MeadWestvaco Corp. has launched a new web-based Open Innovation portal, MWV Exchange. Powered by inno360, the new portal will let MWV connect directly with customers, suppliers and partners on creating innovative and customized consumer packaging solutions.

This open innovation platform will strengthen and accelerate MWV's "concept to commercialization" process and enhance the company's ability to bring differentiated packaging solutions to the marketplace.

"The MWV Exchange portal will help further strengthen our competitive advantage by expanding our reach to capture and generate novel ideas and new technical solutions to challenging problems," says Alex Cedeno, vp of global innovation for MWV. "This will allow us to enhance our value-added packaging solutions and develop deeper relationships with customers, partners and suppliers."

Through the new portal, MWV sees potential for idea generation to support innovation needs throughout all of the markets it serves. MWV Exchange will provide an opportunity to collaborate openly on technical challenges in areas of focus, such as sustainability, materials science and substrate development.

"Companies today are looking to connect more seamlessly with key suppliers and partners to innovate together," says Glenn Wienkoop, CEO of inno360. "Open Innovation has long been used in the business-to-consumer relationship, but business-to-business companies have been slower to employ Open Innovation. Global packaging leader MWV in conjunction with inno360 are breaking new ground among traditional supplier relationships, and bringing their innovative approach to developing valued packaging solutions to a new level."

As a global company that works with the world's leading brands, MWV is committed to understanding the full spectrum of influencers in the development process and using areas and sources of knowledge in an open and forward-looking way.

"By leveraging MWV Exchange as our Open Innovation management system, MWV taps into the expertise of our employees, suppliers, customers, inventors and academicians to solve the industry's toughest and most pressing packaging challenges," says Paul France, director of Open Innovation for MWV. "inno360's advanced collaboration tools will accelerate our capability to innovate with others, and bring the outside in perspective."

Source: MeadWestvaco Corp.