MetacityOnLine
synergizes and expedites the transfer of scientific discoveries into
processes and products.
Featured
Story:Does public investment in research and development help or hurt the economy?
It's hard to say. What it does is create another market to sell to - the grant making culture. So, the question is whether the grant making culture is beneficial to the general economy.
The general principles of getting SBIR (Small Business Investment Recovery) grants are:
1) Find of who is on the review committee and look at previous grants. Tailor proposal to that audience. Remember, there are a limited number of grants out there.
2) Find a killer title, something that will grab their attention. Think in terms of ad copy rather than monographs.
3) Describe what you plan to do, but don't be too forthcoming with details.
4) Establish that no one else is doing what you propose to do.
5) Demonstrate that there is a prospective market.
6) Have data showing that this is viable. (Basically demonstrate that you already have it done but need to turn the last screw. DO NOT, repeat DO NOT, say it that way, however.)
So, what are the economically beneficial factors? Mostly establishing that there is a viable market and that wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more, you will absolutely solve the problems but haven't done so yet. For the most part then, this is gravy and MIGHT help capitalize commercialization meaning the developer is in a stronger position to cash in. That's not bad if they actually do, because it can help impel the development of other products as well.
Against this is the tailoring to the grant making audience, which isn't all that representative of the average consumer. When you don't address the issues and aspirations of the average consumer, but instead address the issues and aspirations of a well educated, governmentally connected culture you break the connection with sustainable markets. You head in the opposite direction don't get familiarity with your prospective customers. That can make you more dependent on grants than on economic drivers and counting on perpetual public sector "pump priming" of a dry well.
Why the emphasis on consumer products? After all, there are a lot of B2B sales out there. True. However, much of the consumer perspective holds in business as well. Both ask "How will this improve my life?" and if you insulate yourself from having to hear adverse information from the end user, especially "Not buyin' it.", you'll be poorly positioned to turn a good idea into a great idea. Learning from rejection is one of the important refining processes that keep markets - and your position in them - vital. In addition, business products have to ultimately translate, one way or another, into consumer products or the supply chain ultimately shuts down.
The net effect is that public sector investment in research and development MAY be beneficial to the general economy, but only if it is directed to enterprises with strong marketing minds that see through to the consumer end of the supply chain. It won't work as part of "economic stimulus" legislation because it is too far removed from immediate impact, nor will it work if it insulates researchers in cultures far removed from the average person's daily life.
Featured
Story: Beyond
Flash & Spin - Ohio Elastomers and Ohio Engineering And Fixture
... Develop products to improve Quality.
Ohio Elastomers and Ohio
Engineering and Fixture are two companies involved in the improvement
of production processes. Each has opportunities to sell in niche
markets. Kunukku, Inc. and Search Engine
Foundry provided the right media tools to meet their objectives
in the most cost-effective way possible.
Ohio Elastomers has
a long history in rubber-to-metal-bonded applications. Sometimes
this involves the mold design and manufacturing in the front-end
of the process; sometimes prototype and pilot production; sometimes
the finishing side of the operation. A great reputation with product
and process engineers is important in sales of this type. But how
do you inform other decision makers in the company with less hands-on
familiarity? FXWerks produced this CD-ROM video on the Model B2C-3072 Automatic
Eccentric OD deflasher to do just that.
Ohio Engineering and Fixture has developed a proprietary testing device to calibrate nutrunners.
Kunukku, Inc. redesigned their tech
sheets to assist in marketing to ISO-9001/QS-9000 companies. As the name implies they also develop fixtures. These
find applications in industrial painting and woodworking. Our familiarity
with industrial processes made Kunukku a natural choice to assist
in the development process by laying out and mounting the operator
dials so that they could be machined on a Bridgeport. |