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Comprehensive protection for Seekers and Solvers

As part of its mission to transform the scale and productivity of research and development, InnoCentive is dedicated to helping innovators and organizations worldwide to collaborate successfully and securely. The InnoCentive approach to online security and intellectual property rights (IPR) protection has met the stringent requirements of leading companies, not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies around the world. InnoCentive facilitates the entire process of problem formulation, information access, submission and award—incorporating proven IPR safeguards for both Seekers and Solvers.

1. Challenge Formulation: Protecting anonymity and confidentiality

The InnoCentive process begins with the formulation of each InnoCentive Challenge™. Seekers and the InnoCentive Client Services Group collaborate to formulate Challenges that provide appropriate information while preserving Seeker anonymity. Internal Seeker review for legal, scientific, and commercial compliance is followed by a final comprehensive review before the Challenge is posted online.

2. Information Access: Details gated by binding agreements and online security

InnoCentive controls access to valuable information belonging to Seekers and Solvers by using binding agreements and private Project Rooms. While brief Challenge abstracts can be viewed by the global Solver community, only registered InnoCentive Solvers can view Challenge summaries containing more specific, non-confidential information. Solvers must sign a binding confidentiality agreement before accessing the full project details. Private online Project Rooms for each Solver and each Challenge allow individual Solvers and InnoCentive to communicate confidentially and securely.

3. Submission and Award: Facilitated evaluation, verification, and IPR transfer

Solvers submit Challenge solutions directly to InnoCentive via secure Project Rooms only. InnoCentive facilitates an auditable evaluation process, including initial vetting by the InnoCentive Client Services Group, validation by the Seeker organization, and final selection of winning submissions. When appropriate, InnoCentive verifies Solver authority for transferring rights, gathers any necessary employer waivers, and collects hard-copy contract signatures. Upon final award, InnoCentive administers payment. Awardees transfer IPR to Seeker companies, while all other Solvers retain their rights.

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