This capstone course introduces students to the principles of successful innovation and the integral role of patents in this process. This is a course in innovation. There are no right or wrong answers. Large companies with very smart people often launch products that fail. Venture capitalists seeking to invest in winners more-often-than-not end up investing in losers. Innovation is an art, not a science. There is no "secret formula" that guarantees success. There are simply different tools, skills, methods of analysis, and approaches that may or may not work better than others. We will explore the art of innovation and the integral role that patents play in turning an idea into an innovation. Goals: Students will learn how to research complex subject matter across the intersecting domains of business, finance, marketing, science, technology, and intellectual property. Students will then develop the ability to present their findings in a clear and concise manner that is understandable to and can be acted upon by a cross-functional audience of high-level decision makers.