An inventor needs to be many things. In my field you need to be an electronics engineer, so good groundings in maths and physics are key elements.

In addition to above-average technical skills, you need sound marketing and business skills if you are to earn a good income. Staying power, self-belief and an entrepreneurial spirit are important.

You also need a good instinct for which products are needed and saleable - there is no point developing innovative products that are so expensive to produce that no-one will buy them. You also have to keep up to date with the latest technology and new products that are being developed all over the world.

Qualifications needed: The qualification would depend on what you are inventing, but any engineering degree should stand you in good stead. UCT has an excellent mechatronics engineering programme which deals with mechanical and electronic elements helpful in the robotics field. In other fields, the requirements will differ.

Where to train: Universities and universities of technology.

Expected earnings: There is no doubt that the rewards of a successful invention can run into six-figure amounts. The trick is to find the right product at the right time for the right market.

Contact: Michael Mair at 021 511 0096.