Due January 10, 2024
Improved Coverage for Surface Cleaners on Glazed Ceramic Surfaces Challenge Brief
- What we’re looking for:
- Reckitt is in search of potential partners, subject matter experts, and innovative solutions that can enhance the coverage of surface cleaners on vertically inclined, glazed ceramic hard surfaces. The surface could be a washbasin, a toilet bowl, a bathtub, or something equivalent. Increased product coverage can be achieved through improvements in formulation components, packaging design, or any other relevant aspect of the product. Solutions must be relevant to a low pH (value less than 1), high viscosity (1500-1800 cPs) cleaning formulation with a cationic surfactant. For example, we are interested in formulation ingredients that significantly augment the product coverage or bottle attributes (such as neck, nozzle, shape, etc.) that facilitate the improved coverage of the surface by the product.
- Why this challenge matters:
- We strive to give our consumers the best possible experience with our products, always seeking more convenient and efficient solutions. Achieving superior coverage on vertically inclined, glazed ceramic surfaces reduces the effort required by consumers to spread the product on the surface to be cleaned, leading to an overall better experience.
- What’s our success criteria:
- We’re looking for partners, subject matter experts, and technologies that can help us reach our ultimate product coverage target: covers 90-95% of a vertically inclined glazed ceramic surface (approximate surface area of 1500 cm²) within 5 minutes of application on the surface’s top face using 40 g of the product. Prospective participants should possess a geographical presence in Europe, and a presence in Southeast Asia would also be advantageous. The solution must be a single-step process, achieved by incorporating specialty ingredients into the liquid cleaner product formulation or a new design of the dispensing nozzle.
While not mandatory, Reckitt prefers solutions which are close to commercial readiness, or which have samples available for evaluation and require less development. The technology described in the proposal should already have a demonstrated feasibility.
Reckitt is open to approaches originating from both industry and academia for solutions with production scale potential.
- We’re looking for partners, subject matter experts, and technologies that can help us reach our ultimate product coverage target: covers 90-95% of a vertically inclined glazed ceramic surface (approximate surface area of 1500 cm²) within 5 minutes of application on the surface’s top face using 40 g of the product. Prospective participants should possess a geographical presence in Europe, and a presence in Southeast Asia would also be advantageous. The solution must be a single-step process, achieved by incorporating specialty ingredients into the liquid cleaner product formulation or a new design of the dispensing nozzle.
- What’s out of scope:
- Proposed solutions should not involve or include any of the following conditions:
- Coating agents that modify the nature of the surface prior to the cleaning product application.
- Multi-step solutions or processes for product application.
- Components unable to demonstrate reliable stability of 2 years at extremely low pH.
- Components requiring addition amounts exceeding 10 weight percent.
- Solutions without scientific data to support the coverage claims.
- Ingredients named on lists of chemicals of high concern.
- Ingredients banned by any government authority or otherwise not internationally deployable.
- Proposed solutions should not involve or include any of the following conditions:
- What we can offer you:
- Successful applicants have the opportunity to bring their technology to market through a licensing agreement with Reckitt, or alternatively, funding can be provided through a joint development agreement if a promising technology is proven to exist. Reckitt can offer access to a broad range of capabilities and expertise, including in areas such as formulation, testing, packaging, regulatory compliance, and product supply. It is our intention to establish positive and fruitful partnerships with experts and organizations that will lead to disruptive innovations to improve the lives of consumers, contributing to a healthier and cleaner world.
In your proposal, please indicate how you prefer to engage with us. Reckitt will work with selected respondents to determine the optimal relationship for both parties.
- Successful applicants have the opportunity to bring their technology to market through a licensing agreement with Reckitt, or alternatively, funding can be provided through a joint development agreement if a promising technology is proven to exist. Reckitt can offer access to a broad range of capabilities and expertise, including in areas such as formulation, testing, packaging, regulatory compliance, and product supply. It is our intention to establish positive and fruitful partnerships with experts and organizations that will lead to disruptive innovations to improve the lives of consumers, contributing to a healthier and cleaner world.
- Our preferred relationships:
- Collaboration Opportunities
- Joint Development
- Research Partnerships
- Technology Licencing
- Our Timeline:
- October 12, 2023 Challenge opens for proposals
- January 10, 2024 Challenge Closes, proposals are no longer accepted
- January 15, 2024 Submitted proposals under review