Trevor Bayliss, the inventor of the wind-up radio, came up with the idea of an academy for inventors. Now the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in London is to provide the new British Academy of Invention with office space so that they can set up and fundraise the £250,000 they need.
'Members will be able to bring their inventions along for impartial advice'
The academy will be open to any inventor, whether or not professionally qualified. Members will be able, says John Ling, a member of the academy's organising committee, to bring their inventions along for impartial advice.
In return for help, the academy will share in the rewards when an invention is sold or licensed.
Trevor Bayliss had to work for years to get his wind-up radio launched: "I had no help with patenting, preparing a business plan or even the astronomical cost of translation of patents. Yet it has been estimated that Britain has lost a total of £165 billion through inventions made here but exploited abroad."
The British Academy of Invention, c/o The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1 Birdcage Walk, London SW1, UK (tel 020 7222 7899).
Unbiased advice for inventors and businesses developing new products is also provided by the Institute of International Licensing Practitioners (Suite 73, Kent House, 87 Regent Street, London W1R 7HF, UK, tel 020 7287 0200). This has a professional body of advisers who act on behalf of clients in all aspects of exploiting product developments and inventions.
Summarised from an article in the Times, entitled 'Isolated British inventors get help at last' by Nigel Hawkes (June 15th 1999).
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