Innocentive

Your Global R&D Accelerator.

Innocentive is the world’s largest open innovation ecosystem — 1,000,000+ solvers, startups, subject matter experts, and a marketplace of existing IP and inventions. It’s a proven model for invention on demand.

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R&D elasticity without the fixed costs

What Innocentive gives you

Innocentive is a global R&D ecosystem that provides liquidity in knowledge — the ability to search for, source, and commission solutions from the world’s best minds, on demand.

A global pool of brilliant solvers

1,000,000+ registered problem solvers across every discipline, from chemistry to AI to mechanical engineering. Many of the best solutions come from adjacent fields — people who see your problem from an angle your internal team never would.

A marketplace of existing IP and inventions

Before you invest in building something new, check whether it already exists. The Innocentive Marketplace connects you with ready-to-license solutions, patents, and technologies.

A startup and expert discovery engine

Find the organisations and individuals with the specific capabilities you need — with evidence of what they’ve actually done, not just what they claim.

An ecosystem for invention when no solution exists

When you need something truly new, Innocentive’s challenge-driven model activates a global search. Define the problem. Set the criteria. Let the world’s best minds compete to solve it. Pay for solutions that meet your criteria.

Four routes to a solution

Parallel problem solving at global scale.

Traditional R&D is sequential. You assign a team. They work the problem. If they get stuck, you reassign or wait. Wazoku inverts this — across four routes, each matched to the nature of the challenge.

Vetted Solutions, Inventions & IP

Sometimes the answer already exists. Wazoku’s marketplace surfaces proven technologies and existing IP from a global network. You don’t pay to search. You pay when you find something worth licensing.

Experts & Specialist Talent

Some challenges need a person, not a product. Wazoku connects you to 500,000+ vetted specialists worldwide. No discovery fee — you only pay when you commission.

Startups & Solution Partners

Emerging companies have often already built what you need. Wazoku’s partner ecosystem lets you identify, vet, and pilot solutions quickly — minimal upfront cost, terms agreed on outcomes.

Invention on Demand

When no solution exists anywhere, the only option is invention. Hundreds of solvers work your problem simultaneously, each bringing different expertise and methods. You pay for solutions, not effort. The risk shifts from “will we find the answer?” to “which of these answers is best?”

2,500+

challenges completed

$60M+

awarded to solvers

1M+

registered solvers

routes to a solution

Decision framework

When to use Innocentive Global R&D Marketplace

This framework helps you quickly identify the most appropriate route to a solution. Each route draws on Innocentive’s global ecosystem of solvers, subject matter experts, startups, and partners.

Vetted Solutions, Inventions & IP

A proven solution, patent, or technology already exists and can be licensed, acquired, or adapted with minimal modification.

Best suited for

Organisations seeking to accelerate deployment by building on existing validated innovations rather than starting from scratch.

Innocentive Marketplace

Innocentive marketplace; curated IP and technology scouting; solver network submissions.

Experts & Specialist Talent

The challenge requires deep domain knowledge, specialist consultancy, or targeted human expertise rather than a product or technology.

Best suited for

Complex technical problems, regulatory or scientific advisory needs, niche R&D questions where credentials and experience matter.

Innocentive Marketplace

Expert solver matching via Innocentive’s global network of 1,000,000+ vetted professionals and domain specialists.

Startups & Solution Partners

An emerging company or partner organisation has a relevant early-stage or scalable product that can be piloted, co-developed, or deployed.

Best suited for

R&D or Innovation teams looking to test novel approaches, access cutting-edge capabilities, or establish strategic partnerships at speed.

Innocentive Marketplace

Innocentive startup ecosystem; partner network; structured pilot and co-development frameworks.

Invention on Demand (Challenge-led R&D)

No viable solution exists anywhere in the market or network. A fundamentally new invention, approach, or breakthrough is required.

Best suited for

Hard-to-solve frontier problems; situations where incremental improvement is insufficient.

Innocentive Marketplace

Open innovation challenges via Innocentive; prize-based R&D; structured problem briefs issued to global solver community.

Interested in taking part in an Open Innovation Challenge?

Visit our platform Visit the Innocentive website to learn more

Latest Challenges on Innocentive

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Wazoku Crowd Challenge

Create a Distinctive Sonic Identity for the University of East London

Closing date: 1st Nov 2026

Award: £1,000

View the challenge →

Wazoku Crowd Challenge

Improving Wet Gas Measurement Accuracy across industry-standard Flow Meters

Closing date: 12th Oct 2026

Award: $25,000

View the challenge →

Wazoku Crowd Challenge

Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) 2026

Closing date: 30th Sep 2026

Award: $800,000

View the challenge →

Wazoku Crowd Challenge

Novel Technologies for Rapid Proof of Clean in Professional Environments

Closing date: 21st Sep 2026

Award: $10,000

View the challenge →