CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 04/09/14 -- marcus evans conferences is proud to announce that Unilever will be presented with the Open Innovation Partner of Choice Award during the 8th Annual Open Innovation Conference being held at The Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia, PA, April 7-9, 2014.
The growing interest in the open innovation business model is not surprising. The results of even a shortsighted one-off open innovation program can mean great returns for an organization. However, those organizations that are able to establish themselves as proven collaborative innovation facilitators and custodians of lasting cooperative relationships in the innovation enterprise are beginning to be branded as a "Partner of Choice" for Open Innovation in the marketplace of business-to-business alliances.
Unilever was placed into nomination and subsequently selected through a process that elicited the response of peers and innovation leaders from a cross-section of North American industries, including past delegates of the annual marcus evans Open Innovation series of conferences. Determination of the marcus evans Open Innovation Partner of Choice Award was based on an outstanding or exceptional contribution to the discipline or practice of open innovation in the following criteria:
- Demonstrate the core attributes that an exemplary collaborator is understood to bring to the open innovation relationship
- Manage a structured discipline for the creation and performance of external collaborative partnerships that is both flexible and designed to lay the foundation for ongoing innovation partnerships
- Establish a proven track record or "open project" portfolio that illustrates the ability to excel with innovation partners from both up and down the enterprise value chain
- Promote an organizational culture that fosters a movement beyond cultural barriers to innovation such as the "not invented here" mentality
- Install a group of external collaborators that possess the skills necessary to navigate the unique hurdles of open innovation
Open Innovation and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan
The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan is at the heart of Unilever's business strategy -- to double the size of the business while reducing its environmental impact and increasing its positive social impact. To deliver on these ambitious goals, Unilever is constantly looking for new ways to work with potential partners through its Open Innovation model.
Dr. Shimei Fan, Ph.D., Unilever's Director of R&D Open Innovation, will accept the award on behalf of Jonathan Hauge, Unilever's Vice President of Open Innovation during an award ceremony on April 8, 2014 as part of the marcus evans 8th Annual Open Innovation Conference. The ceremony will immediately precede the Partner of Choice Symposium, which will include representatives from past winners of the Partner of Choice Award.
This session will allow participants to share their expertise and experiences with an unparalleled group of peers, including award winners, in an environment any innovator would dream of having back at the office. Free from the all-too-common corporate sandbagging and "naysayers," collaborative innovators will be part of an idea exchange fueled by groundbreaking structured networking sessions. Topics will include: defining open innovation; examining important tools and resources used in the open innovation practice; emerging sources of innovation; and greatest value organizations bring to the table to enable open innovation.
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For more Information:
About the Open Innovation Partner of Choice Award, The Eighth Annual Open Innovation Conference, or the Open Innovation Partner of Choice Award Ceremony and Symposium contact Dennis Noonan, dennisn@marcusevansch.com, 312-540-3000 ext.6411.
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