The words Innovation and invention are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
Invention is the creation of something never seen before, most often involving a new technology, materials or process. An invention in and of itself has the potential to be useful, but until it is employed in a way that adds some sort of value for a user in the real world, it is not yet an innovation.
Every single day, on average, a Pitt faculty, student or staff member submits an invention disclosure to the Pitt Innovation Institute, declaring that their scholarship or research has produced something new to the world. It’s an important milestone. But it represents only the beginning of the innovation journey, where the invention’s potential value to people and society is unlocked. The end goal is for the innovation to be licensed from the university and further developed into new products and services that can make a difference in people’s lives.
If you are interested in learning more about the innovation process, from the initial spark of invention to intellectual property protection, and all the way through to technology licensing and startup creation, the Innovation Institute website offers a curated selection of videos and other content of varying lengths, whether you want just a quick overview of a topic, or are interested in a deeper dive. Visit the Resources page.
Check out a brief video hand-selected by our staff on the topic of inventions vs. innovation: