IBM is excited to make ThinkPlace accessible to all users of alphaWorks. Since ThinkPlace and alphaWorks are both platforms for open collaboration, it seems natural to use this forum to discuss what's next for collaboration in the age of Web 2.0.

In many ways, the technical community has led the charge in using open collaboration to drive innovation. Through participating in open source and open standards efforts; hosting developer programs like alphaWorks; and conducting joint research with customers, universities and other companies; firms like IBM have contributed to and benefitted from tapping into the collective intelligence of the global technical community.

Increasingly, these open collaboration models are being explored to solve non-IT challenges. For example:

• InnoCentive is a web-based community matching scientists to relevant R&D challenges posed by companies from around the globe. Companies broadcast their problems and provide financial bounties to solvers. Winners often emerge by applying expertise not currently used to tackle that specific problem.
• Retailers have set up shop in Second Life a virtual online world, to test out and rapidly iterate on new products and store concepts with the help of customers (or at least their avatars).
• IBM invited participants from outside the company to participate in InnovationJam, a massive online brainstorm designed to help direct investment in significant new business opportunities

Today's Internet and Web 2.0 technologies are helping change the way organizations and individuals collaborate, solve problems and innovate. A cultural change is under way as well, now that individuals have an unprecedented ability to participate directly in multiple communities and serve mutiple roles in those communities. So what's next? Some questions to consider:

• How can individuals leverage the Web 2.0 environment to progress professionally? How can they best use it to build their reputations, skills and careers?
• How can a small business tap into networks to virtually grow its resources? How can it protect its competitive advantage and intellectual property while participating in open collaboration?
• What opportunities does open collaboration provide for a global company with employees, customers and partners around the world?

Here's your chance to not only think about these new opportunities but also act upon them -- use ThinkPlace on alphaWorks to explore this brave new world to its fullest.