Sneaky "bad inventors"

It is super easy to spot the overtly "bad" academic inventors: no funding, no data, surly disposition, body odor, etc. Even a brand new technology commercialization professional can spot these jokers their first week on the job.

The overtly bad inventor is also great because no one blames you for not working with him/her. Their chairperson things that he/she is a mediocre scientist --- a true "hiring mistake" --- and wishes they would go away. And, you don't have to worry about them complaining to the upper university administration because they hate the guy/gal too.

But, what do you do with the "sneaky bad inventor" or SBI.

They seem great at first...

SBIs are all kinda the same and have a combination of science and personality that makes them extremely challenging to work with.

• Well regarded in their scientific field - SBIs are almost always publishing in great journals, have ample research funding and solid data on their inventions. They are loved by the Chairpeople, fellow faculty and university administration because of their ability to bring in grant funding and media attention.
• They are extremely friendly and personable - Part of the reason they have gotten so far is that people like them. They are never eating alone in the cafeteria and they know how to network effectively. When questioned by a member of the local media or asked to speak at a local economic development event, they SHINE! Without fail, they have an excellent network of contacts in industry and probably play golf with someone on the university's Board of Trustees.
• They are considered a high priority - This ties into their friendly and personable nature, but SBIs are the faculty who appear in the local and national media, are officers of their professional societies and publish in the noteworthy journals. All of this gives them some serious mojo when it comes to dealing with university administration because faculty members such as these can (and do) switch universities with frequency.

So far, the SBI I've described sounds like a dream, right? You wish your faculty were comprised of nothing but this type of scientist, correct? Well, let's discuss their last personality trait:

They are not team players

With all the mania about finding "the right technology", sometimes we neglect to evaluate the inventor him/herself. It is not uncommon that faculty members who exhibit all of the positive traits I describe above also have a fundamental problem letting someone else have any control over the commercialization process.

It is critically important to make clear that these SBIs are NOT jackasses. They're nice folks who often genuinely like their trusty technology transfer person.....they just don't want to ever let you put your hands on the steering wheel.

How can you spot a SBI?

• Avoiding requests for data
• Deflecting legitimate questions about the invention
• Providing excuses for not meeting with industry contacts unless it is their idea.
• Failing to assist the technology commercialization office to develop marketing materials
• Meeting with their own industry contacts without informing the technology commercialization office

These are just some of the behaviors you may see. And, all of these behaviors come with a legitimate SMILE. The SBI simply fails to acknowledge that anyone else can have useful creative ideas about "their" technology. In their mind, the technology commercialization office merely exists to (a) obtain the patent rights, (b) pay for the patent rights and (c) conclude licenses with companies the SBI identifies.

Dealing with sneaky bad inventors

With truly troublesome faculty members, the technology commercialization office can call for help from Chairpersons or the university's administration. But with these SBIs, those pleas for "help" will fall upon deaf ears. If you complain, you will be reminded of how important the SBI is and the SBI could leave the university if they become unhappy. Therefore, you will be given a polite pat on the butt and told do go forth and use "better communication" and try to change the behavior of a 50 year old person.

Good Luck with that one!

The best way to deal with the SBI is to do the following:

• Agree with them that their invention is awesome!
• Patent their invention in the United States
• Do NOT patent their invention internationally
• Be responsive to emails from the faculty member requesting things like CDAs be put in place with companies the faculty member identifies.
• But....DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.
  

The key to happiness with a SBI is to merely go with the flow. They aren't horrid inventors; they have great data and prestige in their field. They just don't want you to have any creative input. If you try to have creative input, you will only annoy the SBI and give yourself a headache.

Even though you won't have any creative control, you should protect their idea because (a) it is a good idea and (b) a technology commercialization person has never lost their job for patenting inventions from well-regarded faculty members who publish is great journals.

You probably do want to avoid filing international patents (because they're so damn expensive), but you can blame that choice on "the budget" (which is often true anyway).

Conclusion

Working with the SBI can be a perfectly fine experience as long as you don't try to force the issue. You want to think of yourself as a sailboat instead of a motorboat: You are just going where the winds take you.

This can be very frustrating for the more Type-A technology commercialization professional, but most of us have sooooo many things to do that y0u can just turn all those creative energies loose on the next invention on the list. Everyone will be happier this way!

- Dean Stell