marcus evans Conferences to Recognize General Mills for Innovation Leadership
General Mills to Receive Open Innovation Partner of Choice Award
CHICAGO – March 29, 2010 – marcus evans conferences is proud to announce that General Mills (NYSE: GIS) will be presented with the Second Annual Open Innovation Partner of Choice Award Choice during the 4th Annual Open Innovation Conference being held at The Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia, PA, April 7 – 9, 2010.
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.
General Mills was placed into nomination for its Worldwide Innovation Network (G-WIN) connected innovation program 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
Jeff Bellairs, Senior Director, General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network, will accept the award on the company’s behalf during an award ceremony on April 9, 2010 as part of the marcus evans Fourth Annual Open Innovation Conference. The ceremony will immediately precede the Partner of Choice Symposium to be facilitated by Mr. Bellairs and members of the G-WIN Team.
This three hour session will allow participants to share their expertise and experiences with an unparalleled group of peers in an environment any innovator would dream of having back at the office. Collaborative innovators will be part of an idea exchange fueled by groundbreaking structured networking sessions. Topics will include: establishing formulations for the open value proposition; streamlining the external agreement process; promoting the necessity of cross-sphere collaboration; intellectual asset liquidity; the role of open innovation, and the marketing of open innovation enterprise.
For more Information:
To view a full conference agenda for the 4th Annual Open Innovation&Partner of Choice Symposium please http://www.marcusevansch.com/OpenPR1 or for any further information please contact Dennis Noonan, dennisn@marcusevansch.com, 312-540-3000 ext.6411.
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