2009-11-10 15:26:02 -

CLEVELAND, OH -- (Marketwire) -- 11/10/09 -- NineSigma, the leading provider of open innovation solutions, announced they are partnering with AkzoNobel, a Global 500 leader in the coatings and specialty chemicals industry, to design and deliver a company-wide networked innovation program to help drive strategic innovation across all of its 18 business units.



"Innovation is the lifeblood of our company," says Graeme Armstrong, Corporate Director of Research, Development and Innovation at AkzoNobel.
"If we don't innovate, we won't grow, or even survive, in today's fast moving world and highly competitive business environment."



NineSigma has helped hundreds of companies find new innovative solutions to support their strategic product development goals. In addition to finding solutions for its clients, NineSigma also helps leading companies to develop their own open innovation processes, which enable them to react more quickly to a rapidly changing competitive landscape.



"We have chosen to partner with NineSigma to establish our Networked Innovation Program because they have an impressive track record of making open innovation work for companies like ours," adds Armstrong.



NineSigma will work together with AkzoNobel to develop and deliver an open innovation program that engages the entire organization to collectively turn creative ideas into profitable business by leveraging internal and external knowledge sources. Such a program requires the right combination of process and organizational development, followed by a robust training and roll-out initiative. This training will prepare AkzoNobel personnel to launch their own global knowledge searches using NineSigma's patented search methodology and broad-reaching global innovation network. The process and tools will enable them to locate potential new innovations inside of AkzoNobel as well as within an existing network of suppliers, universities and partners.



"We are delighted to work with such a highly innovative company like AkzoNobel," says Matthew Heim, President of NineSigma. "What we are doing at AkzoNobel is essentially embedding a microcosm of NineSigma's core capability as a foundational element within their organization."



About NineSigma


NineSigma helps Global 1000 companies Engage with the global innovation community and Enable their organizations to more effectively adopt external knowledge and resources. Companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Kraft, Philips, Unilever and Xerox utilize NineSigma's open innovation : www.ninesigma.com/WhatWeDo/AboutOpenInnovation.aspx services to solve immediate challenges, fill product pipelines and integrate new knowledge and capabilities into their organizations. NineSigma has the largest open global network : www.ninesigma.com/OurNetwork/OurNetwork.aspx of solution providers and an extensive database of existing solutions that spans all industries and technical disciplines. The company has operations in the United States, Europe and Asia. Learn more about NineSigma at www.ninesigma.com/ : www.ninesigma.com/ .



About AkzoNobel


AkzoNobel is proud to be one of the world's leading industrial companies.
Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we make and supply a wide range of paints, coatings and specialty chemicals -- 2008 revenue totaled EUR 15.4 billion. In fact, we are the largest global paints and coatings company. As a major producer of specialty chemicals we supply industries worldwide with quality ingredients for life's essentials. We think about the future, but act in the present. We're passionate about introducing new ideas and developing sustainable answers for our customers. That's why our 58,000 employees -- who are based in more than 80 countries -- are committed to excellence and delivering Tomorrow's Answers Today(TM). Learn more about AkzoNobel at www.akzonobel.com : www.akzonobel.com .
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