Membership voice, January - February 2011
TWI reflects on its successfully exploited inventions
Innovation and idea generation is the backbone of TWI and is a direct Member benefit.
Invention constitutes a rich and well publicised part of TWI's history dating back to before The Welding Institute existed, and into the days of the British Welding Research Association and The Institute of Welding.
Memorable highlights include the advent of Friction Stir Welding, the CTOD test, the Wells wide plate test, the high powered CO2 laser, and many innovations in the use of laser, friction, arc, adhesive bonding and other technologies related to welding, joining, coating and testing. And in addition, TWI’s support has enabled the success of many new product developments by our Industrial Members.
Today, over 200 separate licensees are exploiting TWI's patented technologies. TWI's portfolio of intellectual property covers nine distinct technologies including patents and trademarks. Licence income contributes 3% of TWI’s annual turnover, and all royalties are re-invested in TWI for the benefit of Members to fund the development of more new ideas.
TWI actively maintains and fosters a climate conducive to innovation, exploiting its intellectual property portfolio on behalf of its Members and providing a confidential R&D idea generation service to its Membership. The business provides regular IP awareness courses for staff, to ensure that a necessary understanding of IP issues, mechanisms and management pervades throughout the business. In addition, TWI has invested in the training of brainstorming facilitators to enhance the idea generation capability of a group.
Over a period of 20 years, TWI has been delivering a brainstorming service to Industrial Members on a wide range of topics. These sessions, facilitated by trained TWI staff, have presented an opportunity to work with inventors who have generated technology such as Friction Stir Welding, Clearweld® Surfi-Sculpt® and Vitolane®. That this service has been highly regarded is undoubtedly based on the ensuing project interactions with many Members, in other words, you.
TWI's track record in applying practical innovation also allows us to help you in creative problem solving and facilitation, using techniques such as technology roadmapping to bring them to commercial fruition.
If you have a burning technological need, why not give TWI the opportunity to create some new ideas and value for your business. With the resource of 250 technologists and market specialists to draw on, we feel very confident that we can give you something new.
In a nutshell -
- Long track record in invention and its successful exploitation
- Strong culture of innovation
- A history of new technologies developed and exploited; FSW, Clearweld, SurfiSculpt, Vitolane
- Offering a brainstorming and facilitation service, adding value to Members' businesses
- Delivering great value to Membership via affordable licensing
Roger Wise is an Associate Director and Technology Group Manager of Advanced Materials and Processes
