Innovation a mystery and a surpise

Posted on August 25, 2010 by gary oosta

The most recent R&D magazine has an interesting article on innovation success.  The article points out that there are three types of innovation: product innovation, process innovation and business model innovation.

The survey in the article confirms that software to guide and manage innovation remains one of the best kept secrets on the planet.   At the same time, the systems reviewed are reported to provide guidance that a VC cannot give and provides a way to make a stogy, closed company see the real situation.

All of these comments reflect decades of personal experience.  One of the best research teams I ever led was energized and guided by the patent maps we built and the literature study we did as a group.

The need for system to assist in innovation is real.  Stay tuned for more about ENTR Reports on Emerging New Technology Research.

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Costs and Renewable Energy

Posted on August 20, 2010 by gary oosta

I just spotted an interesting blog post by Ralf Sigrist that was published today (Aug 20th, 2010).  He describes the three layers of hidden costs in our current fossil fuel based energy systems.   As  a result of the hidden costs, renewable energy is labeled as “costly”.   Mr. Sigrist points  out that we are making apples vs oranges comparison.

I couldn’t agree more.  It is time for some new thinking and a lot more action in renewable energy!!!

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Six Benefits from Mapping Technology in New Product Development

Posted on August 16, 2010 by gary oosta

The utility of mapping technology (mapping patents and scientific literature) for a competitive advantage and to guide new product development remains one of best kept secrets on the planet.  Determining an ROI in quantitative terms remains difficult, but the intangible benefits are quite clear and span the key product development organizations within the company.  I’ve seen them over and over again.  Here’s what I’ve seen.  What have you seen?

Management … can see why a project is not a leap of faith.
What are the risks?  How should the project be staffed?
Which products/programs are under technological attack?
How to block competitors?  Decide important IP areas.

Investors … can see why the idea makes business sense and why it is strategically useful.
What are the risks and threats?  Invest where the competitive advantage is real.
Bus. Development can negotiate from a strong position, knowing more than the other side.
What technologies should we be acquiring or licensing?
What companies/universities should we partner with?
Are there strategic threats we should be aware of?

R&D Project Leaders … can prove that ideas are fundamentally sound before proposing a project
Where to invest, support, terminate, buy?
What new areas are my competitors investing in?
What technologies fit our company’s risk tolerance?

Project Teams … can judge new ideas and new information in an agreed upon context.

Marketing … can see their competitors from new perspective.

Strategic IP Management … can see how should to manage our IP portfolio?

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Business Opportunities in Trends

Posted on August 4, 2010 by gary oosta

My accountant sent an interesting article titled “Finding Business Opportunities in Trends”.    I think it might be a RanOne article, but seems to have been republished everywhere on the NET.  Click the link to see it

Yes!  It is a good idea to analyze your data for patterns.  They discuss analyzing sales for seasonal or hourly trends.  Absolutely!   But, don’t forget that there are all kinds of trends that are worth analyzing.

My soapbox is about analyzing trends in patenting and/or scientific publications.  I believe that analysis of patenting activity (at least) is one of the best kept secrets on the planet.  If  you do patent trend analysis as part of your technology forecasting program or your R&D program, you can see new product developments  up to five years into the future ACCURATELY.   I’ve done it regularly.

One of the biggest issues has been in the past that “it cost too much and took too long”, a nearly direct quote from one of my past managers.  I don’t know who exactly.  So the key is to do the analysis efficiently.   I believe that trend analysis IS becoming easier.  Business Analytics tools is a growing field with suppliers like Microsoft, Oracle and many others.  There are also lots of smaller players like Patent Insights.

It is time.  The secret is getting out.  If you are not tracking business analytics, business intelligence or competitive intelligence or patent mapping or any of the other names for the subject, you are missing the boat.

Many thanks to my accountant, Oldenburg Associates & Advisors, for sending me the article.

Posted in CTI & Technology Analytics Methods | 1 Comment

Algae and Biofuels

Posted on June 29, 2010 by gary oosta

I just came across two important posts and wanted to pass them on.

First see the article “Obama funds research into algae-based biofuels” which came out on the USA Today site.  From my personal perspective, there is little doubt that algae could play a big role in a clean energy program!

The other link in this article is to the National Algal Biofuels Roadamap.   This document was published in May 2010.  It says the US has a plan, the beginning of finding solutions.  Now, we just need to keep going and keep positive and stay innovative.

I’ve been tracking patenting in this area for some time.  Look for a technology tracking model to be posted in the not too distant future.

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SCIP 2010 – An Interesting Meeting

Posted on March 13, 2010 by gary oosta

This week, I attended SCIP 2010, the annual meeting of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals.  It seemed to me to be a smashing success with rapid fire programs and interesting networking opportunities.

On Tuesday afternoon, I presented a workshop entitled “Technology Mapping, Competitive Technical Intelligence and Strategic Decisions”.    The audience as about 40 people, nearly double what I was hoping for.   Many thanks to those who stopped by to talk afterwards and those who stopped me in the exhibition hall later.  If you missed the presentation, but would like a copy of the presentation, please send a message.

Posted in CTI & Technology Analytics Methods | 1 Comment

Mining with Robots a Reality

Posted on March 8, 2010 by gary oosta

In a recent Wall St. Journal, there was an article about Rio Tinto’s mining operations that involve a remote controlled satellite linked mining machine.   The idea sounds like Asimov or Avitar.   It seems like another bit of science fiction coming true.   I’ll be looking in more detail at this idea in future blog posts, but it is fascinating.

I’ll be taking a week’s sebatical and attending the SCIP 2010 meeting this week.  See you next week.

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Acqusitions on the Rise. How to screen for targets?

Posted on March 4, 2010 by gary oosta

Today’s Wall St. Journal article “With Fistfuls of Cash, Firms on Hunt” suggests that companies are ready to stop hoarding cash and start shopping.    The question is how can you find possible acquisition targets?    If your company is big enough, the target might be a rival or competitor.   But, what if you seek to acquire an organization with just the right technology to enhance a product offering or fill a niche.   How do you find the target?

To find just the right acquisition to boost technological skills in an area, PI suggests a process we call “Active Screening.”  In this case, we search patents broadly and organize the patents into market and technology categories and segments.  By using patents to find targets, we get a very large target list.  Then, using a simple model, it is possible to measure the technological fit between the target organization and the acquiring company.  The better the fit, the better the target, a good first step.

Patent Insights has been talking about this idea for some time.   In one example, we back tested the “goodness of fit” of SIRNA to Merck, a spectacular acquisition in the pharmaceutical (RNA interference) sector in 2006.  We back tested the acquisition using our active screening process. in 2008.   Our white paper outlines the process the approach for this example.

Obviously, active screening is just a first step.  You still need to evaluate financials, management fit, competition and a host of other critical issues, but active screening can broaden your list of targets.

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Controlling Regulations: A Competitive Edge

Posted on March 2, 2010 by gary oosta

While we think often about new technology as a key driver of new business, it isn’t the only method of gaining competitive advantage.  James K. Galbraith in his book “The Predator State” (see pages 178 & 179 in particular) reminds us that controlling regulations can be a source of competitive advantage too.  Today’s article in the Wall St. Journal “Natural Gas Tilts at Windmills in Power Feud” is a great example.  Is the playing field the same for natural gas and windpower?  Should it really be the same?     What technology could level the playing field?

———— ADDED 3/3/2010 ————-

Isn’t it interesting.   When you start to look for something you keep finding it.   Here’s an example of how “big solar” killed a bill to avoid setting standards in Arizona.

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Competitive Technical Intelligence Workshop

Posted on February 26, 2010 by gary oosta

The annual meeting for the Society for Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) is coming up soon – March 9th – March 12th – in Washington DC.  Patent Insights will be presenting a workshop titled W2 - Technology Mapping, Competitive Technical Intelligence and Strategic Decisions.

In the workshop, we will discuss key ideas in CTI and strategic decision making.

  • Where is the “theoretical” foundation for CTI?    Why does it work at all?
  • Are there examples where CTI provided critical information for strategic decisions?
  • What tools exist to implement CTI?
  • How can you implement CTI in your group, company?  Who needs it?  Is this a “new market” or “new role” for the CI professional?

My personal thesis is that the CTI area is ripe and ready to contribute to strategic decision making.  It seems to me that competitive technical intelligence represents the  intersection of product R&D, marketing research, business intelligence (broadly defined) and technology management. I also believe that pictures from technology mapping are key to helping explain the findings of a CTI analysis.

I’m hoping for a lively discussion and an exchange of ideas and methods.  See you there.  If you are not able to attend, but would like more information, please reply with your name, company or organization and email.   I’ll contact you after the workshop.


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