Almost 13 per cent of Canadians are “private innovators” according to a new survey. They have either improved on consumer goods or they have created entirely new products.
Innovations in software, gaming, sporting equipment and automotive areas are popular. The inventors either shared their innovations with other consumers or producers or they used them to start their own businesses.
Consumer-products companies need to pay more attention to these amateur inventors says the lead author of the research paper, Eric von Hippel, an MIT professor.
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