About InnovationWorks

What is InnovationWorks?

InnovationWorks (IW) -- www.innovationworkswestmichigan.com -- is a regional initiative dedicated to accelerating the commercialization of products, processes and services in West Michigan. Serving a seven-county region (Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo and Ottawa), IW provides an integrated system of resources designed to help people mine for inventions and new technologies, connect companies to ideas and to coach individuals on commercialization. The initiative will expand innovation competency in West Michigan resulting in increased prosperity for the region. IW is funded by WIRED West Michigan, and developed by The Right Place, Inc. in collaboration with its economic development partners throughout West Michigan.

Why InnovationWorks?

Just one in thirty patents makes its way into the marketplace in the form of a commercialized product.   That means most intellectual property that could help companies grow sits idle. Why? People aren’t finding each other. A regional collaboration between economic developers, industry and academia, IW has been formed to help the region unleash this untapped potential, particularly in the areas of advanced production and sustainability. IW will make it faster and easier to turn ideas into commercial reality.

How Does InnovationWorks Work?

• Mining: IW staff and partners work with inventors, academia, entrepreneurs and businesses to identify and commercialize ideas. A web-based Idea Portal serves as a digital clearinghouse of these ideas, making them available to those who register with IW.
• Connecting: Through Collaborative Networks and events people are connected to ideas and resources to invigorate and assist their efforts. For example, Design West Michigan gathers designers from all disciplines to explore design capabilities as economic building blocks. Other Collaborative Networks will focus on topics relating to advanced production and sustainability.
• Coaching: Those seeking assistance will find referrals to services and resources through the Idea Portal. In addition, training workshops, events, and one-on-one consulting help fill the knowledge gaps and keep the commercialization process moving forward.

“The Michigan economy is in the middle of a transformation with far-reaching implications,” said Right Place President Birgit Klohs. “Innovation is at the core of this transformation. It is imperative that we redesign and realign our business, financial, educational and workforce development systems to support innovation. InnovationWorks is designed to help us accomplish that goal.”



InnovationWorks is funded, in part, by a WIRED grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.