About Submitting to FCAD
About Partnering with FCAD
General Questions
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!