The most important invention of the 19th century was the invention of the method of invention.”

- Alfred North Whitestead

It’s my invention!

No, it’s mine!

WESTERN

ITALY

Florence (1421) – first patentVenice (1474) – first general law

ENGLAND

English Statute of Monopolies (1623)

U.S.A.

1787 Constitution, Article I, Section 8

“To promote the progress of science and useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.”

in·ven·tion \in-ˈven(t)-shən\

Which is an invention?

Four-Cycle Internal Combustion Engine

V8 Engine

PATENTINVENTION

theories

1. deterministic2. non-deterministic

invention

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

invention

steam engine

airplane

a

a

a

aa aa

a

a a

a

a

a

b

j

le ki

d

g h

c

f

Most inventions carry the distinctive imprint of their inventor

not the same

small difference

big consequence

Inventors …

… came from all social scale…acquired technical background in their areas…consulted other scientists when needed

An inventor is NOT the untutored genius who solved his problem by inspiration and intuition.

Creativity(Idea)

Knowledge (Theory)

Invention (Reality)