Innovation, Entrepreneurialism, and Intellectual Property from a Technologist’s Point of View

The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.2312/egve.20162028We will discuss the key elements of taking an idea from its conception to commercialized product, with a particular focus on how this happens (or more importantly doesn’t happen often enough) within universi- ties. Technology transfer is how a technical innovation is able to exit the laboratory in order to become a product. How does that work? Who is involved? We will then discuss the open innovation model whereby technical innovations are spun out via licensing or sale, and they are also brought in via the same means. Innovation has become a sociological phenomenon, but we have to understand how it works in practice, how we can and should protect our ideas, and thus put our innovations in the best possible position to suc- ceed. The discussion will conclude with thoughts on what universities can do to be a catalyst rather than a barrier to technical innovation and successful commercial ventures that have their roots in the university