Association for University Research and Industry Links (AURIL)
www.auril.org.uk
Network of professionals aiming to develop partnerships between higher education and industry to support innovation and competitiveness.
Esp@cenet
gb.espacenet.com
European Patent Office database providing free access to more than 30 million patents. Invaluable for searching prior art.
Eureka
www.eureka.be
A pan-European network for encouraging market-oriented, collaborative research and development projects, which lead to the development of innovative products, processes or services.
UK Patent Office
www.patent.gov.uk
Huge amount of information about all forms of intellectual property. Includes searchable design and trade mark databases, downloadable publications plus many links.
US Patent and Trade Mark Office
www.uspto.gov
The US equivalent of UK Patent Office. Can be useful in understanding sometimes significant differences between US and UK/European IP procedure.
Business Link
www.businesslink.org
The DTI's national business advice network, Business Link, has a wealth of information on innovation, technology and design.
Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
www.cipa.org.uk
Professional body of UK patent attorneys (also known as patent agents) qualified to handle all aspects of IP. Website includes searchable member list.
Currentscan
www.bl.uk/services/current/patents.html
A cost-effective patent watch service provided by the British Library.
ideas21
www.ideas21.co.uk
Brainchild of the indefatigable Linda Oakley, ideas21 is the UK's fastest growing network devoted to invention and innovation. It brings together inventors, patent professionals, companies and innovation support organisations.
Institute of Patentees and Inventors
www.invent.org.uk
Membership organisation which provides expert advice on the complex issues relating to invention and innovation.
Invention marketing companies
There are many commercial companies which offer to assess, protect and exploit inventions. Such companies should be regarded with considerable caution - search the web for 'invention' plus terms such as 'broker', 'promoter', 'scam', 'fraud' to find out what the pitfalls can be for the unwary. The UK Patent Office produces a Step-by-step Guide to Using Invention Promoters, available in leaflet form and viewable at: www.patent.gov.uk/patent/howtoapply/ipromoters.htm
Local organisations
At local level there are several inventors’ clubs (for example at West Sussex, Kent, Birmingham, Manchester, Blackburn). Local enterprise agencies can assist if invention projects meet support criteria, but these often assume that a business will be or has already been started up.
British Business Angels Association (BBBA)
www.bbaa.org.uk
Should you be willing and able to relinquish some control of your business you may be able to attract investment from business angles. These are wealthy individuals who invest in private companies, typically between £10,000 and £250,000.
British Venture Capital Association (BVCA)
www.bvca.co.uk
For higher levels of investment (around £3 million and above) in return for a share of the business a venture capital firm may be interested in your idea.
DTI's Grant for Research and Development scheme
www.businesslink.org
Helps individuals and SMEs to develop technologically innovative products and processes.
NESTA
www.nesta.org.uk
The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) used to run the Invention and innovation Programme which is currently under review whilst the organisation develops its five year strategy.
Research councils
www.research-councils.ac.uk
The main public investors in UK research in the with interests ranging from bio-medicine and particle physics to the environment, engineering and economic research.
Regional initiatives
Regionally there are some excellent innovation initiatives aimed mainly at business start-up and growth but also accessible to individuals. Examples include:
RTC North: www.rtcnorth.co.uk
Liverpool Ventures: www.liverpoolventures.com
Wales Innovators Network: www.win4wales.com
Universities
Some universities offer innovation start-up support for SMEs and individuals. For example: University of Manchester Business School Incubator www.mbs.ac.uk/services/incubator