Encouraging the Initiation of Invention/Innovation.

摘要

Uniquely successful methods of encouraging early stages of the invention/innovation process have been demonstrated by the Innovative Concepts Program (ICP). This program provides modest seed money and substantial nonfinancial assistance to overcome the environmental and cultural factors that retard or prevent scientists and engineers from formulating their ideas into innovative concepts and preparing them for presentation to potential sponsors. The ICP was initiated by the Office Of Energy Utilization Research in the Department of Energy (DOE) five years ago to develop and demonstrate methods of turning research ideas into innovative concepts thus increasing the inventory of potential new program starts. The program is an ''invention laboratory'' harvesting potential breakthrough concepts to be considered for further development by other federal programs and by industry. The ICP invention laboratory encourages the development of immature concepts fundamentally different from current practice having the potential for saving energy and increasing productivity. The ICP is managed for the DOE by Pacific Northwest Laboratory. The program targets areas where new approaches are needed, solicits concepts, provides seed money ($15--20,000) and connects concept originators with potential sponsors who may provide follow-on funding. The program has far exceeded expectations. ICP methods are ready for application/adaptation in a wide variety of industrial or institutional environments to initiate and accelerate the first steps of the technology transfer process while reducing costs and risks to participants. ICP methods and results are described in this paper. (ERA citation 13:054010)