Four Steps to Growing  Together

For three reasons. First, Südzucker Group wants to ensure that all submitter entries are reviewed and handled in a consistent and timely manner. Second, Südzucker Group understands that solutions can be provided by a variety of sources. Some may require support in describing the solution in a way that enables more clarity on how it solves a need. Our open innovation experts have significant experience in the Südzucker Group and can facilitate the process to ensure the best chance of success. Third, by ensuring that only non-confidential information is received, we minimize the risk of jeopardizing Südzucker Group’s ongoing research programs and projects. Südzucker may be developing similar concepts, so sharing only non-confidential information is important for protecting Südzucker Group’s IP positions as well as your own. Please also check out our Terms & Conditions.

Contact information is essential in order for us to follow up. The submission form must also provide at least a good non-confidential overview of the proposed solution. You only need to send us an outline of your innovation at this stage describing how it works in a general technical sense and what the benefits to the consumer would be. Of course, the more details you can provide the better. If you have a published or granted patent, this will normally be a sufficient description, and you can simply provide us with the details from the published patent/application.

When you submit an idea through the Idea Submission Portal, you will be asked to complete an Open Innovation Submission Form which includes your contact details, a non-confidential overview of your solution and your agreement to the Terms and Conditions for submission and the Privacy Notice. Your details will be reviewed and evaluated in terms of the solution.

No, only non-confidential information may be submitted. Throughout the submission process, we ask for only information that imposes no obligations of confidentiality for Südzucker and does not breach any confidentiality obligations that you as the submitter owe to others. If confidential information is later required, we may negotiate a separate Confidential Disclosure Agreement prior to sharing or receipt of any confidential information.

Our open innovation (thebarn.io) team will review your Open Innovation Submission Form in light of the criteria provided by Südzucker to decide on whether your solution is a fit for Südzucker’s needs. The open innovation team will follow-up directly with you by email to inform you of the status of your submission.

Yes, you must be 18 years of age to submit an idea.

Upon submitting your Open Innovation Submission Form, you will receive an email confirming your submission has been received, as well as a unique submission identification number. Contact will then be made within max 10 working days to inform you of the status of your submission. Assuming no additional information is required, and the idea meets Südzucker Group’s needs, it will then be forwarded to Südzucker Group experts for their review. Initial Südzucker Group review may take up to two weeks, at which point we may reach out to you to discuss your idea in greater detail. In the unlikely event that you haven’t heard back from us after two weeks please get in touch with us through our contact form. Please be sure to provide your unique submission identification number as this will help us to quickly identify your application.

Yes, retirees or former employees of Südzucker Group may participate.

Yes, these are created to protect you and your rights, but also to eliminate the risk of jeopardizing Südzucker Group’s ongoing research programs and projects.

Ideally, your solution will be protected by granted or applied-for patents. However, Südzucker is willing to discuss early-stage general and non-confidential ideas before a patent filing has been made or before it has been published. If you have not filed for patents yet, you should not disclose any information that jeopardizes your rights to file patents, and we advise you to contact an IP lawyer prior to submission.

There will be no reward for your submission for technical challenges in the initial stages. However, if Südzucker Group decides to pursue a submission, they will proceed with a mutually agreed contract and related commercial terms on a case by case basis. This could include for example (but not limited to) cooperation agreements, joint developments, product supply, licenses, joint venture, technology acquisition, etc. In the case of competitions, rewards will be detailed in advance as part of the competition terms.