Let's Talk About Your New Project!
One of the services of IDEA is to bring our members’ inventions to attend international events.
Why it is important to attend international events?
There are countless reasons why you must attend international events but these are the most common ones:
- Timestamp your idea – Under the intellectual property act, if you showcased your idea before someone else does (even if he has a patent registered after your event), you can apply for a court order to stop his/her product from entering the market.
- Internationalization – You may be famous in Singapore, but you’re no one abroad. Winning a prize in the host country is a gateway to their market. It could mean sales, financing, collaboration, etc. The job of IDEA is to show you the right door. What’s behind the door is for you to find out.
- Networking – Speak to like-minded innovators from around the world. Exchange ideas or seek collaboration.
- Recognition – Besides acknowledging your efforts with an award, it can also lead to a scholarship or placement for tertiary education in some countries. For example, China has admitted over 250,000 students to its Tier 1 universities through this channel each year and over 60% have completed doctoral degrees.
- One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – If your invention is not valued in Singapore, don’t be discouraged. Each nation has its own priorities. Take your invention somewhere else. IDEA can help you refine your search and introduce it to prospective investors.
The following is a true story about rags to riches in Taiwan.
Case Study: Rags to Riches
A homeless man with an invention saves the cost of filing a patent by begging in front of a temple because nobody wants to invest in his invention. After his patent was approved, he went to government agencies and venture capital again for funding and was rejected again. Disheartened, he approached one of the Taiwanese invention associations (similar to IDEA) and showed them his invention. The association sponsored him to attend an international invention exhibition abroad because he can’t afford it. He returned to Taiwan with a US$6 million contract. The rest is history.
When you share big ideas with narrow-minded people, you’ll doubt your ideas because these people will infect you with dubious thoughts. This is where we (IDEA) come in.
So don’t be shy, get in touch and tell us more about your project or invention that everyone thinks is “stupid”. Let’s find out who has the last laugh.
