TII Innovation Journal

Fascinating Story about Taxol invention and Innovation

Frank Stephenson  tells the fantastic story of how Holton invented the anti-cancer blockbuster drug at Florida State University's Tech Transfer Office site: Click Here

The tortured trail of the best-selling cancer drug in history began 40 years ago this summer. A thunder-clap of uncommon science and luck, it's a grand story still in the telling.

Also a story of how collaboration between industry and university may turn foul when big money enters. This is a "must read" for all tech transfer office staff.

Big Blue Brainstorm

I fancy collective brainstorming, but this is just more than I can grasp! Wow. This is IBM's own explanation Click

Among the many forms of online collaboration that have been part of IBM's On Demand Workplace for years — from communities of interest, to teamrooms, to instant messaging and more — one has emerged recently that uses threaded discussions, an idea-rating system, and equal access for employees to enable large-scale, enterprisewide discussion, collaboration and decision making. We call these events "jams," and they are to traditional forms of culture change what jazz improvisation is to musical notation.

Big Blue Brainstorm: "IBM is putting some 100,000 heads together for an online Innovation Jam

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(Via BusinessWeek Online -- Innovation & Design.)

Finland’s road to further innovation

The Finnish government has outlined a new national strategy for keeping its innovation agenda fresh; despite having the world's most competitive economy, many in Finland worry that its highly successful research and innovation agenda is not as competitive as it should be. CORDIS FINNISH ORIGINAL

Ireland’s Competitiveness Strategy

THE CELTIC TIGER MOVES ON

Ireland’s Competitiveness Strategy: "

Growing research capability is a core component of the European Union’s drive to become the most competitive and dynamic, knowledge-driven economy. Ireland has fully embraced that challenge by releasing its Strategy for ‘Science, Technology and Innovation 2006 – 2013’.

According to Micheal Martin T.D., Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the strategy is based on a shared vision of placing Ireland firmly on the global map in terms of the excellence of our research and its application for the benefit of society.

Our strategy encompasses the steps we need to take to develop a world class research system, building on the model of competitive excellence adopted by the PRTLI and SFI initiatives. It addresses key human capital investments across the education system and industry. It provides mechanisms to translate knowledge into jobs and growth and, in this context, it takes forward the recommendations of the Enterprise Strategy Group and the Small Business Forum. The strategy establishes agendas for public sector research in Agriculture, Health, Environment and Natural Resources. It also addresses the vital international and all island dimensions of research and innovation.

Sources

• Ireland’s Strategy for Science,Technology and Innovation 2006 - 2013
• Strategy for Science,Technology and Innovation 2006 - 2013 (1.5MB PDF)

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(Via URENIO Portal: Innovation, Environments of Innovation, Intelligent Cities and Regions.)

Business Week: Past Knowledge Economy

New is: CREATIVITY ECONOMY. BW HAS LAUNCHED A Newsletter called Innovation Insider and a dedicated to covering the next generation of "hype" "economies": introducing the CREATIVITY ECONOMY: QUOTE Listen closely. There's a new conversation under way across America that may well change your future. If you work for Procter & Gamble Co. (PG ) or General Electric Co. (GE ), you already know what's going on. If you don't, you might want to stop what you're doing and consider this: Advertisement The Knowledge Economy as we know it is being eclipsed by something new -- call it the Creativity Economy. Even as policymakers and pundits wring their hands over the outsourcing of engineering, software writing, accounting, and myriad other high-tech, high-end service jobs -- not to mention the move of manufacturing to Asia -- U.S. companies are evolving to the next level of economic activity. What was once central to corporations -- price, quality, and much of the left-brain, digitized analytical work associated with knowledge -- is fast being shipped off to lower-paid, highly trained Chinese and Indians, as well as Hungarians, Czechs, and Russians. Increasingly, the new core competence is creativity -- the right-brain stuff that smart companies are now harnessing to generate top-line growth. The game is changing. It isn't just about math and science anymore. It's about creativity, imagination, and, above all, innovation.UNQUOTE

Redesigning Life to Make Ethanol

Another notch in the belt for innovation in "farming".

Redesigning Life to Make Ethanol: "Genetically engineered organisms can more efficiently produce ethanol from cheap and abundant sources of biomass, such as agricultural waste. It could make ethanol cost competitive."

(Via Technology Review Feed - BizTech Top Stories.)

China's Innovation System and the Move Toward Harmonious Growth and Endogenous Innovation

Another input to this blog's BRIC suite

China's Innovation System and the Move Toward Harmonious Growth and Endogenous Innovation: "Innovation: Management, Policy & Practice 8(1): 1-26"

(Via Innovation: Management, Policy Practice.)

Innovation Policy and Federalism: the German experience

Now we have got the analysis of why the German innovation POLICY suffers. That isn't to say that German innovation does...

Innovation Policy and Federalism: the German experience: "The German Innovation Policy is based on two strategic elements: innovation policy tries to build up innovation infrastructures mainly related to the generation of new knowledge with the help of big science associations. Simultaneously, innovation policy follows mission-oriented objectives (focusing on key technologies) and strives to improve knowledge diffusion (increasing the share of commercialised knowledge). Due to the German Federalism, both strategic elements are located on a federal and Lander level. Therefore, on regional and central level policymakers struggle with similar problems. In particular, the mission-oriented approach suffers from serious knowledge deficits and there is a political failure to pick the 'winners'. In addition, the mix of joint decision and finance schemes and autonomous decision structures on federal and regional levels cause inefficiencies, because not all responsibilities are efficiently allocated. A lack of transparency also exists, because the support schemes and instruments are too complex. Therefore, the division of labour between the federal state and the Lander beyond the infrastructure policy can be improved."

(Via Inderscience.)

Welcome to Tauno Kekäle

Tauno Kekäle has joined TII Journal's editorial group. Here is Tauno's greeting to you - and a smashing photo:
"I have currently been working as the professor of product development and innovation at the University of Vaasa for three years. The region of Vaasa is quite entrepreneurial but the innovation activity is mostly in the hands of big, mostly energy-related, companies. Thus, my main interest is to awaken people to the possibilities of doing also something else than just becoming a supplier of simple parts to these big companies, to become interested in the possibilities of technology research and the opportunities in new markets. During the about 25 years of my work experience I have also been heading a product development department of a medium-sized company, training and consulting SMEs in quality manaqement and start-ups in the practicalities of running a business, attempting to sell university research services to companies, and researching and writing technology policy papers and evaluating technology programmes. I am not the current world leader or guru in any of these areas, but may have the width of TT experience, contacts, and real interest in the area that may help just You, dear reader."

Farmers as Innovation Drivers? 5 BIG IDEAS

Ernst Max writes:
In Europe this sentence sounds crazy. Farmers here are simple administrators of a stupid "Common Agricultural Policy". I have watched New Zealand's development since the Kiwis liberated their economy back in the 1980s, among which the farmers. Before those times, NZ farmers produced whatever was subsidized and with grave environmental consequences. What a change since then.

The best indicator of this development is New Zealand's Crown Research Institutes and, in particular, AGresearch (web site here).

Five big Ideas (Download brochure: fantastic reading)
In their Science 2020 strategy, they have contributed 5 big ideas to guide the development of the farm sector:
Future dairy production – Double the value of dairy production while halving the costs and impacts on the environment.
Future meat and fibre production – Double the value of meat and fibre production while halving the costs and impacts on the environment
Pestilence-free New Zealand – Reducing the risk of pests and diseases gaining a foot-hold in New Zealand and helping to manage those already here
Agriculture and its communities – Working with rural communities and agribusinesses to ensure they both remain sustainable for future generations in a global environment
Opportunities beyond food and fibre – Working with other researchers in New Zealand and around the world to use our knowledge of agricultural plants and animals for valuable new opportunities.

Could you see this coming out of Brussels? Of course not!

SCIENCE MARKETING

TII normally stages an annual workshop called  Science Marketing Practitioners' Clinic. This year it's going be on 30-31 August 2006 in Brussels (B). The title is:

"Take Home a Marketing Action Plan for your Organisation that Really Works"
A two-day seminar for people who wish to apply them specifically to the needs and constraints of research and technology-based organisations.

Coach is Judy Marcure (guest editor on this site). CLICK TO READ MORE

TII Summer School

TII SUMMER SCHOOL
This year's summer school, will take place from 11 to 15 September in the south-eastern Hungarian city of Szeged. This is the association's flagship training event which brings together in a one-week programme 5 stand-alone training workshops covering different aspects of managing the innovation and research exploitation process, taught by practitioners for practitioners.

The subjects being covered this year are:

Day 1: An Introduction to Innovation Management
Day 2: Making the Business Case for Technology Opportunities
Day 3: The Commercialization of a Knowledge-Intensive Business Idea
Day 4: Building Success in International Project Management
Day 5: Marketing Scientific Results and Services in a Turbulent Environment - What is Really Working in Technology Marketing and Commercialization Today?

Our trainers, who come from Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia are all seasoned professionals who are well placed to share their in-depth, practical experience of their subject with the participants. The workshops offer a lively mix of theory and practice delivered via presentations, case studies and group work, all in a relaxed, multi-cultural training environment.

This year, we have chosen the beautiful spa city of Szeged in south-eastern Hungary as our venue; often referred to as the City of Sunshine. The city is the cultural and economic centre of the Great Plain region and a thriving university town.

Interested in participating? Read more Click to see the details

Search Engine and Matchmaking event shapes new NANO future for corporate business

Ernst Max Nielsen writes:
One of my heroes is Jacob Bar, who has developed the world's best search engine ((Click to test)  for technology transfer professionals. JBEngine lives up my criteria, Click here to read more)

This case is about a global Aerospace development and manufacturing company with a turnover of more than 1$ Billion. Read on and download the pdf file to see how Jacob used his tool to change the thinking of this corporate company.

The company expressed interest in learning how to integrate nanotechnology applications into their products and manufacturing processes in order to enhance their competitiveness in the global market.

In spite of the fact that the company had began to study the field of nanotechnology they admitted that they were unsure of how to get real benefit from nanotech and how to push it downstream into their process and end products.

The company's senior technical management requested from Jacob Bar to provide them with a reiew of relevant nanotechnology providers in the market.

As a suggestion to help them move forward more quickly and effectively, Jacob proposed to go one step further beforehand by having them define technological problem areas and  actively seeking solutions form organizations having relevant technology and capabilities in the nano arena.

As such, it was proposed to hold an event using a method called "Problem Solving Matchmaking".

Download pdf file about the event.

New Nano Commercialization web site

MaxInno has created a sister weblog, namely a Nano weblog with a focus on commercialization. (click to have a look).

The primary focus is on how nanotechnology passes from science to market, creating a new "industrial revolution" similar to what IT did in the 1980s or perhaps even more profound.
 

TII Innovation Journal

Welcome to TII's Innovation Journal.
TII is Europe's premier association of and for innovation and technology transfer professionals.TII's web site . This weblog has a focus on topics such:
- BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) as innovation source
- Value Innovation (Blue Ocean Strategy)
- Commercializaton of Inventions
- Innovation & Technology Management (Techniques)
- Financing models for R&D and Innovation
- Specialized search engines for the profession (such as JBEngine)
- Also TII's 2006 Annual Conference was supported by the site.

We collect articles from different sources and make them available to our readers/members.

We have invited a series of guest-editors to comment upon articles and to write their own articles.

You can allso become a guest editor. Just send an email to tii@tii.org and ask for a password (with a short justification of your request).

NEW: Innovation in Farming. Wouldn't it be nice if European farmers became the prime innovators, not slaves of a stupid "Common Agricultural Policy".

Base innovation stagnation combat on 10 global trends

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Base innovation stagnation combat on 10 global trends: "

In her latest article Stephanie N. Mehta, FORTUNE senior writer on June 29 2006 is referring to Diana Farrell, director of McKinsey Global Institute, McKinsey & Co,’s economic think tank. Farell says her firm has seen the phenomenon of innovation stagnation all too often. To help business leaders combat innovation stagnation, she’s assembled a list of ten trends that every businessperson needs to think about — and if he’s bright, he’ll figure out innovative ways to capitalize on these trends.

The trends were thought-provoking enough that it was decided to provide you with a crib sheet of all ten ideas. Now get innovating - before some other guy does.

1. Centres of economic activity are shifting.
2. The public sector is overburdened.
3. New consumers are coming.
4. People lead social lives in a technologically connected world.
5. Watch for turbulent tides of talent.
6. The free market has a social cost.
7. Limited resources, unlimited demand.
8. New global industry structures are taking hold.
9. A new science of management will emerge.
10. A new economics of knowledge will evolve.

Related sources

http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/29/magazines/fortune/pluggedin.fortune

"

(Via URENIO Portal: Innovation, Environments of Innovation, Intelligent Cities and Regions.)

Nine Patent Tools for you....

Extremely interesting set of tools for the IP manager

Nine Patent Tools for you....: "

PatTools.com has nine different patent tools available which my readers may enjoy:

Claim Chart Generator (for issued patents and patent applications) This tool automatically creates a claim chart template for your use. The Claim Chart Generator includes multiple options for formatting the claim chart including the number of columns in the chart and page orientation. The Claim Chart Generator can also generate charts for specific patent claims, all claims, or all independent claims.

Patent Navigator This tool automatically creates a web page containing a patent and provides options to view the entire patent or to view only portions of a patent. Options include viewing only high-level information regarding a patent (such as the only the title, abstract, and other information commonly found on the front page) and/or only the independent claims. Great for quickly reviewing patents at a very high level.

Independent Claim Comparison Chart Generator This tool automatically creates a claim chart with all of the independent claims side-by-side for your use. Very useful for comparing independent claims and identifying similarities (or differences) between independent claims. Claim Tree Generator This tool automatically creates a tree of all claims for your convenience. The tree provides the user with a quick view of the dependencies for all claims in a patent.

Patent Information Table Generator This tool creates a table of various information fields for multiple patents. Some examples of supported information fields include title, filing date, and inventors. This may be one of the most useful tools when creating reports.

Patent-to-PDF Generator (NEW!) This tool automatically creates a PDF of a US patent. Unlike other online tools which may cost money, image-only PDFs of US patents are free! For a nominal fee, you can also have the patent OCR'd so that it is text searchable!

USPTO Patent Link Generator This tool automatically creates hyperlinks to any patent numbers you provide. Useful for inserting into documents and spreadsheets where you want your patent numbers to hyperlink to the USPTO website.

Search Assignment Tool (NEW!) This tool creates a report of all assignment information retrieved from the Assignment Database search on the USPTO website. Huge timesaver when there are a lot of results.

Patent Summary This tool automatically creates a web page containing high-level patent information for any number of supplied patents. The high-level information includes abstract, inventorship and priority information, and the claims. Great for quickly reviewing a large number of patents at a very high level.

Other such tools can be found at the bottom of my patent downloading guide.

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(Via The Invent Blog :: Patent Blog of Patent Attorney / Patent Lawyer Stephen M. Nipper.)