NineSigma Receives Two 2002 NorTech Innovation Awards

    CLEVELAND--May 7, 2002--NineSigma was presented with two NorTech Innovation Awards at last night's NorTech Innovation Awards Dinner.
    One award recognized NineSigma's M:X(TM) (Managed Exchange) service and the other award came to NineSigma through a client, Glennan Microsystems Initiative, who identified NineSigma as one of the innovators contributing to their award-winning MUSiC (Multi-User Silicon Carbide) microfabrication process. Glennan Microsystems attributed part of their success to the NineSigma M:X process and the results NineSigma obtained for them.
    Every year, NorTech (Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition) recognizes specific innovations developed and implemented by organizations in Northeast Ohio. NineSigma is very proud to be recognized for its innovative service, M:X.
    NineSigma's M:X brings value to the customer by enabling them to get the most out of their technology investment. The customer can quickly find and assess alternative solutions to their science and technology needs facilitating a shortened time to market. Access to sources all over the world provides a wide range of choices which, in turn, should increase the potential of real innovation and at the same time assure cost-effectiveness.
    M:X makes it possible for the private sector to leverage the capabilities of the Internet to find solutions to their science and technology needs with the added advantages of anonymity and confidentiality. NineSigma's Ph.D.-level program managers work with a customer to capture a problem, need, or opportunity into a request for proposals (RFP). They then determine who in its database might be capable of responding and e-mail them the RFP. Responsive proposals are collected and delivered to the customer, with NineSigma receiving a transaction fee. In short, NineSigma can significantly reduce a customer's cost of going outside for science and technology resources and, for that lower cost, deliver a much broader array of innovative solutions than conventional means.

    NineSigma introduced M:X to the market in 2001 and has already served a number of world-class companies. A partial list includes Avery Dennison, Delphi, Johnson Controls, Kohler, McDermott, PolyOne and UOP -- nearly half of NineSigma's customers have already given them repeat business. Customers represent many industries including automotive, biomedical, chemical, consumer products, electronics, pharmaceutical, and telecommunications.