# Crowdsourced R&D InnoCentive Poses Million Dollar Challenge By NEXT by Ramla | Published 2007-07-06 | Science Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crowdsourced-rd-innocentivecom-million-dollar-challenge References: [innocentive](http://www.innocentive.com/) & [innocentive](http://www.innocentive.com/about/index.html) Scientist? Can measure disease progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease/ Motorneuron Disease) for US$ 1,000,000? Get on over to InnoCentive.com - the crowdsourcing R&D wonder. **The Low-Down on Crowdsourcing** The crowd knows best - is the mantra of the [crowdsourcing revolution](http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.06/crowds.html). And latest in the line of the "the crowd" are scientists, who can solve challenges posted at [InnoCentive.com](http://www.innocentive.com) for monetary incentives! Crowdsourcing is simply delegating one-to-many, the many being the members of the general public. The medium is the Internet. Members of the general public, through a (self-)screening process, often layered with an approval process, then qualify to work at a certain task delegated by one entity - usually a corporation or a "[for impact](http://forimpact.org)" organization. **From Crowdsourced Journalism to Crowdsourced R&D** Previously on TrendHunter, we have covered the popular use of crowdsourcing: in journalism - with stories on [NowPublic](http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crowdsourced-journalism-the-news-is-nowpubliccom) and [Assignment Zero](http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/assignment-zero-pro-am-journalism). But crowdsourcing is entering behind traditionally closed doors - often sealed, cooled, and off-access: research & design labs and centers. [InnoCentive](http://www.innocentive.com) is a medium for crowdsourcing the R&D function, especially scientific challenges requiring innovative solutions. Companies, called "Seekers", post specific challenges in the life sciences and chemistry & applied sciences categories. Scientists, called "solvers" tackle a problem of their choice from the menu. Successfully solved challenges earn an award. Currently, the winners of awards represent a global array with scientists from Russia, India, USA, Mexico, Argentina, and other parts of the world. This is truly a place for scientists sans frontiers. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 26% | Activity: 21% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Science](https://www.trendhunter.com/science) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Crowdsourced R&D:** Crowdsourcing R&D via the internet presents disruptive innovation opportunities for traditional research and design labs. - **Monetary Incentives for Scientific Challenges:** Offering monetary incentives for the solution of scientific challenges can disrupt traditional incentives in the scientific community. - **Global Utilization of Scientific Minds:** The ability to tap into scientific minds from around the world presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for globalized scientific problem-solving. ### Where This Applies - **Pharmaceuticals:** Pharmaceutical companies can disrupt traditional R&D practices by utilizing crowdsourcing platforms to solve scientific challenges. - **Chemicals:** Chemical companies can tap into global scientific minds to solve scientific challenges, presenting disruptive innovation opportunities. - **Life Sciences:** Crowdsourcing R&D in the life sciences industry presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for scientific problem-solving. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Diabetes Research Crowdfunding Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crowdfunding-campaign.md) - [Fragrance-Focused Innovation Challenges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indovinya.md) - [Defiance-Inspired Disease Awareness Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-finger-for-hope.md) - [Human Health Research Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/human-health-research.md) - [AI Development-Focused Incentive Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/incentive-program.md) - [Pharmaceutical Research Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/discover23.md) - [Brain Health Crowdfunding Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crowdfunding-campaign1.md) - [Bug-Detection AI Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-initiative.md) - [Community Challenge Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/community-challenge.md)