UW-Whitewater: Regional inventors compete for prizes at “Ideas to Profits” conference

Contact: Deanne Casey

(262) 472-1664

caseyd@uww.edu

WHITEWATER ­ Inventors from seven states will compete for prizes to help them turn their ideas into profits at the Ideas to Profits conference Oct. 1-2, 2009. Twenty-three inventors have polished their products and prepared their pitches to present to judges and new product scouts at the conferences Inventors’ Showcase and Competition. The showcase and award reception is open to attendees of the Ideas to Profits conference, an annual event for inventors, entrepreneurs and innovative manufacturers presented by the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

There is still time to register for this year’s event, which will be held at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Admission is $99 and includes a new product scout panel discussion, workshops, three keynote addresses, breakfasts, lunches and the Inventor’s Showcase and Competition reception.

New product scouts from Regal Ware, Lifetime Brands, Docie Invention Services and the Wisconsin Procurement Institute will lead a panel discussion for conference attendees. Workshop topics include hands-on model making and prototype development, federal research funding, doing business overseas, how to create a competitive advantage, marketing new products, intellectual property protection, early-stage financing strategies and more issues critical to taking new product ideas through all the stages of commercialization.

Among the inventions to be showcased are: a medical device to ease chronic pain, a Wi-Fi solution for automated building control systems, a novel fishing rod attachment, a cushion release system for tractors and snow blowers, a decorative pet cremation urn and an automatic hydraulic air jack system. A complete list of competition entries is available online at: http://wisc.uww.edu.

Winners receive new product development market research from the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center. Prizes are valued at $2,500 for Best of Show, $1,500 for second place and $900 for third place. Judges will also select an invention to receive a special award for $1,000 of rapid prototyping services from the UW-Stout Center for Innovation and Development.

The low registration fee is made possible by the generosity of conference sponsors.

Gold level sponsors are Eggert Creative, Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center at UW-Stout, Paragon Development Systems, Today’s Wisconsin Woman and 50+ Magazine, UW-Whitewater Online MBA Program, von Briesen and Roper, Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Wisconsin Technology Council and WTN Media.

Silver level sponsors are the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation and WE Energies.

Bronze level sponsors are Boyle Fredrickson, H & W International, Ho-Chunk Casino and Convention Center, Milwaukee School of Engineering, NanoRite Center at Chippewa Valley Technical College and the Wisconsin Business Incubation Association.

The Wisconsin Innovation Service Center was founded in 1980. Located at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the center is a national market research provider that has investigated more than 8,000 new product ideas to enable inventors, entrepreneurs and companies to make better informed product development decisions.

For more information, visit: http://wisc.uww.edu or contact the center at 262-472-1365 or innovate@uww.edu.