Mastering Technology Transfer: From Invention to Innovation: A Step-by-Step Guide for Researchers and Inventors (Studies on Entrepreneurship, Structural Change and Industrial Dynamics)

Every innovation starts its life as an idea. It is the systematic transformation of this idea, via its manifestation as an invention, to the final innovative material, device, process, method, service, etc. that is the subject of this practical step-by-step guide. It will be very useful to anyone who has a technological idea and wishes to commercialize it. The author describes a systematic transformational process in ten distinct stages, from the birth of the idea, through its technical validation and its economic viability validation, to the final market innovation. The author correlates this process with the “Technology Readiness Levels” which form the backbone of nearly all major R&D programs. In addition, the reader is introduced to the three critical milestones where crucial go/no-go decisions are made. A number of case studies have been added in this new edition and analyzed in some detail. This guide is based on many years of experience of the author in technology transfer activities both as a mentor and a senior consultant of the European Commission. The book includes a plethora of clear definitions and clarifications as well as valuable strategic advice and insights into many key aspects of the transformational process that will be useful to any inventor wishing to take their invention to its logical conclusion, that of a valuable product or service. Preface Contents About the Author List of Figures List of Tables PartPart10005704505 Chapter 1: An Invention Is Not an Innovation 1.1 In Summary Chapter 2: Can Every Idea Be Transformed into an Innovation? 2.1 Radical, Associated and Incremental Innovations 2.2 In Summary Chapter 3: What Are the Driving Forces for Innovation? 3.1 In Summary Chapter 4: Can Everybody Be an Innovator? 4.1 The Right Mindset 4.2 In Summary Chapter 5: The Long, Hard Road Ahead 5.1 The Ten Stages of the Transformation 5.2 In Summary Chapter 6: The Critical Milestones 6.1 Decisions and Actions 6.2 In Summary PartPart20005704506 Chapter 7: The Birth of the Idea 7.1 Forecasting and Foresighting 7.2 Counter-Intuitive, Accidental and Subconscious Ideas 7.3 In Summary Chapter 8: How Do You Determine If a New Technology Has Value? 8.1 Practical Evaluation of an Idea 8.2 Competing Technologies 8.3 Formulating for Value 8.4 Strategic Activities for Value and Success 8.5 In Summary Chapter 9: Critical Milestone 1: Proof of Concept 9.1 Fit for Purpose 9.2 Technical Risk 9.3 Publishing Your Technology While Retaining Its Value 9.4 SWOT Analysis 9.5 In Summary Chapter 10: Research and Development 10.1 Project Proposing for Success 10.2 Confidentiality 10.3 IPR Ownership 10.4 Project Impact of the Technology 10.5 Relative Value 10.6 Regulations and Standards 10.7 In Summary Chapter 11: Strategy for Protection and Freedom for Use 11.1 In Summary Chapter 12: Critical Milestone 2: Validation of Technical Feasibility for Applications 12.1 Action Plan 12.2 Continue Alone or in a Joint Venture? 12.3 Confidentiality During Discussions with Potential Partners 12.4 More on Implementation Strategy 12.5 A Brief Primer on Entrepreneurship 12.6 In Summary PartPart30005704507 Chapter 13: Out Into the Real World: Scaling Up 13.1 Extent and Duration of Scaling-Up Activities 13.2 Scaling Up in Practice 13.3 Collaboration for Effective Scaling Up 13.4 Contractual Matters 13.5 More on the Nature and Extent of Scaling Up 13.6 Evaluation of Scaling-Up Operations 13.7 From the Implementer ́s or User ́s Viewpoint 13.8 In Summary Chapter 14: Business Planning for New Entrepreneurs 14.1 A Convincing Opportunity and Your Promising Solution 14.2 Clarity of Objectives and Aims 14.3 You, the Team and the Company 14.4 Funding and Development 14.5 Target Markets, Competitors and Collaborators 14.6 A Balancing Act 14.7 Identification and Analysis of Commercialisation Risks 14.8 Risk Management 14.9 In Summary Chapter 15: Critical Milestone 3: The Industrial Prototype and Validation of Economic Viability 15.1 Funding and Building the Industrial Prototype 15.2 Economic Viability 15.3 In Summary Chapter 16: A Researcher ́s Strategy for Successful Technology Transfer 16.1 A New Technology Searching for an Application and a Partner 16.2 A Need or a Problem Searching for a Technology 16.3 In Summary Chapter 17: Industrialisation 17.1 Refinements Possible During Industrialisation 17.2 Ripe for the Taking? 17.3 In Summary Chapter 18: On to the Market! 18.1 Entering the Market 18.2 Rapid Market Adoption 18.3 In Summary Chapter 19: What Can Go Wrong? 19.1 Overambitious Technical Objectives and Claims 19.2 Higher Than Anticipated Costs for Introduction/Production 19.3 Overlong Duration of the Project and Weak Time Management 19.4 Inadequate or Erroneous Knowledge of Markets and Mistaken Expectations 19.5 Poor Project Management Skills 19.6 Wrong Choice of Co-Developer 19.7 Over-Optimistic Business Plan and Inadequate Resources (Manpower, Budget and Equipment) 19.8 Extraneous Reasons for Commercialisation Failures 19.9 In Summary PartPart40005704508 Chapter 20: Case Study 1: Microwave Heating Process for Bulk Ceramics 20.1 Description 20.2 The Technological Proposal 20.3 SWOT Analysis 20.4 The Project 20.5 Results 20.6 Lessons Chapter 21: Case Study 2: High-Hardness, High-Toughness, Nanostructured Coatings for Gears and Axles 21.1 Description 21.2 The Technological Proposal 21.3 SWOT Analysis 21.4 The Project 21.5 Result 21.6 Lessons Chapter 22: Case Study 3: Advanced Energy Cells for Portable Power Tools and Other Devices 22.1 Description 22.2 The Technological Proposal 22.3 SWOT Analysis 22.4 The Project 22.5 Result 22.6 Lessons Chapter 23: Case Study 4: Advanced Nanostructured Coatings for High-Precision Turning of Very Hard Materials 23.1 Description 23.2 The Technological Proposal 23.3 SWOT Analysis 23.4 The Project 23.5 Result 23.6 Lessons Chapter 24: Case Study 5: Nanostructured Medical Preparation 24.1 Description 24.2 The Technological Proposal 24.3 SWOT Analysis 24.4 The Project 24.5 Result 24.6 Lessons Chapter 25: Case Study 6: Specialist Cross-Platform Interface Software 25.1 Description 25.2 The Technological Proposal 25.3 SWOT Analysis 25.4 The Project 25.5 Result 25.6 Lessons Chapter 26: Case Study 7: Low-Cost Inorganic Pigments 26.1 Summary 26.2 Description 26.3 The Technological Proposal 26.4 SWOT Analysis 26.5 The Project 26.6 Result 26.7 Lessons Chapter 27: Case Study 8: Low-Cost Contact Brushes for High-Power Electric Motors 27.1 Summary 27.2 Description 27.3 The Technological Proposal 27.4 SWOT Analysis 27.5 The Project 27.6 Result 27.7 Lessons PartPart50005704509 Chapter 28: Glory Years 28.1 Going Public 28.2 Under Siege 28.3 In Summary Chapter 29: Decline and Renewal 29.1 In Summary Chapter 30: Closing Remarks 30.1 In Summary Appendices Appendix A Sample of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Appendix B Sample of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Appendix C Sample of a Technology Transfer (Licensing) Agreement Suggestions for Further Reading