GE's Open Innovation Challenge to Transform the State of the Art in 3D Printing

CLEVELAND, Dec. 2, 2013 — (PRNewswire) —   NineSigma, Inc., the leading innovation partner to organizations worldwide, and General Electric (NYSE: GE) announced that ten finalists have been selected in the GE 3D Printing Production Quest. The digital fabrication technologies identified through this quest may be used to produce medical imaging equipment parts. Up to three winning prototypes will be awarded $50,000 each.

GE worked closely with digital strategy firm Undercurrent to initiate this open innovation quest with NineSigma. The two-phase quest challenges fabricators to demonstrate abilities to produce complex parts with high precision, using refractory metals and additive manufacturing processes.  

GE Executive Director of Global Innovation Steve Liguori said, "Ideation through open innovation creates customer value and drives advancements across industries. Through quests such as this one, GE remains committed to growing and engaging the broader additive manufacturing and maker communities through open innovation. GE's engineers, the global maker community and other fabrication leaders are applying additive technologies, including 3D printing, to address customer needs more efficiently and effectively."

GE judged the entries and selected the ten most promising entrants to advance to Phase Two where they will deliver fabricated prototypes, using materials and technical drawings supplied by GE. The finalists, hailing from Germany, Spain, China, Austria, Belgium and the U.S., represent academia, small start-up companies as well as established businesses.

NineSigma CEO Andy Zynga said, "This type of challenge is a perfect match for open innovation.  NineSigma's honed open innovation methodology opens up the world of engineering, manufacturing, design and production possibilities far beyond traditional networks within industries. It connects scientists, technologists, researchers, and inventors in a broad spectrum of industries and then dramatically advances what today is considered 'state of the art.' We're thrilled to be working together with GE to support them in staying at the forefront of additive manufacturing."

GE will evaluate the finalist entries and select up to three winners by the end of the first quarter, 2014. Innovators all over the globe are invited to participate in challenges like this one at NineSights.com, where they have the opportunity to work with world-leading companies like GE and be part of change that can transform industries and indeed the world.

About NineSigma

NineSigma connects organizations with external innovation resources to accelerate innovation in private, public and social sectors. The company provides open innovation services to organizations worldwide, including Kraft Foods, Philips, Siemens, and Unilever, to solve immediate challenges, integrate new knowledge, fill product pipelines, and stay ahead of the competition. Named to the 2012 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private U.S. companies, NineSigma's proprietary process has produced billions of dollars in value for its clients. NineSigma has the largest open global network of solution providers and an extensive database of existing solutions spanning numerous industries and technical disciplines. NineSigma's online innovation community, NineSights®, is the world's first open innovation social media destination, connecting innovators of all sizes with resources and relationships to drive growth. Learn more at www.ninesigma.com and www.ninesights.com. 

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

Media Contact: 
Jackie Lucas, Warner Communications - Email Contact, (978) 255-1159

SOURCE NineSigma

Contact:

NineSigma General Electric Web: http://www.ninesigma.com