Abstract
The lecture describes some of the problems of putting inventions into practical use, drawing largely on the author's experience in the National Research Development Corporation. The functions of NRDC in exploiting inventions and in supporting their development are described. Various sources of inventions—private individuals, public research, and industrial companies—are discussed with particular considerations which arise in each case. Methods of assessing research and development projects are described and the importance to be attached to the technical, management, and selling aspects is examined.
The lecture is illustrated by some of the unexpected incidents which can occur. Although the author is unable to make startling confidential revelations he takes examples from successful and unsuccessful NRDC projects. He attempts to draw some conclusions which may be of general interest to those associated with the many interesting aspects of innovation.
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