Eligibility
For single subject courses within Chalmers programmes the same eligibility requirements apply, as to the programme(s) that the course is part of.

Prerequisites
Fulfilled the first three years of education at chalmers or equivalent education.

Aim
The aim of the course is to transfer knowledge of relevance in the development of commercial products and processes. The students will increase their understanding of the patenting process, their ability to find information in patent databases and get knowledge about how patents are written and evaluated. This will be practiced based on an idea, either generated by the students or achieved from the tutors. Depending on the potential to patent the idea, a project with the aim to commercialize, market or spread the idea will be carried out and documented.

Learning outcome (after completion of this course, the student should be able to)
 

understand and have knowledge about how to develop new commercial products and processes.
 

find information in both patent and literature databases
 

analyze the content of patents and compare it with the content of related scientific articles.
 

understand the basics in patent writing and the requirement for getting a patent accepted.
 

The course also strives for transferring knowledge about entrepreneurial activities and an understanding about various aspects of relevance for engineers when active in industry or academia.

Content
 

The course contains two moments. The first project will give insights regarding the patenting process, how information can be found in patent and literature databases and how patents are constructed. The student will, based on a product or process idea, evaluate patenting and commercialization possibilities. Support will be given in lectures that address different moments in the innovation process, product design, patent issues, environmental and ethical issues and marketing. The second project will give knowledge related to how to lead and work in projects. Based on the knowledge gained from the first project, projects will be initiated with the aim to (i) formulate a patent, (ii) write a business plan, (iii) perform a marketing analysis or (iv) write a debate or popular science article. The work will result in both written and oral presentation.

Organization
 

Between two and four lectures per week which address different moments in innovation and project management processes. Depending on background and the project chosen there is group-based supervision by suitable mentors.

Literature
 

Teaching material is created in collaboration with Connect Sverige (http://www.connectsverige.se/)

Examination
 

Two written reports and one oral presentation