CMU LibGuides: Engineering and Public Policy: 19-670: Quantitative Entrepreneurship: Analysis for New Technology Commercialization: Start

This guide

will help you investigate industry and market conditions for new technologies

Market analysis

Source: http://web.stanford.edu/group/ifarmteams/files/BiotechConnectionSept162014.pdf

Assessing your market means finding the potential revenue for a product or service - and there are many ways to do this, including primary research (interviews, surveys) and secondary research (reports, statistics, articles.)

We can help with the secondary research:

Locate an Industry Overview
Find analysis in articles in the News Sources box on this page (i.e. use "market" and "size" with your keywords)
Research your customer base.
Use government statistics such as - the Annual Survey of Manufacturers Value of Products Shipments, which covers several thousand individual products.

Demographics and characteristics of consumer markets

US Census Data
voluminous demographic data on the U.S. from national to zip code level.

Statistical Abstract of the United States This link opens in a new window
easy-to-find statistics on everything.

More in Market Research Guide

U.S. Government reports

Agencies of the federal government often support entrepreneurial efforts, and produce market-oriented reports, in their areas. Do a google search ending in "site:.gov" to limit to governmental sources. Examples:

U.S. DOE - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Solar Energy Technologies Program
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Electric Power Market
Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center
Federal and State incentives
Defense Industry Daily
Defense program acquisition news, budget data, market briefings

Industry overviews

Find industry leaders, statistics, current status, future trends, histories and profiles here.

Frost & Sullivan This link opens in a new window
Detailed market reports and analysis on technology aspects of many industries. For academic use only.)
GlobalData Power This link opens in a new window
Covers the alternate/renewable energy industries : wind, hydro, solar, ocean, geothermal, biofuels, fuel cells, nuclear, carbon trading, etc. Includes news, deals, analysis, forecasts, and more. NOTE: Click on the "If you have IP access click here" link.
Statista This link opens in a new window
Statistical data in handy formats on markets and industries
BCC Research This link opens in a new window
Market research reports specializing in advanced materials, biotechnology, chemicals, energy, healthcare, sensors, plastics, and other emerging technologies.
Gartner Core Research This link opens in a new window
specializes in technology products and services used by corporations, sample: "Cool Vendors in Consumer Energy Management". (Note: Dataquest reports are not in our subscription.)
IBISWorld This link opens in a new window
In-depth industry market research reports with analysis, data, conditions, segmentation, market share, primary companies, and outlook for over 700 industries in the US, UK, China, and globally.

Industry Statistics from the Census Bureau
link to the US Census programs that offer industry statistics
More in the INDUSTRIES research guide.

MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS

ThomasNet (formerly Thomas Register) - North America
Provides access to the products and services of over 650,000 industrial companies. Can be searched by product category, keyword, brand name, or company name. North American focus.

1. Drop down = "Suppliers"
2. Type in your product to get a list of suppliers
Kompass - Global
Does a lot of the same things as ThomasNet does but for the global perspective. Refine by Sector or Geography.

News sources on markets, industries

Reports on niche or new industries often appear in trade journals - found in these databases. Use search terms such as “market,” “forecast,” “trends,” “overview,” etc. along with your own market identifier, i.e. “fiber optic sensor".

ABI/INFORM Collection This link opens in a new window
Articles from industry and scholarly sources, periodicals, reports and dissertations, on business, management, corporate strategy, and the competitive landscape. Database Guide
Business Source Premier This link opens in a new window
academic and trade journals and magazines in all business disciplines; also industry reports, company profiles, and country economic reports.
Engineering Village This link opens in a new window
Articles in communications, computer science, engineering, environmental science, IT, operations research, physics and robotics.