April 10, 2013 – GE and Quirky announced a new partnership that, they say, will allow “everyone to participate in the development of new products with two global leaders in invention and innovation”.

“We admire Quirky’s speed, collaboration and inventiveness, and by opening up lab-proven technology and patents to everyday inventors, we can help inspire new ideas and accelerate advanced manufacturing innovation,” said Beth Comstock, SVP and chief marketing officer, GE.

The partnership will consist of two parts: 1) a new platform where GE will open thousands of patents and new technologies to the Quirky community for the development of new consumer products, and 2) a co-branded product development initiative to build a full line of app-enabled connected devices for the home in areas such as health, security, water or air, and that will be developed using advanced manufacturing tools and technologies. This new line of products will be co-branded Wink: Instantly Connected.

“Thousands of patents from one of the most inventive companies in the world will be available to provoke, inspire and drive a whole new way of thinking,” said Ben Kaufman, founder and CEO of Quirky. “We are going to return patents to their original purpose… to act as a blueprint for technological and societal progress, while protecting inventors and becoming a source of inspiration for future creators.”