EVERY science graduate has experience of solving problems. Take them out of the lab and into the real world and you could make it as an inventor. 鈥淪uccess comes by solving an existing problem,鈥� says Emily Cummins, a student at the University of Leeds. 鈥淩eal-life problems that affect people, that鈥檚 what gets the most interest.鈥�
Last year Emily made her name as Innovator of the Year at the British Female Inventors and Innovators Awards, for a low-tech fridge to keep medicines and food cold in the developing world. It uses widely available materials, Emily says. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 gone out to make fast money. To me it鈥檚 about getting the product out there.鈥�
Some people might seem like born inventors 鈥� Emily鈥檚 tinkering began during her GCSEs with a toothpaste dispenser for her grandfather, who suffered from arthritis. The key is to be able to turn thoughts into reality. 鈥淎 lot of people have an idea they never follow up,鈥� Emily says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a waste.鈥�
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Thomas Whitfield, a biochemistry postgraduate at the University of Oxford, became an inventor over a few beers as he and two friends discussed the idea of creating an enormous online timeline. Users could buy their own slice of time, minute by minute, 鈥渢o create a user-generated history of the world鈥�. The result 鈥� 鈥� is thriving, and Thomas has licensed the patented interface to the British Library to catalogue its digital collection.
So how does an idea go from pub to public? The biggest challenge is actually starting, says Thomas. 鈥淚t might be a phone call, reserving a domain name, or drawing a sketch. There must be action, something to make it physical.鈥�
Inventors Amanda Jones and James Brown of the University of Glasgow got their company Red Button Design off the ground with a 鈥渟elf-powered reverse osmosis water purification system鈥�. Having received funding from reality TV show, the pair are looking at uses for their technology in disaster relief.
Amanda attributes Red Button鈥檚 success to the pair being able to recognise huge gaps in their skills. 鈥淲e went out and sought advisers who could fill those gaps,鈥� she says. James also urges budding inventors to use university resources. 鈥淭here are so many people out there willing to help, especially on the business side.鈥�
But a good idea doesn鈥檛 have to lead you into business, says Amanda. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not necessarily going to turn you into a person who wears a suit and points at pie charts.鈥� She does recommend getting legal advice though, to ensure that your invention remains yours.
If you鈥檇 rather leave the hard work to the professionals, technology transfer companies can take your idea to market instead. 鈥淧ostgraduate inventors keep a quarter of the first 拢200,000 of the profits from their invention and as much as a 50 per cent stake in any spin-off companies,鈥� says Justin Bowen of Imperial Innovations, Imperial College London鈥檚 technology transfer company.
聯Keep up on what鈥檚 hot. You have to think broadly聰
And don鈥檛 forget to spread the word. 鈥淓nter as many competitions as possible,鈥� advises Emily. You might find even bigger rewards, too. 鈥淚鈥檝e been able to solve a problem and help somebody else,鈥� Emily says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 better than any award.鈥�
A bright idea can earn you lots of money. Find out just how much you could make
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