Through the Years With Innovation

Editor's Note

October / November 2009 By: Bob Cochnar Volume 7 Number 5

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In July and August of 2003, we were putting together the contents of a new magazine that would debut the following month. It was Volume 1, Number 1 (the October-November issue) of TechComm, the maiden name of what, some three years later, we decided to call Innovation.

In that inaugural issue we put forth our objectives, which haven't changed over the years:

"Some technologies created in publicly supported national laboratories and other research institutions could have exciting and rewarding commercial applications. But what are these technologies? What are the trends in the research communities? Are there entrepreneurs interested in bringing inventions to market? Who are they? What are they looking for?

"TechComm, published bimonthly in partnership with the Department of Energy, brings the parties together. It straddles and reports on two sometimes disparate worlds—business and technology."

In 2003, when we changed our name to Innovation, we included the dictionary definition, which we thought more precisely described our purpose:

innovation 1 : the introduction of something new; 2 : a new idea, method or device. Related words: advance, change, originality

You're reading another October-November issue, but this one is Volume 7, Number 5, our 37th, and my how time flies! Over the years, we're happy to say that we've grown and are reaching more and more of the readers we had initially hoped to reach. Circulation is now approaching 16,000. We're distributed in all 50 states. A lot of researchers, scientists, government officials, legislators, technology company executives, entrepreneurs and investors now have something in common: Innovation.

The readership breaks down this way: 54 percent of readers are in government, 22 percent in industry and 24 percent in the financial sector, so roughly half are government folks and half are private sector folks. Of the latter, 37 percent are CEOs and other C-level management, 15 percent are engineers and scientists and 36 percent are engaged in technology transfer.

That's just about the right mix, we think. If you're reading Innovation but aren't a subscriber, just fill out one of the subscription cards in this issue and send it along, or go to www.innovation-america.org. It's free to people who fit the above profile, more or less. And then you'll have your very own issue.
We're always looking for ways to improve and invite you to send along your ideas, comments and suggestions. We'll pay attention.

Meanwhile, we hope you'll find something useful or at least interesting in this issue. And thanks for reading.