Ideas, inventions and innovations

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U.S. Small Business Administration 
PI-1 
 
IDEAS, INVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS
Gerald Udell 
Director, CBRD 
Southwest Missouri State 
University 
 
Products / Ideas / Invention Series
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This publication replaces 
 
Can You Make Money With Your Idea or Invention?
and 
 
Ideas Into Dollars
Copyright 1989, Gerald Udell. All rights reserve. No part may be reproduced, transmitted or 
transcribed without permission of the author. SBA retains and irrevocable, worldwide, 
nonexclusive royalty-free, unlimited license to use this copyrighted material. 
While we consider the contents of this publication to be of general merit, its sponsorship by the 
U.S. Small Business Administration does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the views 
and opinions of the authors or the products and services of the companies with which they are 
affiliated. 
All of SBA's programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD 1 
INTRODUCTION 1 
 
THE INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION PROCESS 1 
 
IDEA GENERATION STAGE 1 
 
IDEA EVALUATION STAGE 
Technical Evaluation Programs 2 
Commercial Evaluation Programs 3 

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PROTECTING YOUR INVENTION
Trade Secrecy 3 
Patents 3 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STAGE 4 
 
PRECOMMERCIALIZATION STAGE 5 
 
PROMOTION AND MARKETING STAGE 
Innovation Centers 5 
Incubator Centers 6 
Management and Technical Assistance Centers 6 
U.S. Small Business Administration Business Development Programs 6