Inventor's checklist

Do you have an idea or invention? Could it be turned into a profitable business? Take a look at the checklist:

• Determine what problem your idea or invention solves, how it can be turned into a product or service concept and who needs it.
• Evaluate the benefits, relevance and marketability of the idea.
• Evaluate the technical solution, functionality, economy, costs, funding and manufacturing possibilities. Compare your idea with competitors already present on the market.
• Examine the novelty and patentability or other protectability of your invention.
• Do not present your invention publicly at fairs, events, in the media or publications until you have studied whether it is worth applying for protection by intellectual property rights, e.g. a patent.
• If your idea is based on an invention, make sure that you really own it. Is it an employee invention? Does it enter into the scope of the Act on the Right in Inventions made at Higher Education Institutions?
• Consider whether you want to start your own company or sell the rights to the product based on your idea or invention.
• Think about who would be responsible for developing your idea.
• Think about how you would handle the sales and marketing of the product or service based on your idea.
• Contact organisations providing advisory, assessment and funding services.