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Value of a New Product Pipeline

Pfizer

A recent report suggests that there may possibly be a hostile takeover bid from the American company Pfizer of up to $100bn for the Anglo-Swedish company AstraZeneca which is the second largest pharmaceutical company in the UK.

AstraZeneca reported pre-tax losses of $715m during the first quarter of this year compared with a $1.8bn profit for the same period in 2012.

Both companies have very valuable patents for very well known products such as Viagra, Nexium and Crestor. But patents last for just 20 years and these valuable ones will soon run out and open the doors for other companies to copy them legally.

It is therefore interesting to read that one of the main reasons for the potential takeover bid may be the fact that AstraZeneca unlike Pfizer has a long pipeline of new products following investment in R&D.

As an organisation the BIC always encourages companies to have a healthy pipeline for new products as there could be many external reasons beyond a company’s control affecting the success of its existing products and it is good Innovation strategy to have new products waiting on the back burner.

The BIC has good advice and various funding streams to help companies with their new product development pipeline.

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Renewable Energy - How far would we go?

paraSITE

I came across an interesting concept over the weekend where I read that an American inventor had designed an inflatable shelter for the homeless.

You may think this is a simple tent but it is designed to attach to an external excess heating unit (HVAC) which will heat up the unit to keep the homeless warm in the winter months.

For less than 5$ this seems a sensible way of re-using heat which would simply dissipate into the air.

I’m sure such a concept could take off during the night but I can’t imagine many people wanting these inflatables visible outside their buildings during the day.

Take a look at the paraSITE: http://michaelrakowitz.com/projects/parasite/

and maybe you could think of a less controversial way of re-using this kind of energy ?

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Varsity Pitch Competition

More Information

Award Details

If you are about to graduate or have graduated since 2009 you may be interested in entering this competition to win £10,000 to help develop your business.

There are seven categories but you may be particularly interested in the “Product Design” Category where they are looking for business ideas to find new ways to serve the entertainment, recreation, food and accommodation sectors through innovation in product or process.

Closing date is 13 October 2013

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German Boat Becomes Innovation Hub

Video Clip

German Boat - It’s always interesting to see what other countries are focussing on when it comes to Innovation and Germany seems to be very innovative when it comes to encouraging innovation amongst its people.

If you didn’t see a recent edition of the BBC programme “Click” then take a few minutes to watch this clip

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Intellectual Property Makes Science Fiction Real

Sci Fi Details

Courtesy of the Intellectual Property Office www.ipo.gov.uk here’s an interesting story.

On a December night, fifty years ago, a strange and previously unknown creature was introduced to the people of planet Earth. It was a distillation of everything bad: it was super-intelligent; it was armed to the teeth - or the plunger, to use the vernacular humanoid descriptor of the day; it was capable of interstellar travel, telekinesis and time travel; it consisted of an unholy fusion of bad metal and black bile. It was, of course, a Dalek.

During their fifty year history, the Daleks have been upgraded. Their development mirrors other successful brands. Like VW Beetles or Minis, they have grown tubbier, brighter and possibly even a little smug looking. The Daleks deserve to be proud. They have bent their metallic shoulder slopes to the task of creating a long running, world beating, creative product. Their arch enemy, Dr Who, is known throughout the world. In 1996 the BBC registered the name Dr Who as UK trade mark 2053985. Last year Dr Who was BBC Worldwide’s top brand. Today the value of the Dr Who brand is growing and will one day outstrip the dimensions of this planet.

The programme has come up with very innovative products - the TARDIS and the Sonic Screwdriver. Both are patented and their value as assets can not be underestimated.

What IP do You Own? Find out more at the BIC’s workshop in Stoke on Trent on 11 April 2013

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World Intellectual Property Day

Funding Details

Friday 26th April is World Intellectual Property Day.
This is the day WIPO came into force in 1970 and is a day whose aim is to increase the general understanding of Intellectual Property Rights..

As an Innovation Centre we know only too well the importance of IP and run five or six events a year so that local companies can understand and take up any IP protection for their businesses. Yes, Patents can be expensive and take a long time to be granted but can you afford not to protect your innovation? It gives you monopoly on the production of that innovation for twenty years!

It was good to hear this week that the plans to bring in a new ‘superfast’ patent processing service, which will be capable of granting patents in just 90 days, were confirmed by Intellectual Property Minister Lord Younger.

Trade Marks are always interesting and can include a company’s logo and product branding. Your Trade Mark will sell your product so get it registered.

Copyright is a very much underestimated form of Intellectual Property. Did you know that you could still benefit from your intellectual property when you are dead? According to the Intellectual Property Office the top Dead Earner in 2012 was Elizabeth Taylor at $210m followed by Michael Jackson at $145m and Elvis a mere $55m

If you want to know more come along to our next IPR workshop on 15 May 2013.