Could your innovation be the next game-changer?

This section has been created to help external innovators and companies learn how Connect + Develop works. Here you can read about our current needs, and what we look for in an innovation partnership. And if you are the owner or representative of an innovation that might help make new compounds, formulations or improve the performance or current routes, this section can help you submit your innovation for review by our Connect + Develop Team.

Why Choose FCAD

Connecting with FCAD allows your business to tap into unparalleled innovation, distribution and marketing assets. Through Connect + Develop, we share our R&D, consumer understanding, marketing expertise, and brand equity with our partners, bringing new chemicals to market and into application faster. FCAD’s open innovation strategy has enabled us to establish more than 350 successful agreements with innovation partners around the world. Together, we can do more than either of us could do alone.

Submit Your Innovation

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    What is Connect + Develop?
    It’s our version of open innovation: the practice of tapping externally developed intellectual property to accelerate internal innovation and sharing our internally developed assets and know-how to help others outside the Company.
    Historically, FCAD relied on internal capabilities and those of a network of trusted suppliers to invent, develop and deliver new products and services to the market. We did not actively seek to connect with potential external partners. Similarly, the FCAD products, technologies and know-how we developed were used almost solely for the manufacture and sale of FCAD’s own products. Beyond this, we seldom licensed them to other companies.
    Times have changed, and the world is more connected. In the areas in which we do business, there are millions of scientists, engineers and other companies globally. Why not collaborate with them? We now embrace open innovation, and we call our approach “Connect + Develop.”
    Today, open innovation at FCAD works both ways — inbound and outbound — and encompasses everything from trademarks to packaging, marketing models to engineering, and business services to design. It’s so much more than technology.
    How Does It Work?
    Connect+Develop is a FCAD innovation strategy. The idea of partnering externally to accelerate innovation is applied across the Company and around the world in all our work.
    Within FCAD, we have a global team dedicated to empowering C+D, searching for innovations, working with prospective partners and shepherding breakthrough innovations through the Company and into market. That dedicated team is called Global Business Development.
    About the Connect + Develop Submissions Process
    We want to make it easy for current and potential partners to reach out to us with new technologies, ready-to-go products, intermediates, by-products, routes, and other innovations that may be of interest to our businesses.
    Whether you’re a previous partner or new to Connect + Develop, the information in this section will help answer your questions about what our team is seeking and how best to reach out to FCAD.
    Does your innovation match one of our needs?
    FCAD’s Needs describes dozens of needs for which we are actively seeking solutions and partners, including details of the technical, commercial, or other qualifications that may be required for success. Search our needs for one that is related to your innovation, or browse the entire list.
    Don’t see a need that matches your innovation?
    Do you have new technologies, ready-to-go products, intermediates, by-products, routes or other innovation that could be of interest to FCAD, and don’t see a matching need on this site, you may still Submit Innovation.
    What to expect when you submit
    Frequently Asked Questions provides a lot of helpful information about our Connect + Develop submission and review process, including more about how to submit an innovation to our team, what happens to the information you provide after it reaches us, and what kinds of responses you can expect to receive.
    Not sure you’re in the right place?
    Connect + Develop is just one way to reach out to FCAD. Some other ways are linked on the right.

    No information available.

    About Submitting to FCAD

    How do I submit my innovation for FCAD’s consideration?

    What kinds of information does FCAD need in order to decide whether it is interested?

    Will FCAD sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement before I share my innovation?

    How can I arrange to present my innovation in person?

    Who will review my submission, and how long will it take?

    If FCAD likes my submission, how much money will FCAD pay me for it?

    What type of business deal with FCAD could result from my submission?

    What does FCAD do with personal information that I provide with my Innovation Portal registration?

    About Partnering with FCAD

    Why is FCAD looking outside for innovations?

    Do you really work with anyone, from anywhere?

    What is my protection? How can I be assured my idea won’t be taken?

    General Questions

    What is FCAD looking for?

    What does FCAD bring to the table?

     

    How do I submit my innovation for FCAD’s consideration?

    Whether you are an individual inventor, a small business, or listed in the Fortune 500, the way to bring your innovation to FCAD’s attention is to submit it via this website.

    What kinds of information does FCAD need in order to decide whether it is interested?

    We need a clear, concise description that conveys the nature of the innovation and the unique features and benefits it offers relative to existing solutions, and the status of your intellectual property. Our web portal enables you to attach supporting documents to your submission. If you have a granted patent or published patent application, please attach a copy. It is also helpful to provide the results of any safety, consumer, efficacy, or other relevant testing. Technical illustrations and photos may also be of help.
    Remember, all information submitted must be non-confidential. Do not submit confidential information. We will not review any documents that are marked ‘Confidential’ or the equivalent. The documents will be deleted from our portal, and the submission will be declined.

    Will FCAD sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement before I share my innovation?

    No. FCAD will only consider non-confidential information for its initial review of your submission. If after our initial review of a submission, we find that we may have interest in learning more, we will contact you to discuss how to proceed and any needed agreements.

    How can I arrange to present my innovation in person?

    Commercial bribery is illegal and subject to criminal penalties in many countries. Any personal payment or bribe to individuals employed by FCAD and our subsidiaries’ customers or suppliers, or receipt of a bribe or personal payment by FCAD and our subsidiaries employees is strictly prohibited. Even in locations where such activity may not, technically speaking, be illegal, it is absolutely prohibited by Company policy. FCAD and our subsidiaries competition for business is conducted fairly and on the merits of our products and services.

    Who will review my submission, and how long will it take?

    Each submission is reviewed by a Connect + Develop team member who determines how to route it to ensure it reaches the relevant business and/or technical personnel within our Company. In many cases, this means review by multiple FCAD companies to evaluate technical merit or strategic business fit for FCAD.
    We are committed to reaching a decision as quickly as possible. However, a thorough initial review, especially of a technology innovation, may take as long as eight weeks to complete.

    If FCAD likes my submission, how much money will FCAD pay me for it?

    Compensation is an important component of any business deal. Value is determined through discussions between FCAD and the party which controls the products or technologies. Each deal is evaluated on its own merits. As a result, there is no standard amount.

    What type of business deal with FCAD could result from my submission?

    The type of business relationship that might result from a submission of interest could take a variety of forms, depending upon the specifics of the innovation and both the potential partner’s and FCAD’s needs. This may take the form of a licensing or supply agreement, or other type of collaborative venture.

    What does FCAD do with personal information that I provide with my Innovation Portal registration?

    FCAD uses this information to communicate with you about your submission. It is not used for any other purpose, nor is it shared with any third parties unless you have expressly indicated your agreement for us to do so.

    Why is FCAD looking outside for innovations?

    At FCAD we know that we can do more, reach more, in partnership than we ever can alone. We have a team of great innovators, marketers and business leaders at FCAD; partnering their energy and innovations with talent and ideas from outside our Company can create a dynamically powerful mix of winning innovations. And it has.

    Do you really work with anyone, from anywhere?

    Absolutely. We are open to connecting with anyone with a great innovation: other large companies, small companies, entrepreneurs, academia, and research groups. And they can be anywhere in the world, as we have C+D teams and products all over the globe.

    What is my protection? How can I be assured my idea won’t be taken?

    We’re committed to doing the right thing. It’s who we are. We also know that we’re only as good, only as trustworthy as our last partnership. We enter every connection with that in mind!
    Also, because we are an innovation Company, we keenly appreciate the value of protecting the “intellectual property” behind any innovation. If you have something of real value, you want to protect it so others can’t duplicate it!
    That’s why, when you submit an innovation to us, we state over and over again: only send non-confidential information. We do this to protect your interests; but also to protect us, as well.

    What is FCAD looking for?

    We look for innovation breakthroughs across all areas of our business: from chemicals used for pharmaceutical to health care to military to industry to electronics to home & personal care to agrochemical to food & flavors; compounds to formulations to synthesis route to scaling up method.
    We have existing needs. These are areas we’ve already identified as growth opportunities where specialized expertise, experience or technology can dramatically shorten the development process and increase efficiency. We share these needs whenever doing so won’t compromise our competitive advantage and post them on this site. It may help to review what we’re looking for, and see if you have a match!
    We are open to opportunities. We are always looking for something breakthrough that we may not have thought of but that can augment our strategic business plans.

    What does FCAD bring to the table?

    We’re a global company with global distribution and global teams of really talented experts in research, marketing, distribution, sales, customer understanding and manufacturing. They are all focused on one objective: delighting the clients with innovations that can make every day better. Where the innovation originates is irrelevant. Key is what can we do with it to make a positive impact for our clients while creating a win:win for our partners and our Company.
    And, we like to think we’re fun to work with!

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