Most interesting, like the story of the inventor of the first moldable plastic, Leo Baekland.
Who, if I remembr my plastic history correctly, invented Bakelite as an entry for a contest. The Belgian companies who made billiard balls from ivory were concerned that the supply of ivory might be depleted.
They offered a cash prize to the person who could come up with the best substitute for ivory. Leo Baekland came up with a plastic named for him - Bakelite - and won the contest.