| Please read, digest and rehearse before filling
in the online form or the printable
version for real.
- The notes under each question are for guidance only, so feel
free to give us whatever information you think fits the question.
- Answers can be as detailed or brief as you like, as long as
we end up with a good grasp of your idea or project. If we need
more information we'll ask for it, but that could delay your report.
- The asterisked questions (3-5) are about aspects of your idea
that we'll cover in our report, so don't worry if you can't answer
them. But if you can answer them, it will help us to provide you
with a more useful report.
- Mailable version only: For your convenience
there are no fixed answer spaces. Simply send us A4 sheets with
our question numbers followed by your answers.
- Online version only: We recommend that you
prepare your answers offline in a text document and copy-and-paste
them into the online form. This leaves you with a copy of what
you've sent us.
Standard assessment questions
ABOUT YOUR IDEA
1 Describe your idea
- Include enough detail to enable us to understand both the idea
overall and your inventive step in particular.
- Include drawings, photos, draft patent applications etc if
you feel they clarify the idea. (For online submissions send them
as attachments to a separate email using the same name and email
address.)
2 If you have a published patent application, what is its number?
- By ‘published’ we mean publicly viewable on databases
such as Espacenet (http://gb.espacenet.com).
- By ‘number’ we mean the one prefixed by GB, EP,
WO, US etc.
3* What makes you think your idea is original?
- If you’ve already done some prior art searching, tell
us briefly what you found.
4* What advantages do you think your idea has over competing or
alternative products?
- Don’t say there are no competing or alternative products!
They can include whatever people currently use or do in the absence
of your idea.
5* Who are likely to be the buyers or users of your proposed product
or service?
- If they’re not necessarily the same, tell us which market
you think will buy/use it first and which will later become the
main market.
ABOUT YOU
6 What relevant skills, experience or resources do you have to
develop your idea?
- If you’re part of a team, give brief details of the expertise
each team member will contribute. Are there any skills that you
know to be lacking?
7 How would you prefer to exploit or commercialise your idea?
- For example, by licensing to a company or starting your own
business?
ABOUT PROGRESS TO DATE
8 What have you done so far to develop your idea?
- Is it a recent idea or one you’ve been working on for
some time? Give us a brief history or timeline.
- If you’re now ‘stuck’, what do you think the
problem is?
9 What have you done so far to fund your idea?
- Will you need external funding or investment?
- If you’ve approached organisations or companies for support
of any kind, what reactions have you had?
10 Any other information that you think is relevant
- For example, it may be relevant to know the circumstances that
led you to your idea.
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