Case Study: Roche Diagnostics achieves faster R&D problem‑solving and cross‑site collaboration with Wazoku

Roche Diagnostics - Customer Case Study

Roche Diagnostics, a global leader in in vitro diagnostics with a large, complex R&D organization, needed better ways to surface and coordinate solutions to difficult technical problems. A cross-functional team ran an experiment that posed six real R&D challenges to both an internal employee network and external solvers to test whether virtual networks could improve collaboration and problem solving.

Internal submissions were modest, but publishing a key challenge on Wazoku Crowd with a $20,000 prize produced 113 detailed proposals and resolved a 15‑year problem in automated specimen measurement in 60 days, with multiple independent solvers converging on novel fixes. The trial demonstrated that managed open innovation can rapidly deliver high‑quality solutions (with careful IP and incentive design) and revealed the need to better structure and incentivize internal forums to unlock employee creativity.

Roche Diagnostics

Franz Humerand

CEO