InnoCentive and Quirky do pretty much this. > InnoCentive is a Massachusetts-based open innovation company that accepts by commission research and development

InnoCentive and Quirky do pretty much this. > InnoCentive is a Massachusetts-based open innovation company that accepts by commission research and development problems in a broad range of domains such as engineering, computer science, math, chemistry, life sciences, physical sciences and business and frames them as "challenge problems" for anyone to solve. It gives cash awards for the best solutions to solvers who meet the challenge criteria.