Awards for Discovery and Invention

Abstract

AN example of the changed conditions brought about by the policy of Government encouraging the application of science to industry will be found in the “Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee appointed to consider the Methods of dealing with Inventions made by Workers aided or maintained from Public Funds” (pp. 25, H.M.S.O., price 6d. net). Before the War this subject was dealt with by Depart ments in a manner which frequently caused workers to desire arbitrators who, if not more sympathetic, might at least have knowledge of affairs, and act in accordance with some guiding principles. There were three courses which might be adopted by Government Departments, involving complete control, control by Government with delegation of its rights to its con tractors but leaving commercial use to the inventor, and finally release from any obligation, with freedom to deal with invention, as the inventor pleased. In those days, however, the cases coming up for decision were few, and the number of individuals affected small, whereas now Government employs a large body of persons on scientific and technical work, any of whom may, at any time, produce an invention. The import ance of such an invention, although emanating from a laboratory belonging to the Fighting Services, may be even greater from a civil than from a military point of view.