InnoCentive is an American company that runs an idea contest to let outside experts solve problems on current faced by government or companies research. In the contest, Narayanan Selvapalam (CHEM Ph.D.) suggested a great idea and received $10,000 as a reward. The problem that he addressed was developing a ‘Novel biodegradable hydrophilic polymer’.
Hydrophilic polymers are used in the body and medical science, but they are rarely biodegradable in the mammals’ cells. So the problem is making a new biodegradable polymer but the solution cannot be open to the public because of a contract with a company.
InnoCentive awards depend on the method proposed and the degree of difficulty. The company has become the talk of the world since it solved the oil spill problem in Alaska. It had been difficult to remove the oil for 17 years without a particular solution, but an effective method was suggested within just three months through InnoCentive.
Narayanan Selvapalam belongs to the Center for Smart Supramolecules under Professor Kimoon Kim (CHEM).