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THE INVENTOR ADVISORY SERVICE

Kasper Birkeholm Munk,Leader of the Inventor Advisory Service2

Welcome to the Inventor Advisory Service

At the Inventor Advisory Service (IAS) we be-lieve that great ideas are all around us just waiting to be discovered.

From our 40 years of experience, we have seen first-hand that ideas and concepts do not just come into existence from fancy laboratories - they can appear due to everyday inspiration, in your kitchen, garage or classroom. Looking at the world through these lenses, we see enormous potential for innovation, potential which can bring growth on both the business and societal level.

Our specialty is to nurture these ideas and make it easier for the inventors to make them come alive. Our approach is based on ‘help to help yourself’. The goal is to coach and empower the inventor to become the

lead driver in the commercialization process.The IAS is run by the Centre for Ideas and Innovation at the Danish Technological Insti-tute.

We hope you will enjoy this little booklet about the quintessential Danish Inventor Advisory Service. If you have questions, comments or feel inspired to leverage the idea potential of citizens in your country, do not hesitate to get back to us. We would be happy to collaborate and share our insights.

Kasper Birkeholm MunkLeader of the Inventor Advisory Service

Centre for Ideas and InnovationDanish Technological Institute

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CONTENT

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Danish Technological Institute6-7

Centre for Ideas and Innovation

The Inventor Advisory Service

The Inventor School Service

FabLab TI

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10-19

20-25

26-31

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Danish Technological Institute

Danish Technological Institute (DTI) is a self-owned, not-for-profit organization. From our independent standpoint in the market, we develop, apply and dissemina-te research and technological knowledge to the international business sector.

Drawing on our solid foundation of over 100 years of research in various areas, our thirty-eight business units contribute to the development of both the private and public sphere on multiple levels.

Our mission – your valueOur most important task is to ensure that new and innovative knowledge and tech-nology is quickly converted into value for our customers. This value can take many forms such as new and improved pro-

ducts, materials, processes, methods and organizational structures.

Combining our main areas of knowledge with multiple testing facilities both in Denmark and abroad our main areas of expertise are:

» Innovation and competitiveness » Management and training » Sustainable exploitation of resources

We also carry out consultancy and stan-dardization services, which contribute to a dynamic and harmonious development of society.

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» FACTSDTI’s revenue in 2013 was EUR 145 million:

» Ten percent from performance contracts » Twenty-four percent from research and development activities » Twenty-seven percent from international customers » Thirty-nine percent from Danish customers

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» FACTSCentre for Ideas and Innovation’s areas of expertise:

» Strategic product or service development » Screening of ideas and business concepts » Commercialization of ideas or IPR under license » Developing and implementing new business models » Open and employee-driven innovation processes » Identifying trends within new technological solutions

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Centre for Ideas and Innovation

As one of DTI’s thirty-eight business units, our area of expertise is innova-tive business development. We strive to create effective synergies between companies, public organizations, re-search institutions, end users and citizens.

Participating in large, publicly finan-ced projects, both nationally and in-ternationally, we perform commercial activities in the field of innovation, idea development, business develop-ment and new business models with companies and public institutions of all sizes.

Our mission – your growthAt the Centre for Ideas and Innova-

tion, it is our goal to make it easier for companies or public organizations to grow and develop their potential. Whether it is a new product line, or-ganizational structure or a more crea-tive mindset – we have the innova-tive toolbox needed to take on every aspect of the process.

Customized processOur approach is to customize our in-novation techniques to the indivi-dual organizational culture we meet in each task and adapting to the specific challenges and creative op-portunities. The key motivation is to enable innovation, making it easier for people and organizations to de-velop and grow.

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The Inventor Advisory Service

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The Inventor Advisory Service

The IAS is a unique innovation constel-lation, which at present only exists in Denmark. Since its start in 1972 the aim of the IAS has been to offer free of charge support, advice and counsel-ling to Danish citizens with great ideas. Since then, we have been helping in-ventors to commercialize their ideas by licensing them to existing companies.

Your idea can come to lifeThe IAS is funded by the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation and reaches out to more than 5000 Danish citizens every year. As a result, approximately 1000 unique inventions are screened. On average, since 1972 we have helped 15-20 inventors nego-tiate license agreements with existing

companies each year and in the process screened more than 40,000 inventions. One can imagine the breadth and varie-ty of ideas and inventions that we have seen during the lifetime of the IAS.

Every step of the wayOur advisors support inventors from early conceptualization to commercia-lization in a distinctly practical way. Based on the concept of ‘help to help yourself’ we coach and empower the inventor to become the lead driver in his own commercialization process. Our advisors are experts in intellectual property rights and legal processes, which give an inventor the necessary help and guidance towards success.

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» FACTSTotal turnover generated in 16 companies from license agreements is DKK 2.76 billion (EUR 370 million) and 333 Danish jobs in the period from 2000-2009 (IAS’s impact assessment).

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The Inventor Advisory Service - Case 1

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Window fastener keeps thieves out of Danish homes

After several break-ins in his home, precision me-chanic Jan Pedersen was getting tired of his win-dows always being broken into by thieves. Mo-tivated to find a solution, he used his mechanical skills to develop a more durable window fastener.

Early in the process, Jan Pedersen involved the IAS and during the proces of develloping the fastener, different companies were presented with the product. Unfortunately, none of the companies took an interest.

After a long process and search for an intere-sted company, he met Lindrucker Aps, a company which makes safe home solutions and whose CEO also experienced multiple break-ins to his home. Together they developed a virtually unbreakable window fastener.

A rewarding journeyThe window fastener is currently sold at selected DIY centers, locksmiths and web shops. Further-more, the largest insurance companies in Den-mark recommend the fastener. In total, it took five years for Jan Pedersen’s invention to travel from his kitchen table to the shelves of a store.

How did we help? The IAS helped the inventor make contact to re-levant companies and likewise advised him during preparation of the product presentation. In additi-on, the IAS facilitated access to documentation and recommendations from technical experts at the DTI and other external partners. All geared towards marketing his product to interested companies. The IAS also introduced the inventor to a company wi-thin our extensive business network that proved to be a good match. Then the IAS took part in the negotiations and drafted the license agreement between the two parties.

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» FACTSThe Inventor Advisory Service is a public scheme that has been financed by the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation since 1972. Since then, the service has undergone further development and now in-cludes the Inventor School Service and a FabLab.

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The Inventor Advisory Service - Case 2

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New assistive lift technology reduces risk of back injury for healthcare staff

Back problems are the most common type of work-related injuries amongst healthcare workers in Denmark. Lifting elderly people when they have fallen is a common cause for these injuries. For many years, the only solu-tion has been heavy technical machinery such as lifts – at least until Anders Søndergaard, a mechanical engineer, came along.

A journey of developmentIt took the inventor a great deal of trial and error before he was able to create a battery operated, light, easy to use and mobile lifting chair to help people get back on their feet in a quick and safe manner.

Anders Søndergaard first notified the IAS about his idea in 2012, and the search for a

suitable company to produce the chair began.

A dynamic partnership The search led to the company Liftup A/S. Wi-thin half a year, the company developed the Raizer Chair, where the back is pushed under-neath an injured person, and an engine ele-vates the person to a seated or standing po-sition. With this, healthcare workers are not required to do heavy lifting. Anders Sønderga-ard decided to sell his invention to Liftup A/S for a one-time fee.

How did we help? The IAS assisted and guided the inventor throughout the process and facilitated the final agreement between the inventor and Liftup A/S.

The Inventor Advisory Service - Case 3

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Trine got tired of having a sticky handball ruining the content of her training bag

Handballs are sticky because of the resin used by handball players to get a good, firm grip of the ball and to make precise passes during training and matches. Trine Bruun Andersen, a pro handball player, got tired of getting the contents of her training bag ruined by the resin.

A prototype made on grandmother’s se-wing machineOne day she took matters into her own hands and created a bag for her handball using her grandmother’s old sewing ma-chine.

Trine Bruun Andersen then contacted the Danish manufacturer of sporting goods, Se-lect. The company did not immediately buy

into the idea. Nevertheless, Trine Bruun Andersen persistently collected valuable statements from retail stores and potential customers to prove to the company that there was an actual need in the market.

The company finally realized the potential in Trine’s invention and is now serving a market with well over 120,000 people play-ing handball – in Denmark alone.

How did we help her?Trine Bruun Andersen systematically follo-wed the Inventor’s 10 Step Model develo-ped by the IAS. During initial contact with different companies and especially during final negotiations, the IAS played a lead role in securing a good deal for her and signing a state of the art license agreement.

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The Inventor School Service

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» FACTSEach year we train and educate more than 2000 stu-dents and teachers. Our approach is distinctly prac-tical and hands-on with focus on idea development and idea validation through prototyping, visualiza-tion and user involvement.

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The Inventor School Service

The Inventor School Service offers edu-cation and training for educational insti-tutions - both teachers and students at all levels. The School Service’s approach to working with entrepreneurship and in-novation is distinctly practical. Inspired by creativity theory and innovative theory of teaching the training is designed to give teachers and students a transformative learning experience.

Innovation in practiceThe Inventor School Service employs prac-tical methods and tools aimed especially at the early stages of idea generation and idea validation. Students and teachers are trained to identify new areas of innova-tion and to converte these into relevant concept development through a hands-on

approach often using the FabLab TI work-shop for model and prototype building.

Solving real life problemsTraining is typically based on real life challenges sourced from local businesses or organizations. This approach is highly motivating for the students and it also creates increased collaboration between educational institutions, local businesses, and society.

Outreach and a strong networkThe Inventor School Service has an im-mense outreach with educational institu-tions all over Denmark. Likewise, we parti-cipate as judges, mentors and jurors in all major innovation and entrepreneur-ship competitions in Denmark.

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» FACTSThe focal point of the Inventor School Service is the practical art of working with idea development, proto-typing, visualization of ideas, and idea validation. The service is free of charge.

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» FACTSSolving real life problems in an educational setting makes idea development relevant. It is highly motivating for students to work with real life customers and recognizable issues. It generates a lot of positive energy and strong learning in the process.

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Students co-create solutions for Denmark’s largest music festival

The Danish music festival, Roskilde Festi-val, attracts more than 100,000 guests every year. During this week-long festival the large crowd creates tons of garbage, including four million cigarette butts and over a million pla-stic cups. When the crowd leaves, a trail of garbage including thousands of tents and tent poles stay behind, causing a hazard to the cattle that normally graze in the festival venue fields.

Together with Osted Continuation School, the Inventor School Service decided to take ac-tion.

Divergent thinking churns out new solutionsThe Inventor School Service facilitated a day-long workshop involving the students in sta-

te of the art creative idea development. The outcome was fantastic and many solutions resulted. Some focused on reuse of garbage as raw materials in other processes; some fo-cused on awareness creation; and some had a more conceptual or product-specific focus.

Two specific solutions caught the attention of the festival organizers – a small, portable ashtray made of reusable materials and the idea of painting tent poles with orange lumi-nescent paint, making them easier to find by cleaning crews.

A prototype come to lifeRoskilde Festival was very pleased with the many different suggestions and have already implemented some of the ideas, including the portable ashtray which is offered to the fe-stival crowd.

The Inventor School Service - Case 1

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FabLab TI

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» FACTSFabLab is short for Fabrication Laboratory. A FabLab is a technical prototyping platform for innovation and inventions, providing stimulus for local entrepreneur-ship. The first FabLab originated from MIT and there are now more than 350 FabLabs around the world.

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FabLab TI- Fabrication Laboratory

”A small industrial revolution to de-mocratize the development of new products and concepts,” the Mayor of Høje-Taastrup on the opening of the IAS’ FabLab TI.

The goal of the FabLab TI is to of-fer a creative and high technology prototype workspace to all citizens.

Professional tools and coaching 3D-printers, laser cutters and CNC machines are all available at the FabLab TI. Activities range from peer-to-peer project-based techni-cal training to local problem-solving and small-scale prototype develop-ment and innovative business trai-ning. At all times the FabLab emplo-

yees are ready with innovative coaching and practical experience. FabLab TI is open to the public two days a week.

A strong historyThe lab is a part of the movement first started by Massachusetts In-stitute of Technology (MIT).

Besides offering high tech equip-ment to all citizens, the only de-mand of a FabLab is that it must continue to evolve and share the innovative knowledge generated. FabLabs have spread to over 40 countries including Boston in USA, rural India, South Africa to the north of Norway.

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» FACTSFabLabs share a common set of tools and proces-ses. A prototyping facility is not the equivalent of a FabLab. A 3D-printer is not a FabLab. The idea is that all the labs can share knowledge, designs, and collaborate across international borders.

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» FACTSA FabLab is a platform for learning and innovation: a place to play, to create, to learn, to mentor, and to invent. To be a FabLab means connecting to a global community of learners, educators, technologists, researchers, makers and innovators - a knowledge sharing network that spans across 40 coun-tries and 24 time zones. Because all FabLabs share common tools and processes, the movement is building a global net-work, a distributed laboratory for research and invention.

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Sustainable household waste management

The environmental effects of house-hold waste is one of the biggest challenges facing municipalities and regions in most western countries. A busy household can generate a great deal of waste, and the amount of household waste can increase radi-cally in developed countries, which rely heavily on packaging for a wide variety of products.

For people living in apartments, the space required to implement sorting solutions makes it difficult for them to actually use the sorting solutions at hand.

Together with FabLab TI, two stu-

dents have put their invention, the sustainable waste pockets, on the market.

Open-source designThe sustainable waste pockets are a multifunction garbage sorting sy-stem which can be adjusted to fit precise settings. The idea came from two students - Anne Berg Villumsen and Tobias Tøstesen. The first pro-totype came to life at the FabLab TI. Inspired by the vision behind the Fab-Lab the two students used co-creati-on and social media to get feedback on their design.

Finally, the IAS helped the two stu-dents get a license deal with the company Valbeing.

FabLab TI - Case 1

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CONTACT The Inventor Advisory Service:Kasper Birkeholm MunkLeader of the Inventor Advisory ServiceCell: +45 72 20 28 05Email: kbmk@dti.dk

The Inventor School Service:Anette Høgh SonnichsenConsultant at the Inventor School ServiceCell: +45 72 20 28 52Email: ahso@dti.dk

FabLab TI:Rune RexConsultant at FabLab TICell: +45 72 20 11 53Email: rrx@dti.dk