How to Invent and Protect Your Invention: A Guide to Patents for Scientists and Engineers

13.6 DISCOVERY PUSH VERSUS MARKET PULL INNOVATION

Innovation is a process that usually occurs over time rather than a single event. Innovation is often characterized as a linear sequence of events emanating from one of two starting gates. The first starting gate—that is, the discovery push model—is an invention that occurred because it was interesting (or serendipitous), but was not meant to meet a specific need or to solve a particular problem. The second starting gate—that is, the need or market pull model—is an invention that results from persons attempting to meet a specific need or find a solution to a specific problem. (See Langrish, Gibbons, Evans, and Jevons, Wealth from Knowledge, Halsted Press Division, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York 1972, pp. 72--73.) Innovations resulting from market pull are more frequent than discovery push innovations and are far more likely to result in economic reward. However, let our basic research colleagues not despair, because if and when discovery push occurs, the innovation is more frequently disruptive and has the potential to significantly change how we live and produce. As an example, when the laser was first invented, there was little appreciation for its eventual uses.