Sometimes, it's important to pay attention to industry announcements. We, at BeHeron, stumbled across a news article from Nanotechnology Now (yes, there are certifiable nerds here at BeHeron) announcing that Bayer is building the world's largest production plant for carbon nanotubes at Chempark Leverkusen, Germany.

Why should you be thrilled about something Bayer is doing in regards to a technology that is difficult to put your arms around, you ask? Well, simply stated, you can now buy nanotubes for your product or invention without needing a Ph.D. As stated by Bayer Material Science, Baytubes® have three key strengths which make them a candidate for a wide range of applications:

• Electrical conductivity
• Mechanical strength
• Thermal conductivity.

Baytubes® can be added to plastics, metals, and ceramics to make them stronger, electrically conductive, or to enhance their thermal properties. Carbon nanotubes have already been added to everything from windmill blades to structural concrete.

Now, Bayer understands that they can't possibly predict all of the applications of their material, so they have a contact page with engineers standing by to take your questions. You don't need to be building a space elevator to use this material. In the future, we expect carbon nanotubes to be everywhere. The question is, will you be one of the first to build a product that benefits from them?

Back in July 2008, we at BeHeron told you about a company called Solar Electrical Vehicles (SEV for short). Yesterday, CNN reported that the 2010 Toyota Prius will have an optional solar panel on its roof. If you remember, we questioned whether SEV would own adequate proprietary technology to hold off one of the largest car companies in the world, and now we have the answer.

Toyota's solar panel will not charge the hybrid car's batteries. Rather, it will only power the air conditioner. After much research from our enthusiastic staff, we found out why Toyota would make a deliberate decision to limit the benefit of their solar panel. It appears SEV has put a substantial competitive roadblock in the market by authoring this patent. Please feel free to use the link to read the document. It is a good lesson to us all that a well written patent can hold off even the biggest of competitors.

While Toyota downplays the significance of a "solar-hybrid" and instead promotes their R&D in 100% solar vehicles, SEV is quick to point out that they have a significant backlog in orders. Kudos to them for sticking with their idea!

How about some good news? One possible benefit of the stimulus package moving through congress is the potential to kick start the IPO market in 2009. The Wall Street Journal has identified, wind farm operator Noble Environmental Power Inc., solar-industry supplier GCL Silicon Technology Holdings Inc., infrastructure testing firm Mistras Group, and renewable diesel provider Changing World Technologies Inc., as possible IPOs in the next year. This is in part due to the package being proposed. Now, as we have stated before, much of the future growth in our economy will be tied to new enegry sources and technologies. But by restarting the IPO market, Venture capital will be flowing again, and that will help many entrepreneurs looking for anything from large investors to small angel funds.

We talk to many inventors throughout the year, and the key question that often gets thrown around is, "What will be the next big thing"? But, too many times, we ignore the fact that the next big thing usually creates opportunities for several, while not overwhelmingly big, profitable ventures. These are often the things inventors overlook when waiting for that "mother-of-all ideas".

Another example of this fact is solar powered parking meters. Many times, when we think of solar, we think of either very small (think calculators) or very big (think office buildings or homes). However, one of the key attributes of solar is its ability to be independent from the power grid. This enables products that are distributed over a wide area to be powered without costly utilities. Again, companies that make these products may not have had "the" big idea, but they will make enough to retire rather nicely.

We, at BeHeron, often point out that, as inventors, we need to keep our eyes open to opportunities. We also need to pay attention to problems that the world faces, and to find ways to provide customer value. Finally, we have said that it is very important to solve challenges that you are interested in. Because solving the world's problems takes persistence.

But how do you go about solving those problems? One key tool is to stay up to date on the plethora of trade journals out there. Why you ask? Because researchers, typically University Ph.D.s, are very focused on the immediate issue they are dealing with, and do not have time to contemplate the vast applications their discovery or research may apply to. Trade journals are also a great way to stay energized and interested in your field. Now for those of you who don't know where to begin, why don't you start here. Techexpo.com has a great listing of technical magazines for you to browse. They have everything from Electronic Design to the Optical Society of America. Pick one that interests you and, trust us, your imagination will take over from there. And no, we don't get a kick-back from any site you may visit or journal you decide to subscribe to.

We've always stressed that advertising is a great way to obtain new clients, especially in the down economy (see Jan. 14, 2009). It helps even more if your advertisement is unique and catches the consumer's eye (see here and here). But that doesn't mean there are no limitations. We are always of the opinion what works in politics also works in the market. Specifically, instead of wasting money on doing negative advertisement, do something positive. We all know that voters do not necessarily respond kindly to candidates that run negative campaigns, especially when they don't have much else to offer. Same thing goes for consumers. As a matter of a fact, a recent article written by the Entrepreneur magazine states some of the pitfalls.

"Some companies are using negative ads to break through, but it tends to work best when there are two major competitors in a market in which smaller competitors can't benefit from flying below the radar".

They also suggested that the businesses "will benefit more by putting themselves out there and demonstrating to the consumers their uniqueness and personality than actually trashing the other guy". (see Apple/Microsoft War, although Apple did increase its market share to 10% from 2007's 8.1%)

So the next time you want to do a negative advertisement, ask yourself, is it worth it? and are you making the best out of your marketing dollar?

We at BeHeron decided that it is finally time for us to talk to you about the logistics of operating a business, specifically, starting a business. We thought we'd start it with incorporation.

We know that majority of the small businesses in the U.S. operates itself as a sole proprietorship. So, if it works well, why bother with incorporate the business into anything else? While sole proprietorship has lower startup cost and allows easier dissolution, it also imposes on it's owner, liabilities that may arise from the business. Also, being a sole proprietorship often makes it difficult to raise capital down the road. Investors may ask if you are going to just take the money and run? In any case, incorporating and formalizing your company is important.

The question then is, how exactly? While we always recommend that you consult a professional, a.k.a. an attorney, we understand that not everyone wants to spend (or have) that kind of money. Therefore, if you prefer, you can go through the self-service route, by utilizing the world-wide-web. We searched "incorporate business online" and found numerous websites/companies tailored for this specific purpose. Lastly, if you are one of those do-it-yourself kind of person, why not try to do it yourself? The process itself is not too difficult, usually outlined in detail by your Secretary of State's website. Once you figured out what form of business you need (i.e. corporation, limited liabilities companies, etc.), all it requires is a little bit of your time to research. For example, in California, in order to incorporate, you will have to send your completed application that is relevant to your form of business, that is downloadable from Secretary of State website, and send it to the right address. How easy is that?

So, the moral lessons of the day are, in business, it takes money to make money. And that, there are ways to minimize the cost. Sometimes, it may just need a little bit willingness to do the research and ground work. If you have any specific questions, leave us a comment or post a question on our forum, and we will try to help you out!

Every once in a while we come across a true innovation. One that takes an old problem and comes up with a completely new solution. The key here is that many people have tried to improve the common transmission, but few have succeeded like Fallbrook Technologies when they invented the NuVinci. They have created a continuously variable transmission that is less complex, has fewer parts, and is less expensive to manufacture and assemble.

Now how do people come up with these ideas? Typically, studies have shown that you need three factors to invent successfully. First, you need to have a problem. Second, it needs to be a problem you are intimately interested in. Finally, you must never give up. All three of these factors were true for the inventors of NuVinci when they started out trying to build the world's fastest bike. Now they have a product that truly works. Of course,it doesn't hurt when they also received millions in venture capital. So the next time you have a problem that impacts your life, feel free to solve it. It may just make you millions!

Many companies have seen the bitter cold of winter coming, a popular consumer electronic device, and a big opportunity. In our third edition of making the best out of a bad situation, we bring you iPhone-compatible gloves. This is just another good example of what inventors need to pay attention to in a down economy. Consumers will still jump to value, but they won't simply jump for the next fad. As we stated before, you can't give up on marketing, but don't try to trick your customers either. Find something that they will find useful or solve a problem that confounds them!

By the way, our favorite of the iPhone Gloves, presented to us courtesy of the Wall Street Journal, is none other than North Face's E-Tip Gloves; and trust us, we didn't just pick them because we love their ski gear!

We agree that putting a "Down Economy" in a good light can be difficult, but there are lessons to be learned and opportunities to grasp. In an article posted by PromotionWorld.com, Brian Easter (CEO of NeboWeb) points out the many pitfalls to avoid and tactics to utilize in a struggling business climate. A few good examples of what not to do are the following:

"Unsuccessful firms typically cut marketing, advertising, and/or sales to 'save' money. This is the beginning of their death spiral."

"The firm decides to become a 'sales' organization and shifts its focus from improving its products and services, core marketing strategy, or position in the market to focusing on increasingly aggressive sales tactics meant to strong-arm potential clients into buying their inferior or poorly positioned goods."

On the other hand, good companies will try to take advantage of the situation by:

"Better firms snap assets up at bargain prices, and as a result, increase their customer base and position in the market."

"Advertising and marketing become more efficient as costs decline, allowing better firms who continue to run their advertising and marketing campaigns to reap the benefits."

So as we said, it may be hard to find good news in this market, but it is worth the effort!

We at BeHeron would love to point out a good tool for all inventors to use when brainstorming for a new product idea. As inventors, we need to focus on free analysis and data. For example, One of the best places to start looking for free data is your local newspaper or TV newscasts. One such statistic thrown around on national news broadcasts is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's statistic that more than 5,000 U.S. teens die each year in car crashes. Additionally, the rate of crashes, fatal and nonfatal, per mile driven for 16-year-old drivers is almost 10 times the rate for drivers ages 30 to 59.

Many people hear this, but few notice the opportunity. At least in this example, inventors at Ford are an exception. They have developed the MyKey. According to AutoWeek Magazine parents can use the MyKey to control the following car features.

• Max speed is limited to 80 mph, and warning chimes can sound at 45, 55 and 65 mph.
• The seatbelt warning chime sounds and the radio is muted until the belt is buckled.
• The low-fuel warning comes on with 75 miles remaining, instead of the usual 50 miles.
• Radio volume is limited to 44 percent of maximum.
• Safety technologies such as traction control and blind-spot detection cannot be deactivated

So the next time you hear a disturbing stat on the news, think of the opportunity it may be presenting!

If you remember, we gave you the heads up on new developments in biofuels back in August and November last year (specifically here and here). And we also stated that energy challenges were going to present real oppertunities. Now we agree that the price of oil has dropped significantly since our previous postings, but most inventors/entrepreneurs would agree that the price of oil isn't going to stay thislow for long.

Not to brag, the associated press just reported that Continental Airlines became the first U.S. commercial carrier to conduct a demonstration flight, powered in part by biofuel. The experiment was to analyze technical aspects of using biofuels, such as effects on mechanical systems. The ultimate goal being to reduce fuel costs (by finding available alternatives) and to reduce their carbon footprint. The carbon reduction would come by purchasing fuels that are carbon neutral, such as some biodiesels.

While cost and production capacity issues still exist, the article predicts biofuel could amount to 3 to 5 percent of the fuel used by airlines in 2012. By 2020, the level could grow to as much as 20 percent. The largest benefit to airlines is that this provides an alternative if theere is another spike in oil prices or change in pollution regulations. As we said before, opportunity is knocking!

It may be hard for any inventor / entrepreneur to keep an upbeat perspective in an upside-down economy. It was just announced that Venture-backed IPOs last year hit 30-year low. Why develop a product or even start a company? The truth is that the time to focus on your idea is now. The ideas that survive during the hard times are the ones that will make the most cash when the economy turns around. In fact, a slowdown in the economy can help an inventor refine their product by ensuring that only characteristics which the customer places high value upon gets focus.

Many companies are successful when they limit their focus. In these troubling times, it is important to determine what your customer values most.

Just in case you were wondering about selling your idea rather than looking for an IPO, you should focus on products that are patentable. Out of all venture backed M&A deals, 46% were involved with Technology orientated firms. You think we live in a service based economy? That is not always the best place to start as an entrepreneur!

We received a tip via one of our forumers about Autonet Mobile, makers of the first wireless internet service designed for your car. Their product is a great innovation for those of us on the road often and require the use of the internet on a moments notice. Will this finally be the answer to those with too big of fingers for a PDA or the answer for those who would like to actually open large email attachements on the road? Will they also be able to perform to their claim that service will not drop out as you move? Better yet, will this product replace the traditional at home internet? We are not sure until we try it. But we thank these entrepreneurs for the effort.

Their website describes the product in detail.

"With Autonet Mobile, you can connect to the Internet in your car when you want, wherever you are. With its patent-pending TRU Technology, the Autonet Mobile Router is designed to keep you and your family from losing connection to our 3G network even when you are traveling between cell towers, through tunnels, and in areas of poor signal. Our router’s sleek form factor was designed to be easily installed in the trunk of your car or the cargo area of your SUV so that it’s out of your way and provides you with the best Wi-Fi signal possible."

Oh, yes, the best part, all of this can be yours for the router cost plus $29 per month. Pretty good deal if you ask us.

Over the past year we have seen great innovations and new products in the field of Solar Technology. In particular thin-film solar technology has changed solar greatly. One such change facilitated by thin-film technology has been a product developed by Solyndra. They develop optimized photovoltaic systems for commercial rooftops.

"Solyndra's panels employ cylindrical modules which capture sunlight across a 360-degree photovoltaic surface capable of converting direct, diffuse and reflected sunlight into electricity. Solyndra's panels perform optimally when mounted horizontally and packed closely together, thereby covering significantly more of the typically available roof area and producing more electricity per rooftop on an annual basis than a conventional panel installation. The result is significantly more solar electricity per rooftop per year."

Their technology won the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal's 2008 Emerging Technology Award for Green/Clean Technology. Read the article here.

It seems like every day Solar technology is moving closer to cost parity with the grid and when it does BeHeron will be here to tell you!