHODOLOGY
NineSigma closes submissions and manages the
Judging Panel’s review based on the developed
evaluation protocol.
DELIVERABLES:
• Manage assessment and review process
• Manage judging participation
• Implement prize strategy
• Program Management – reporting and metrics
PROGRAM
DESIGN
SUBMISISON
PERIOD
CLOSE AND
ASSESS
AWARD
WINNERS

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NineSigma recommends a three-tier evaluation process.
THREE-TIER EVALUATION PROCESS
TIER 1: INITIAL REVIEW
TIER 2: REVIEW REMAINING PROPOSALS
TIER 3: IDENTIFY AND RECOMMEND WINNERS
Leverages the manpower of internal Client team to
filter out submissions that do not meet technical
criteria.
Proposals are categorized for merit using the
evaluation rubric.
Three-tier process ensures a portfolio of solutions
that align with Client goals by Tier 3.
DOES NOT MEET CRITERIA
REQUIRES ADDITIONAL INQUIRY
ALIGNS WITH GOALS
30%
35%
35%

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NINESIGMA COMPETITION MODEL
PROGRAM METHODOLOGY
NineSigma provides guidance for next steps based on
competition findings and assists with the facilitation of
the awards event.
DELIVERABLES:
• Communicate Winner selection
• Manage award event design
• Amplify award impact in communication channels
• Program Management – reporting and metrics
PROGRAM
DESIGN
SUBMISISON
PERIOD
CLOSE AND
ASSESS
AWARD
WINNERS

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NINESIGMA'S DEDICATED TEAM
Strategic
Programs
Team &
Program Mgr.
Technical
Lead &
TASK Team
Marketing
Team
NineSights
Community
Manager
NineSigma
Help Desk
Client
Champions
Client
Competition
Lead
Legal, Web
and
Marketing/PR
Support
-­‐ R&D
-­‐ Marketing
-­‐ Business Dev.
-­‐ R&D
-­‐ Legal
NINESIGMA
TEAM
CLIENT
TEAM
JOINT
TEAM

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VALUE ADD
SERVICES
Learn more at NineSights.com/GC
A SAMPLING OF OUR COMPETITION CLIENTS ON NINESIGHTS:
GRAND CHALLENGE WEBSITE IS HOSTED ON NINESIGHTS
NINESIGMA’S SECURE ONLINE PLATFORM
ENGAGE TECHNICAL EXPERTS
bringing diverse perspective from industry, academia
and institutions
ENABLE SUBMISSIONS
of dozens or hundreds of proposals globally
PROVIDES MODERATED FORUM
for communication between participants and Sponsor
ACTS AS THE ENTRY-GATE
for secure, non-confidential submission of proposals
SUPPORTS ENTIRE COMPETITION
by presenting all technical information, legal terms and
conditions, and timelines

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SAMPLE PROGRAM DELIVERABLES
Solution Provider Outreach
• Select Challenge topic
• Articulate Need
• Create Search
Strategy
• Develop Prize
Strategy
• Define Judging
Process
• Develop
Communications Plan
• Develop Challenge
site
• Launch Innovation
Contest
• Execute Campaigns
• Manage Submissions
• Implement
Communications Plan
• Manage SP Support
and Communications
• Reporting and metrics
• Implement Review
Process
• Manage Judges
• Manage Winner
Selection
• Communicate Winner
selection
• Plan Award
Announcement
• Reporting and metrics
• Implement Prize
Strategy
¶ Awards
¶ Announcement
• Amplify Award impact
in Communication
Channels
• Manage Award
Process
• Reporting and metrics
PR and Advertising
AWARD STAGECLOSE and ASSESSSUBMISSION PERIODPROGRAM DESIGN
Identify Targets
Note: Actual timelines depend on program scope and Sponsor goals

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COMPETITION TIMELINE: SINGLE PHASE EXAMPLE
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12
COMPETITION DESIGN
COMPETITION
AMPLIFICATION PLANNING
NEEDS
ARTICULATION
REVIEW AND
ASSESSMENT
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
OUTREACH
STRATEGY
EVALUATION PANEL
SOLUTION PROVIDER RELATIONS
OPEN SUBMISSION PERIOD - PHASE 1
(IDEATION ROUND)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT

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• The 3D Printing Production Quest was a public Innovation Contest hosted
on NineSights to identify cutting edge technology that can produce
complex parts with high precision by additive manufacturing processes,
using high density, refractory metals.
• Phase 1: Mapping the Ecosystem: 22 proposals were received. The top 10
respondents each received a $5K cash prize and advanced to participate
in Phase 2 of the Quest.
• Phase 2: Producing Test Coupons: Groups had 90 days to manufacture
test coupons from GE supplied materials that were then evaluated for
geometric precision, overall mass, and overall volume.
• GE selected three fabricators with capabilities to produce complex medical
imaging device parts with high precisions based on statistical analysis as
well as several qualitative aspects.
PHASES
OVERVIEW
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• The Quest pushed the limits of additive technologies, and
identify production leaders that are operating at the forefront of
3D printing.
• Identified technologies will drive greater product performance,
quality and cost savings for healthcare customers.
GE 3D PRINTING PRODUCTION QUEST
CASE STUDY: INNOVATION CONTEST

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• The GE NFL Head Health Grand Challenge is a $60 million program that
includes research and challenges to develop new solutions to help
advance understanding of mild traumatic brain injury.
• The first $10 million Challenge invites proposals for scanning
technologies and biomarkers.
• A second $10 million Challenge with Under Armour launched Fall 2013 to
find, fund, and develop new solutions to diagnose and protect against
traumatic brain injury.
• Because GE and the NFL bring distinct resources to their partnership,
NineSigma worked closely with GE and the NFL to align their goals and
design a challenge program that would achieve each of their objectives.
• With two challenge topics, and a diverse judging panel, the prize
strategy was a critical component that had to be defined and clearly
communicated to a broad technical and consumer audience.
APPROACH
OVERVIEW & CHALLENGES
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Translating each Sponsor’s objective into an integrated topic
and prize strategy is a critical first step which determines the
success of the program.
• Even a large scale, multi-year Challenge such as this can be
defined, scoped and launched in a short period of time when
there is executive buy-in and support .
HEAD HEALTH CHALLENGE
CASE STUDY: GRAND CHALLENGE

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Confirm alignment with NineSigma capabilities.
Collaborate to outline program scope, timing and investment.
Schedule a working session to identify your innovation needs.
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Rick Wielens
Wielens AT NineSigma.com