Idea Advisory Service (IAS)

Your Contact

Denise Ferguson

Executive Manager – Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation

Contact Me

1 (868) 299-0209 ext: 2205, 2662, 2676

ias@cariri.com


Idea Advisory Services

From Idea to Impact: Unleash Your Innovation with CARIRI’s Advisory Service!

CARIRI’s Idea Advisory Service represents an initiative aimed at fostering innovation and supporting individuals in bringing their ideas to fruition. Drawing inspiration from the Danish Technological Institute, which has successfully offered this service in Denmark for over four decades, CARIRI has assembled a diverse and skilled team to deliver this service in Trinidad and Tobago. CARIRI’s IAS has meticulously customized its approach to align with the specific requirements of our local economy and, ultimately, the broader Caribbean region.

Numerous exceptional ideas often languish without being transformed into viable products or services due to a disconnect between the concept, market demand, and the market’s assessment of the offering. The Idea Advisory Service strives to bridge this gap by collaborating closely with innovators to assess the validity of facts and assumptions underpinning their ideas. Once proof of business has been established, there are two pathways to commercialization either via business start-ups or licensing.

Business Startups: CARIRI offers the Business Hatchery Programme, a comprehensive three-month training initiative designed to equip entrepreneurs with the fundamental skills needed to operate their own businesses. For more details about this program, please visit http://www.cedcariri.com/hatchery #thehatchery.

Licensing: The alternative option, licensing, empowers individuals who possess creativity, dynamism, and audacity to leverage an existing company’s expertise, including market experience, distribution networks, and manufacturing capabilities, to bring their ideas to market. As an innovator, you can exchange the risks associated with launching a new company for royalty payments under this arrangement.

Why Choose CARIRI’s IAS ?

1. Expert Validation and Advice: CARIRI’s Idea Advisory Service offers professional guidance for validating and refining innovative ideas. It ensures that your concept is unique, viable, and ready for the market, including intellectual property advice and market demand evaluation.

2. Customized Commercialization Options: With options like the Business Hatchery Programme for entrepreneurs and licensing opportunities for those preferring partnerships, CARIRI provides flexible pathways tailored to your innovation and business goals.

3. End-to-End Support: From developing prototypes to facilitating connections with potential licensees and assisting in negotiations, CARIRI offers comprehensive support to ensure successful market entry and the effective realization of your innovative ideas

Individual

Select this option if you are submitting your own idea.

Companies / Organization

Select this option if you are submitting on behalf of a company or organization

Benefits of Using IAS

Energy Assessment (Audits)

Energy audits are comprehensive assessments of a facility’s energy usage, aiming to identify inefficiencies and suggest improvements. These audits involve analyzing energy consumption patterns, equipment performance, and building infrastructure to pinpoint areas where energy is wasted. The goal is to optimize energy usage, reduce operational costs, and minimize environmental impact.

Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs)

Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) are strategies or actions implemented to reduce energy consumption and promote energy efficiency within a building, facility, or system. These measures can range from simple behavioral changes to complex technological upgrades. Common ECMs include installing energy-efficient lighting, optimizing HVAC systems, improving insulation, upgrading appliances and machinery, implementing smart energy controls, and utilizing renewable energy sources. The goal of ECMs is to conserve energy, reduce utility bills, lower carbon emissions, and enhance overall sustainability.

Resource Usage Assessments

Resource Usage Assessments involve evaluating the consumption of resources within a specific context, such as a company, community, or industrial facility. These assessments aim to understand how resources like water, energy, raw materials, and other inputs are utilized. They include data collection, analysis, and evaluation of resource consumption patterns and inefficiencies. Resource Usage Assessments provide valuable insights into wastage, identify areas for improvement, and offer recommendations for more sustainable practices.

Carbon Foot Printing

Carbon footprinting refers to the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions associated with human activities, products, or organizations. It quantifies the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gasses emitted directly or indirectly by human activities, such as driving a car, manufacturing goods, or using electricity. The goal of carbon footprinting is to raise awareness about the environmental impact of these activities and identify opportunities for reducing emissions. Calculations often include Scope 1 (direct emissions), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from energy use), and sometimes Scope 3 (indirect emissions from the supply chain and product lifecycle). Understanding one’s carbon footprint is crucial for individuals, businesses, and governments to make informed decisions, set emission reduction targets, and contribute to global efforts in mitigating climate change.

Energy Management Systems

Energy Management Systems (EMS) are comprehensive strategies implemented by organizations to monitor, control, and optimize energy usage. These systems utilize technology, data analysis, and various tools to assess energy consumption patterns and identify areas for improvement. EMS helps organizations set energy efficiency goals, track progress, and reduce operational costs by optimizing energy usage. It often involves the use of software and sensors to collect real-time data, allowing for informed decision-making regarding energy conservation measures. By implementing Energy Management Systems, businesses can enhance their sustainability efforts, comply with regulations, reduce their carbon footprint, and achieve long-term energy efficiency goals.

Energy Management Measurements

Energy Management Measurements refer to the systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data related to energy usage within an organization or a specific system. These measurements help in understanding the energy consumption patterns, identifying inefficiencies, and evaluating the effectiveness of energy conservation initiatives. Energy management measurements often include parameters such as electricity usage, fuel consumption, peak demand periods, and energy intensity metrics. By tracking these measurements over time, businesses can set realistic energy-saving goals, monitor progress, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their energy usage. Implementing effective energy management measurements not only reduces operational costs but also contributes significantly to environmental sustainability by minimizing the overall energy footprint.

Renewable Energy Solutions

Renewable Energy refers to energy which is created from renewable resources which are naturally replenished within  a human lifetime . In the Caribbean, the more prevalent forms of renewable energy include solar, wind, wave, hydro and geothermal.  Businesses and residential clients can improve energy security and reduce their energy costs over time by adopting renewable energy technologies. In some Caribbean countries, excess energy produced from renewable sources can be sold back onto the grid. Renewable energy solutions are designed to suit a user’s energy needs

Training

  1. Customized Training Delivery:

    • Tailored training programs in sustainability, energy auditing, carbon footprinting, solar PV installation, and renewable energy technologies.
    • Suitable for schools, communities, and companies, making it ideal for ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) initiatives.
  2. Information and Sensitization Seminars:

    • Engaging seminars designed to raise awareness and educate on various topics related to sustainability and energy.
  3. Flexible Delivery Options:

    • Our sessions can be delivered through various methods to meet your needs:
      • In-person sessions for a hands-on experience.
      • Virtual sessions for remote accessibility.
      • Hybrid sessions combining in-person and virtual components for maximum flexibility.
  • Confidentially, independent and objective assessment of innovators’ ideas anytime all the time
  • Involvement of the innovator in the idea validation and commercialization process
  • Identification and strengthening of the benefits of your idea to the target market
  • Assessment of the novelty of your idea and advice on which intellectual property tool would be the most relevant in securing your idea
  • Evaluation of market demand for your invention
  • Assistance in the development of a demonstration model (prototype) where necessary
  • Identification and networking with potential licensees of your idea on your behalf
  • Negotiation of a licensing agreement

IAS Submission Guidelines

Below, find a handful of requirements your innovation must meet before we can go further with our advisory. Your innovation:

  1. Must be your own
    • You must be the original creator of the idea submission and have the exclusive right to submit it to IAS. You agree not to upload images that belong to someone else as a part of your idea.
  2. Must be original
    • The purpose of IAS is first and foremost to commercialize ideas. This means we’re looking for new ideas that solve a real problem. We cannot commercialize ideas/innovations that already exist. We, therefore, cannot offer advice on ideas/innovations that have the following properties:
      • Virtually the same product is being sold already
      • Current products solve the problem in a better way
      • A published patent or concept already exists for the idea
      • The idea is not different enough to compete in an already saturated market
      • The idea combines different existing features together without a clear benefit
      • Please make sure your idea is one of a kind before submitting. Search the web for existing patents, products, and concepts.
  3. Must be complete – no placeholders
    • While you may edit the content after submitting your idea, please don’t submit incomplete ideas. Incomplete submissions with minimal images and text or ones that say “images coming soon” (or something similar) are not permitted.
  4. Keep it appropriate
    • We will not handle ideas/innovations related to the below topics. We will decide how a submission fits these standards at our discretion.
      • Death, killing, blood, terrorism, or torture
      • Racism, bullying, or cruelty to animals
      • Contesting norms, policies, procedures, and decisions made by staff
  5. Make it clear and legible
    • Be precise and take your time. Clear grammar and spelling are essential to our ability to understand your idea. Your submission title, description, problem, and solution text should be clearly understood. Please make sure your submission is in English.

Individual

Select this option if you are submitting your own idea.

Companies / Organization

Select this option if you are submitting on behalf of a company or organization

Your Contact

Denise Ferguson

Executive Manager

Research Development and Innovation

Contact Me

Telephone (868) 299-0209 ext: 2205, 2662, 2676

Email: ias@cariri.com