What is the role of the independent inventor today?
Historically, he has played an important role but circumstances
have now changed.
The objectives of this thesis have been:
(1) to assess the value of inventions made by independent
inventors;
(2) to determine whether the government should provide
support; and
(3) if so, how?
It is not appropriate to make a judgement about the value
of independent inventors on qualitative data alone. Therefore,
attempts must be made to obtain quantitative data on the value,
in economic and social terms, of inventions of independent
inventors. The unique feature of this thesis is the survey of
members of the Inventors' Association of Australia to assess the
personal characteristics of their members, the value of
inventions made by members and the types of assistance required
by their members.
Some of the research results on the personal
characteristics of independent inventors are interesting.
- 95% are males. (This is supported by other research
data).
their educational qualifications are much higher than
the general population.
- on average, each inventor spends 8-10 hours per week
on inventions.
The survey showed that the economic value (in terms of
value of output) of inventions made by members of the Inventors'
Association of Australia is about $50m per annum and creates
about 4000 man years of employment. It is not possible to assess
what percentage of independent inventors are members of the
Inventors' Association of Australia. Estimates place this
between 20% and 50%. If this is the case, then it can be
estimated that the value of output of inventions of independent
inventors in Australia is between $100m-$260m which, in turn,
creates 7,700 - 19,000 man years of employment.
Additionally, the qualitative evidence suggests that
Australian inventors are, at the least, equal to their overseas
counterparts.
There are grounds why governments should intervene to
assist independent inventors
indivisibility: this relates to access to
information and to the large scale nature of some
inventions.
inappropriability: this refers to the externalities
or social benefits of inventions which are not
recouped by inventors through the normal market
mechanisms.
- uncertainty: independent inventors usually have a
small number of inventions; therefore it is not
possible for them to spread their risks. Large
companies and some areas of the agriculture and mining
industries have developed special mechanisms for
spreading risk.
Based on an assessment of overseas policies, an
examination of existing Australian policies and the results of
the Inventors' Association of Australia survey, the following
steps should be taken in Australia to support independent
inventors.
(1) create an environment within the community which
supports/encourages invention and innovation.
(2) develop a national innovation policy.
(3) develop an innovation finance facility. (Although
this is not in operation, steps have been taken to
provide this).
(A) the establishment of innovation centres.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218802 |
| Date | January 1984 |
| Creators | Bryant, Frederick Bruce, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Administrative Studies |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Frederick Bruce Bryant |
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