Received: from ATHENA-AS-WELL.MIT.EDU by po7.MIT.EDU (5.61/4.7) id AA27696; Tue, 12 Jul 94 18:06:13 EDT Received: from vtbit.cc.vt.edu by MIT.EDU with SMTP id AA17591; Tue, 12 Jul 94 18:06:08 EDT Message-Id: <9407122206.AA17591@MIT.EDU> Received: from VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU by VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 9812; Tue, 12 Jul 94 17:41:53 EDT Received: from VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU (NJE origin LISTBIT@VTBIT) by VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 8213; Tue, 12 Jul 1994 17:41:51 -0400 Date: Tue, 12 Jul 1994 17:38:00 -0400 Reply-To: DAVID.CROUCH@HQ.DOE.GOV Sender: Technology Transfer in International Development From: DAVID.CROUCH@HQ.DOE.GOV Subject: Duluth MN National Innovation Workshop X-To: trlist@smu.edu, technology-transfer-list@sei.cmu.edu, techserv@nist.gov, ecixfiles@igc.org, econ-dev@csn.org, devel-l@auvm.american.edu, crea-cps@nic.surfnet.nl, "ev on listserv"@sjsuvm1.sjsu.edu@hqrtmta1.doe.gov, hit%ufrj.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu, 76711.1246@compuserve.com To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L NATIONAL INNOVATION WORKSHOP For the Upper Midwest Region MAKING INVENTION PAY DULUTH, MINNESOTA September 9-10, 1994 A cooperative effort of Federal and regional programs to provide practical guidance and information to innovative businesses, entrepreneurs, and inventors U.S. Department of Energy Purpose The purpose of this workshop is to help you as an innovator, developer of new technologies, entrepreneur, or inventor bring your ideas to the marketplace. A wide range of individual workshops offers the opportunity for direct and personal interaction with practical and "hands on" presenters. Workshop Topics The Invention Process 1. Describing Your Idea Effectively - How to describe a new technology, innovation, or invention when requesting evaluation, seeking financial support, or presenting the idea to others. 2. Protecting Your Idea - Legal protection available to an inventor from idea through commercialization, using patents, trademarks, and/or copyrights. Operation of the patenting system. 3. Sources of Information - A display and discussion of general and specific information available to inventors. Technical and business information may include commercial and free computer databases, local library patent depositories, research available, and more. Commercializing Inventions 4. Commercializing Your Invention - Overview of alternative strategies and tactics for reaching the marketplace including licensing, joint ventures, and venturing. 5. Estimating The Value of Your Invention - What is the difference between pricing and valuing the product? How to estimate the commercial and financial worth of an idea, assess market value, and price the product. 6. Licensing - When is licensing desirable or essential? How to find a licensee, negotiate a license, and develop both domestic and inter-national license agreements. An alternative to manufacturing and marketing an invention. 7. Structuring An Organization to Grow - Legal and structural aspects of starting your business and planning for future growth of your product line, profits, and personnel. 8. Business Planning - Detailed steps in developing a business plan, including market analysis, sales forecasting, staffing, cost projections, projected financial statements, capital requirements, and financing. 9. Marketing Methods, Techniques, and Practices for Marketing and Selling New Technologies - Who your real markets are and what you must do to reach them. How to identify and circumvent market and industry barriers. Introduction to concepts such as market segmentation and product positioning. 10. Early-Stage Financing - Discussion of various kinds and sources of financing available for different stages of technology development and business growth, including start-up, seed, operating, venture capital; limited partnerships; and public commercial financial institutions. Focus will be on early-stage financing for developing and testing new technologies for the marketplace. Sources of Assistance 11. Energy-Related Inventions Program (ERIP) - Discussion of program offering free technical evaluation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and financial support by the U.S. Department of Energy. 12. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) - Overview of Federal procurement program for small R & D firms that are developing innovative technologies. 13. State and Local Sources of Assistance - Overview of programs that provide assistance to inventors and entrepreneurs, such as Small Business Development Centers, innovation or incubation centers, and technical assistance centers. Special Topics 14. Invention Scams - Don't fall for them. Learn the proper questions to ask of inventor assistance organizations to protect your idea and your pocketbook. 15. Hands-On Patent Searching - Actual on-line computer searches of electronic data bases. Conduct patent searches, vendor searches, literature searches and find industry experts to assist in product development. 16. The Nuts & Bolts of Producing - Meet with manufacturers and prototype lab managers to learn about facilities, production lines, equipment and scheduling important to product development. 17. Biomedical Venturing and Assistive Technology - Meet with experts to discuss the unique factors in the evaluation and analysis of ventures and investment opportunities in the field of biomedical technology. 18. Toy and Game Inventing - Learn the ins and outs of toy and game inventing and marketing from the experts who review hundreds of new ideas each year for major companies. Notes o Special topics may be subject to change. o Subjects listed will be addressed by one or more workshop sessions. o Each workshop period will have 8-10 concurrent sessions so that during the 2 days participants may cover as many workshop topics as possible. o A final program schedule showing all topics will be distributed at registration. Program Friday, September 9, 1994 7:00 Open Registration 7:30 Continental Breakfast (provided) 8:45 Opening Remarks 9:00 Plenary Address Speaker: Dr. M. James Bensen, President, Bemidji State University 10:15 Break 10:30 Concurrent Workshops - Session 1 12:00 Lunch (provided) 1:00 Plenary Address Speakers: Paul and Susan Schurke, Wintergreen, Inc. 2:00 Concurrent Workshops - Session 2 3:15 Break 3:30 Concurrent Workshops - Session 3 5:00 Reception Saturday, September 10, 1994 8:15 Continental Breakfast (provided) 9:00 Plenary Address Speaker: David A. Fussell, Venture Source International 10:15 Break 10:30 Concurrent Workshops - Session 4 12:00 Lunch (provided) 1:00 Plenary Address Speaker:Dr. Greg Bambenek, "Dr. Juice" - Osmed Research 2:00 Concurrent Workshops - Session 5 3:15 Break 3:30 Concurrent Workshops - Session 6 4:45 Adjourn (Door Prize Drawings) Plenary Speakers Dr. M. James Bensen - Former president of "Dunwoody," a non-profit, endowed institute of technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dr. Bensen became president of Bemidji State University on July 1, 1994. His work and interests keep him involved in speaking, consulting, and writing on a variety of subjects including change, technology, educational excellence, quality and the future. Paul and Susan Schurke - Paul's expeditions to the North Pole produced a need for warm and durable clothing, which led to Susan's development of a new product line of outerwear. Their manufacturing/direct marketing business is located in Ely, Minnesota. Wintergreen, Inc.'s, story is a fascinating one with local origins and international markets. David A. Fussell - As president of a Fortune 200 company in charge of new product development, David Fussell had a brainstorm for an invention of his own. After research and development of the concept, he resigned as president of the company and never looked back. Mr. Fussell currently holds 11 patents, with five pending. He has negotiated licensing agreements with major U.S. corporations and developed a tape series entitled "The Secret to Making Your Invention a Reality." Dr. Greg Bambenek - "Dr. Juice" is an entertaining inventor who teaches sportspeople to use the power of biology to hunt and fish more successfully. Physician, anthropologist, outdoorsman and naturalist, "Dr. Juice" has revolutionized fishing with fish attractant products, biodegradable fishing lures and his newest product, DR. JUICE COVER SCENT R. Regional Sponsors Brewster Diversified Services Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Merchant and Gould, P.A. Minnesota Inventors' Congress Minnesota Technology, Inc. United Power Association University of Minnesota-Duluth Center for Economic Development Natural Resources Research Institute Minnesota Project Outreach (Partial listing) National Sponsors American Intellectual Property Law Association Association of Small Business Development Centers Licensing Executives Society National Technology Transfer Center United Inventors Association -- USA U.S. Department of Commerce (National Institute of Standards and Technology) U.S. Department of Energy Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Future Workshops Scheduled and Local Contacts: Anchorage, AK Paula Rasmus-Dede September 23-24, 1994 (907) 272-4333 Iowa City, IA Paul D. Heath October 28-29, 1994 (319) 335-3742 1-800-253-723 Louisville, KY Kenneth L. Blanford November 18-19, 1994 (502) 852-7854 For information on future workshops, contact: Dr. Norris Bell, NIW National Coordinator Virginia Tech 2990 Telestar Court Falls Church, VA 20042 (703) 698-6007 e-mail: cenova@vtvm1.cc.vt.edu Workshop Location All sessions of "Making Invention Pay" will be held at the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center (DECC), 350 Harbor Drive. Located on Duluth's waterfront, the DECC is also accessible by skywalk from the Holiday Inn. To access downtown: from I-35 Eastbound, exit at 5th Ave. West; from I-35 Westbound, exit at Lake Ave. Additional information about area attractions is available from the Duluth Convention & Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-4-DULUTH. Hotel Accommodations The Holiday Inn is Duluth's convention center hotel and features two restaurants, two pubs, and two swimming pools. Make your reservations early. September is peak fall color season on Lake Superior's North Shore! A block of rooms has been reserved at a special NIW rate of ?55/single and ?63/double. Be sure to mention the NIW for the conference discount. The Holiday Inn Duluth Downtown Waterfront 1-800-477-7089 (U.S. and Canada) Travel Arrangements Northwest Airlines is the official airline for the Upper Midwest NIW. Call NWA Meeting Services Reservation Desk for airfare discounts. Please refer to ticket designator NM56J. Travel window September 5-13, 1994, for NIW discount. Travel discounts apply to U.S. and Canadian travelers. Call 1-800-328-1111 (Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. CDT) ================================================================= Registration Form Duluth, Minnesota, September 9-10, 1994 Yes, I will attend the Duluth, Minnesota, National Innovation Workshop, Upper Midwest Region. My check for the registration fee of ?125.00 per person is enclosed. The fee covers instruction, materials, two breakfasts, two lunches, gala Friday evening reception at the DECC and coffee breaks. Name_____________________________________________________________ Title____________________________________________________________ Business Name____________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________ City/State/ZIP___________________________________________________ Telephone (W)___________________________________________________ Fax______________________________________________________________ Please circle the number of the six workshops you are most interested in attending. This information will help us plan room space. It in no way obligates you to attend only those sessions circled. (See "Workshop Topics," 1-18, other side.) The Invention Process: 1 2 3 Commercializing Inventions: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sources of Assistance: 11 12 13 Special Topics: 14 15 16 17 18 If you have any special access or dietary requirements, or any other special needs, please indicate by August 26:____________ ______________________________________________________________ ================================================================= Make NIW registration checks payable to: UMD NIW Conference Mail registration form and checks to: University of Minnesota-Duluth Center for Economic Development 150 SBE 10 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812-2496 For registration and program information, please contact: (Ms.) M. Lee Jensen UMD Center for Economic Development Phone: (218) 726-8758 Fax: (218) 726-6338 No refunds will be made after August 30, 1994. Substitutions are accepted anytime.