3.7 THE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE
As to the question of how to cultivate patentable creativity, my best advice to science and engineering graduate students is that after school they should spend a few years in industry where they will have to learn how to solve problems and will be introduced to the nitty-gritty of the invention protection (meaning patenting) process. In industrial research and development the young technical employee will rapidly appreciate the importance of utility and novelty, concepts essential for inventing.
But the time may come for some truly inquisitive and inventive industrial employees, when they feel hemmed in by shorter-term technology development assignments, which tend to stifle pioneering inventing and patenting. If this individual wants to broaden his experience, he may need to balance practicality (meaning business requirements), on the one hand, and freedom to pursue pioneering creativity on his own, on the other hand. Practicality without creativity is less productive to improve the way we live our lives. An inventor who possesses only practicality and no creativity cannot develop disruptive inventions (pioneering patents) because he merely follows the plans and instructions of his supervisors. However, creativity without practicality is also less productive. An inventor who possesses only creativity and no practicality will have difficulty inventing useful things because his inventions will not be grounded on what society needs.
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