Since the 1980s, the Stage-Gate® system has been systematically built upon in leading companies worldwide. Dr. Robert “Bob” G. Cooper has been analyzing the current practices of the most successful innovation systems and has described them in each new version of his bestselling books, "Winning at... Read More

When we design Stage-Gate® systems for our clients (also referred to as Phase-Gate systems), there is often rich discussion about what work requires a decision versus what requires an approval. The gates of gated processes are decision points. A team of gatekeepers meets to review a project team's... Read More

The 2017 R&D Trends Forecast by the Industrial Research Institute estimates that global R&D investment will increase by 3.4% in 2017 to $2.066 trillion with academic institutions and federal labs making up a significant portion of that total. Government and academic researchers play a critical role... Read More

Picture credit: Tash Willcocks, Hyper Island I’ve just come back from the IRM Innovation, Business Change and Technology conference, where we were exhibiting, and I am a broken woman. Read More

At many large enterprises, the annual operating planning (AOP) process is entrenched and laborious. It's like a giant clock that needs to be wound once a year. Does the following sound familiar? The executive leadership team meets to review performance results, set the strategic direction, agree on... Read More

Julian Birkinshaw is Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School. His particular field of interest is the challenges for large companies who want to work in more innovative and agile ways. I heard Julian speak at the Front End of Innovation conference in June 2017, and then... Read More

I recently came across a blog post by innovation advisor Paul Hobcraft titled A New Integrated Innovation Engagement System. Read More

As a long-time sponsor of the AUTM Annual Meeting, Wellspring is looking forward to meeting attendees in Phoenix this year. Whether this is your first event or you’re a regular at AUTM, it always helps to prepare for the four days of professional development and networking. With so many engagement... Read More

As the global leader in technology transfer and technology scouting software, Wellspring connects innovators to one another around the world. As of January 24th, these connections expand to further corners of the globe with the announcement of a formal partnership with IPRIS, a leading provider of... Read More

What are Invention Disclosures? Invention disclosures are the beginning of the patenting process. At its core, an invention disclosure is the first notification that an invention has been created, and establishes the description and chronology of an invention. Read More