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The Challenge
New South Wales abounds with people and organisations with ideas for new products, services, processes and businesses. The challenge is to turn these ideas into commercial successes.

The NSW Government is committed to advancing innovation. Innovation is one of the main drivers of economic growth, wealth and employment. Research has shown that innovation, when properly managed, can produce a higher rate of return than many other forms of investment.

What Qualifies as an Innovation?
Any original concept, new or improved device, product, material, business process or service falls within the definition of innovation and will be considered for assistance at a NSW Innovation Advisory Centre.

Why Evaluate or Assess an Innovation?
In Australia, only a very small number of innovations end up making money in the marketplace. Lots of factors can contribute to this low success rate:

• Innovation not technically feasible;
• Innovation not having any distinct market advantages;
• Little demand for the innovation; Poor planning of the innovation's development; · Innovation unable to be produced at competitive prices;
• Inadequate knowledge of the marketplace and competitors;
• Inadequate management skills to commercialise the innovation.

All these factors can be addressed by looking ahead and by getting good advice. If you have a new idea or a new product that you think may be marketable, why not use the Innovation Services Online or the Innovation Advisory Centres to assist you in its development

.Innovation Services Online
An information service provided jointly by the Department of State and Regional Development and the University of Wollongong The website - www.itc-online.com.au - is for inventors and innovators and provides the following services:

• Innovation Development Software - to help new inventors take the initial step towards marketing and production of their invention;
• Innovators' Bulletin Board - a forum for discussion and inquiry amongst innovators and notification of coming events and meetings;
• Innovation Advisory Support - information and support mechanism for individuals and businesses with innovation enquiries;
• Newsline - updated interest items and enlightening innovation features from around the World;
• Virtual Inventors' Exhibition - where inventors can exhibit their wares to site visitors and site participants to network and market their ideas;
• What's New - updated articles covering new inventions and recent developments.

Innovation Advisory Centres
Each Centre offers a range of se~ices to help you make your idea more marketable and profitable. Services include:

• access of self-assessment software;
• business advice and referral;
• low-cost technical assessment.

A New South Wales Innovation Advisory Centre is your first step along the path to successful commercialisation It will help you begin planning with advice and selfassessment.

The Assessment/Evaluation Process
The Innovation Advisory Centre will assist you with an objective assessment/evaluation of your innovation to determine its chances of success. Each Centre offers the following:

1. Self-Assessment Analysis (free service)
Access to a specially-designed computer software program which asks you 32 pertinent questions regarding your innovation. A confidential print-out of the questionnaire will assist you with any further research required.

2. Business Advice and Referral (free service)
Practical advice and referral on how to proceed with further development of your innovation. You may be referred to a technical assessor (see next paragraph), or a Department of State and Regional Development Client Manager, or to other organisations or individuals which can help you to commercialise your innovation.

3. Technical Assessment
A technical assessment of your innovation at a subsidised cost. The assessment takes about two hours consultation and results in a written report on:

• description and function of innovation;
• security status;
• societal and environmental issues;
• technical aspects;
• manufacturing processes;
• further testing and training information;
• servicing and maintenance;
• potential applications and markets;
• cost factors and price areas;
• competing products and technologies;
• business arrangements;
• finance; and
• conclusions and recommendations.

A typical technical assessment which answers the question "Does the innovation work?" would cost you $200 on average. The Department of State and Regional Development will contribute $100 to this cost.

Confidentiality
The information you provide is treated with the utmost confidentiality.

For more information please contact your nearest New South Wales innovation Advisory Centre:

Ms Jeny Wallace
Manager
Business Enterprise Centre (Manning Great Lakes Gloucester) Limited
140A Victoria Street TAREE 2430
Telephone: (02) 6551 2499 Facsimile: (02) 6551 2438

Ms Robyn Lindley
Manager Illawarra Innovation Centre
Business Information Service Locked Bag 8821 SOUTH COAST MAIL CENTRE 2521 Telephone: (02) 4227 7413 Facsimile: (02) 4228 8961

Mr Neil Davidson
Manager Western Sydney Information Technology Centre Ltd
Level 3 169 Macquarie Street PARRAMATTA 2150
Telephone: (02) 9689 1700 Facsimile: (02) 96870210

Ms Dianne Hughes
Executive Assistant Tamworth & District Business Enterprise Centre Ltd
561 Peel Street TAMWORTH 2340
Telephone: (02) 6766 2290 Facsimile: (02) 6766 2246

Mr Tony Mildred
Manager Work Ventures Ltd
418A Elizabeth Street SURRY HILLS 2010
Telephone: (02) 9282 6977 Facsimile: (02) 9281 2546

Ms Karen Muddle
Manager Industry Development Centre (Hunter) Ltd
P0 Box 189 HUNTER REGION MAIL CENTRE 2310
Telephone: (02) 4962 0999 Facsimile: (02) 4960 1137