Assessment
After filing a provisional patent application to protect the invention, the Office of Innovation & Economic Development works with an external consulting group to evaluate the commercial potential of the invention. The consulting group identifies potential commercial applications, competitive advantages, development directions, and potential regulatory issues associated with the technology. The group also generates a list of potential industry partners and competitors to supplement the information provided by the inventor in the invention disclosure form. The Office of Innovation & Economic Development uses this information to market the invention for specific commercial applications and as a starting point for reaching out to potential commercial partners.