Before you approach a college professor to ask him to take on your product as a class project you will need to clearly establish what it is you wish to learn. There are usually no set guidelines on what the students will and will not do as a part of the project. The clearer you can be with your objectives, the more valuable their research will be to you. It is common for their studies to include research on the cost of manufacturing your product, possible channels of distribution, competing products, market resistance, advertising or consumer education that would be required for the end users to see the value of your product, potential retail pricing, and surveys and focus groups to study market acceptance for your product. The students may even be able to locate manufacturers that might eventually be interested in licensing your product. They may also research the viability of building a business around your invention. If your product is selected as a class project you could receive thousands of dollars worth of research absolutely free!

Using your product as a class project is a serious commitment on the professor’s part. You will need to approach it in a businesslike manner and be prepared with a list of what you hope to gain from the project. If you go with unclear objectives the professor is not likely to take you or your project seriously.