1. Thinking Out-of-the-Box

2. Global Virtual Collaboratory
Tapping Brilliant Minds through the Internet
to Solve Complex Scientific Problems
Dr. Peter Van Voris President - Van Voris Consulting LLC
23 October 2007

3. Realization - Dr. Alph Bingham’s Idea
A Formulation Chemist for 30 years at Eli Lilly
Entered a Chemistry Chat-Room in 2000 to explore ways to manufacture a precursor to a new pharmaceutical
Realized the there was incredible
scientific power in the web
Worked with corporate officers to
established a reward to those who
could deliver prototype samples

4. scientists signed up as Solvers
Global Virtual Collaboratory
A 2001 spin-off of Eli Lilly
has over 130,000 prequalified
scientists signed up as Solvers
InnoCentive -- a single purpose web site that helps
many Fortune 500 companies solve complex chemistry, biology, physics and materials sciences problems. 4

5. Open Innovation Platform
Traditional R&D Resources
Federal Laboratories
Inter-Agency Agreements
Universities
Contract labs and Consultants
Global Academia
Researchers in Russia, India, China, etc.
Scientists in other industries
Excess capacity in R&D Labs worldwide
Retirees
VC Start-ups
Non-Traditional R&D Resources
Global access to world class intellectual capacity

6. What is out there on the Web??
Yet2.com - deal broker
Shared-Insight.com - focused on IT sector
TopCoder - focused on writing programming code
Gearson Lehrman Group - custom R&D
Gates Foundation Grand Challenge - focus topic areas
ChemWeb.com - free searchable support for chemists
NineSigmas.com - product development support
Expert Central - thousands of engineers & scientists providing free support to help answer questions of school aged children
Earth Prize- $25M prize for carbon sequestration technology
X-Prize - Focused on developing radical technologic breakthroughs
InnoCentive.com - innovative company designed to reward those who can solve “challenge” problems for customers

7. InnoCentive Business Model
InnoCentive’s
Internet–based
Search Platform
Solvers
130,000
Seeker Companies

8. Finding One Mind to Help
Internal R&D Staff
Army of Solution Providers
The Best Solution is to Award a Cash Prize
You Only Pay if Someone Provides a Solution

9. Who is Involved
Confidential
Confidential
Confidential
Confidential

10. Benefits Flexible R&D Capacity R&D Risk Management Diversity Speed
Dynamic flexibility to meet ebb & flow of demand
More highly skilled resources without fixed cost
R&D Risk Management
Fund solutions not “science projects”
Avoid false negatives
Diversity
Problem solving approaches and scientific disciplines
Access to very specific tools and labs
Speed
Avoid re-inventing the wheel
Marshall more minds

11. Solver Global Demographics
~130,000 Prequalified Scientists

12. Global Scientific Partnerships

13. Science Networks in Russia
Russian Academy of Sciences
Altay State University
Blagoveshchensk State University
Buryat State University
Chelyabinsk State University
Irkutsk State University
Ivanovo State Chemistry University
Kazan State University
Kemerovo State University
Krasnoyarsk State University
Kurgan State University
Mordov State University
Moscow State University
Nijny Novgorod University
Novosibirsk State University
Omsk State University
Rostov State University
Russian University of Chemistry and Technology
Saint-Petersburg State University
Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology
Samara State University
Saratov State University
Tambov State University
Tumen State University
Tver State Technical University
Tver State University
Yaroslavl State University

14. Science Networks in India
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (India)
National Chemistry Labs of India
Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers
Panjab University In Chandigarh
Sponsored the 91st Indian Science Congress
held at Panjab University in Chandigarh
Sponsored the sixth Chemical Research
Society meetings and the India National
Symposium at Kanpur
Formed and Advisory Board comprising
India’s most well-respected scientist and
Researchers to enhance global R&D in India

15. Science Networks in China
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NFSC)
Beijing Normal University
Fudan University
Huazhong Normal University
Lanzhou University
Northwest University
Peking University
Sichuan University
Sun Yat-Sen University
Xiamen University
Zhejiang University

16. >40 Scientific Disciplines Chemistry Disciplines

17. >40 Scientific Disciplines Biology Disciplines

18. Challenge Types Reduction-to-Practice Challenge Theoretical Challenge
“Global Think Tank”
No lab work required
Deliverables: theoretical proposal
Cannot validate the solution prior to acceptance
Reduction-to-Practice Challenge
An “Extended Lab”
Requires lab work
Deliverables: validated solution (research data and/or sample)
Can validate the solution prior to acceptance
Award level: $15-$50K Award level: $40-$1M

19. Developing a Challenge
Abstract - one or two sentence description
Project or Workroom
Detailed Description of the Challenge - full page or more
Detailed Project Solution Criteria - very important
Any Prior Art and/or attempts that were not fruitful to pursue
Known literature and or patents in this area
Formats or graphic requirements or plots of information required
Lab work that must be submitted to validate approach if
a “reduction to practice”
Expectations of ownership of IP and freedom to operate

20. Private Project or Workroom
Allows the solver to upload proposed solutions for evaluations
Allows the solver to ask questions of seeker
Links to other relevant information on the site or other sites
Allows the solver to review the terms of their agreement with InnoCentive

21. Writing Challenges for Success
Probability of Success
Higher
Discrete scientific problems
Search for novel ideas
Extension of your lab capacity
Lower
Long-standing industrial
problems
“Programmatic” challenges
Drastically under-priced challenges or those with insufficient deadlines

22. Average Solution Rate is ~37%
Solution Rate Varies Among Different Seeker Clients
Average
solution rate
~37%

23. Results to Date Over 500 challenges posted
>130,000 solvers (>175 countries)
>185 awards to date (many under review/pending)
Over $3,100,000 paid to Solvers
Global source of solutions:
Argentina - Italy - Singapore
Canada - Japan - Spain
China - Kazakhstan - Sweden
Denmark - N.Ireland - Switzerland
Egypt - Philippines - Thailand
Germany - Poland - UK
India - Romania - USA
Israel - Russia

24. Sample Web Site Page

25. A Snapshot - InnoCentive Website

26. Answers to Four Typical Questions
Award amount is a Paid-up License in exchange for the Technology
Meets the fundamental requirements of Inventors being paid for inventions
Outsourcing Science to overseas Scientists
All Seekers have internalized the solution into products or to further development of an instrument in house
Federal employees signing up to as solvers
This could happen; however, InnoCentive does “Due Diligence” to verify employment status at the time of the award & who would give up their pension for $25K
Seeker Steals Solvers Ideas
InnoCentive employs scientists to assist with the development of Challenges and they also prescreen proposals when they are submitted to the Seeker.
InnoCentive Business Model protects the interest and equities of both Seekers and Solvers

27. Example - Pharmaceutical Intermediate
4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)butyric acid - an early-stage intermediate
The current starting material, 4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)butyric acid, is available but moderately expensive ($300/kg).
4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)butyric acid a viable starting material if an economically competitive route could be developed.

28. BUTANOIC ACID
INNOCENTIVE R4-(4-HYDROXYPHENYL) BUTANOIC ACID   POSTED: June 26, 2001 DEADLINE: Nov 30, 2001 AWARD: $25,0000 USD
Challenge Abstract
An efficient synthetic strategy for the following butanoic acid derivative is required. This molecule has been previously reported in the chemical literature but the existing known synthetic route may be lengthy, expensive and/or low yielding. Devise and execute the "best synthetic pathway". H O

29. Butanoic Acid Challenge
AWARDED!
INNOCENTIVE R4-(4-HYDROXYPHENYL) BUTANOIC ACID   POSTED: June 26, 2001 DEADLINE: Nov 30, 2001 AWARD: $25,0000 USD
Solution Criteria:
2 steps or fewer
>80% overall yield
>95% purity
2.0 g white to off-white solid H O

30. Challenge Dynamics
221 Solvers expressed interest in solving the problem and created project rooms
10 Solvers (representing 7 countries) submitted chemicals for analysis
Average time to solve the problem was 45 days

31. Successful Solution Received
Solution Meets Challenge Criteria:
2 steps
>80% overall yield
>95% purity
Delivery of 2.0g white to off-white solid
Solver receives $25,000 USD!

32. Benefits The Seeker Scientist did not have
The Seeker paid for success, not efforts or failures
The solution was reached in 1/10 of the time
The solution was reached at a fraction of the cost of internal resources
The Seeker Scientist did not have
to look for someone to solve the problem
– the solution found the Seeker

33. Sample Award
AWARDED! INNOCENTIVE PARACRYSTALLINE ARRAYS POSTED: MAY 07, 2002 DEADLINE: JUL 08, 2002 $50,000
        
Challenge Abstract:
Provide a research proposal that outlines a novel research plan to define the pathogenesis and toxicologic significance of paracrystalline arrays in mitochondria in the absence of other ultrastructural alterations.
Winning Solver– a protein crystallographer from Russia

34. Benefits A new screening program resulted in a “puzzling” toxicology:
Toxicology experts from 6 different firms cannot make sense of it
“Outside” toxicology experts (consultants) cannot solve
Decided to post on InnoCentive
A protein crystallographer solves it:
No background in toxicology – PhD in crystallography
Understood the problem based on crystallography principles
Solved on the basis of crystallography knowledge – not toxicology

35. Sample Award 130 Project rooms
AWARDED! InnoCentive UV Resistance of Coating Containing Metal Ions Posted: August 25, 2005  Deadline: October 30, 2005
Challenge Abstract
The Seeker is seeking additives to improve UV resistance of coating containing metal ions.
Result
130 Project rooms
17 Submissions
2 Awards

36. Sample Awards
AWARDED! InnoCentive Full-Length cDNA Isolation Posted: October 15, 2003   Deadline: November 15, 2003
Challenge Abstract
A method to isolate a full-length cDNA based on the 3' EST sequence is needed.
Result:
547 Project rooms
6 Submissions
1 Awards

37. Sample Award 128 Project rooms
InnoCentive Stable Solid Peroxide(s) to Withstand Extreme Conditions Posted: September 11, Deadline: November 26, 2006 $25,000 Award
• Challenge Abstract
Identification of stable solid peroxide(s) that can withstand temperature extremes during long term storage is required.
Result
128 Project rooms
7 Submissions
1 Award
44 year old US polymer chemist from Texas
with 20 years experience with PVA encapsulation
methods, designed a dry storage “Alka-Seltzer”
like product that the corporate scientists had
never thought about or had proposed to them.

38. Sample Award
Narrow Bandwidth Optical Spectral Filter - $35,000 Posted: February 23, 2007 Deadline: June 9, 2007
• Challenge Abstract - Identified a narrow bandwidth optical spectral filter with high in bandwidth UV transmission & high out-of-band rejection ratio within the Solar Blinds Spot
Result Project Rooms
Solver - Retired VP of R&D PerkinElmer --
Ph.D. Atomic/Optical Physicist from
University of Wisconsin who now
lives in Norwalk Connecticut
Retired after 30+ years in
Instrument development for
PerkinElmer and has 30 US patents.
What next? This person is now a consultant
to the company who issued the challenge.

39. “DNA Extraction” 216 Project rooms
InnoCentive $25,000 Solvent Free Nucleic Acid Extraction Posted: March 14, 2007 Deadline: May 31, 2007
• Challenge Abstract
A novel method of extraction and
concentration of nucleic acids is
needed.
Result
216 Project rooms
7 proposed solution
No award

40. “RT Oxidation Catalyst”
InnoCentive $25,000 RT Oxidation Catalyst Posted: March 22, Deadline: June 22, 2007
• Challenge Abstract
Identify a catalyst or catalyst
system that will oxidize pesticidial
organic compounds at room temp.
Result
120 Project rooms
9 Proposed Solution
No Award

41. peter.vanvoris@att.net 202-550-8500
What does it Cost??
Intellectual Gold Mine
Costs:
Annual Membership fee: $100,000
Posting fees: $3,500 per Challenge
Award amount + 20% to InnoCentive
$25,000 award will cost $30,000
Validate or Invalidate concept in your own Laboratories

42. How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
Help is on its Way!!!
Wikinomics
How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything