We will describe combining the concepts of Open Innovation (OI) and pre-competitive consortia to address industry specific issues. We will examine several pertinent topics such as finding alternatives to non-biodegradable packaging, finding alternative toner resins, or developing more environmentally friendly processes important to toner-based imaging. Regulating bodies at the federal, state and local level are continually expanding the list of harmful materials in products. This trend will likely continue and increase the focus on the electrophotographic printing industry. Open Innovation (OI) is an effective method for seeking expertise to solve technical challenges. Industry leaders, such as Nestle, 3M GE, Goodyear, Xerox, and BP are successful leading practitioners of OI. We invite the toner-based imaging companies to join other corporations and NineSigma to benefit from the discovery of multiple industry-wide alternatives. Join your competitors, suppliers and customers in pre-competitive collaboration of multiple users and manufacturers in industry to use Open Innovation to seek alternatives to materials and processes subject to imminent regulation. Such collaborative use of Open Innovation can result in faster, more economical discovery of suitable alternatives that will benefit your company's stature, the industry, its customers, and the environment.
