Inside Innovation Factor

Everyone working in the NHS, from consultants and specialists to support and frontline staff, has exceptional expertise and insight into their line of work. Staff are therefore an excellent source of great ideas and innovative solutions to the broad and complex problems faced here and across the NHS. However, having an idea is just the beginning. When moving to develop your idea further, it can be difficult to find the right advice and understand what your next steps should be. One of the most important things to think about at this stage is intellectual property (IP). How can you make sure your idea stays protected? What systems are in place to make sure it isn’t stolen, copied or exploited by others? Copyright allows the creator of an original piece of work to publish, produce or otherwise use their material exclusively. The copyright symbol © is easily recognisable and often seen in our daily lives. However, it does not need to be shown in order for copyright protection to ...

Dr Yvonne Kuma, Technology Officer, TRUSTECH.   We've seen a fantastic response to IF since it was launched almost a year ago. The ideas submitted have been hugely varied, ranging from medical devices and new pieces of software to service improvements, new delivery pathways and mobile apps. Clearly, any idea or innovation can be submitted to IF and obtain bespoke feedback and advice. In order for you to get the most out of IF, it is important to make sure your submission is as clear, effective and informative as possible. This makes it easier for the reviewer to put together more detailed and helpful feedback.   Here's how Dr Yvonne Kuma, Innovations Officer at TRUSTECH, summarised the key ingredients of an effective IF submission: 1. Give as much information as you can “This is probably the most important piece of advice I can give. The best submissions are always the ones which provide lots of information. We’d like you to go in...