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How do you decide on a merchant account provider? How much does an account cost? This guide gives quick tips for business owners that want to set up
The crown jewel of the U.S. university system – the finest in the world – is the research university, where knowledge creation is the ultimate goal. Recognition of the centrality of knowledge creation to economic growth makes the efficiency of university innovation a top concern to policymakers, especially since the federal government funds two-thirds of the $48 billion of R&D performed in academic institutions. In too many universities, commercialization of research discoveries is not as rapid or as successful as it could be. The solution provided by Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) has been mixed, as too many have been directed to focus on maximizing revenue through patent licensing, leading to a sub-optimal level of technology diffusion. In the face of declining funding of basic science research, venture capital migration to downstream opportunities, and heightened competition from abroad, the optimal commercialization of U.S. university innovations could not be more important.
When Bill Payne realized one of his company's patented products was being infringed by a key vendor, he knew he was in a difficult position to protect his patent. Payne and his team explored their options, including litigation, and decided to try and persuade them to stop their patent infringement practice.
To develop a solid IP protection strategy, accumulate patent protection on as many of the unique and novel aspects of your product as possible. Approach the challenge of creating a patent strategy by considering all the components of your product, such as its design, its use, and its manufacture.
Obtaining financing to commercialize intellectual property is tricky, because intangible assets may have value independently of the business built upon them. In a dot-com world where knowledge is currency, cost and revenue are no longer adequate measures of value. Inventor David Martin's business is soaring on the wings of software that factors new elements into the equation for putting a price on intellectual property.
Creativity is all about finding innovative solutions to difficult problems, says an engineer who did just that to build what is now the country's fifth largest craft brewery. The article looks at how that principle applies to manufacturing, management, marketing and product development.
The entrepreneur who founded and ran The North Face (from its inception onward) tells his story about how his company was driven by the overwhelming need for innovation and a solid innovation strategy. To succeed in his industry, the author reveals his step-by-step method he used to innovate and eventually surpass the competition while building one of the industry's venerable brands.
At age 25, Laura Sanko was a founding member of a startup that raised $3.5 Million from some world-famous investors and the Founder’s Fund. The business model was simple: a website that rented high-end jewelry for special occasions for a fraction of the retail value of each piece. Three years later, the investment money was all gone and while the site continued to operate, it had failed to meet the investors’ expectations.
A company's name is a major intangible asset--but even a federal trademark may not be enough to protect it. This entrepreneur, owner of a media services business, discovered the difficulty in defending his intellectual property against a competitor with deeper pockets. Although he expected to win his case, the prohibitive cost of going to trial led instead to a settlement.
This accomplished entrepreneur matches practical tips from Peter Drucker's book, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with innovative product moves developed by real-life growth companies. The entrepreneur author shows how these companies apply key tactics, such as tracking demographics and customer preferences, that are detailed as principles by Drucker.
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