History of TIC

Technical Innovation Center was first formed by Lev Shulyak in 1991. In 1992, an alliance was formed between Lev Shulyak and Richard Langevin to edit and publish a manuscript that Mr. Shulyak had translated from Russian into English. Mr. Langevin agreed to assist in editing the rough manuscript until it was suitable for publishing. The name of the work was, "The Art of Inventing". Since Mr. Langevin had no idea what TRIZ was about and the English translation was poor, it took many revisions before the text became understandable.

After a year of mutual cooperation, working out of Mr. Shulyak's home, the finished manuscript was suitable for limited printing. Lev Shulyak and Richard Langevin established Technical Innovation Center (TIC) in 1993 as a partnership. In 1993, Steve Rodman, science editor for Worcester Business Journal at the time, interviewed Lev Shulyak and Richard Langevin about their new company. In 1995, Technical Innovation Center was incorporated with Lev Shulyak, Richard Langevin, and Steve Rodman, becoming the company it is today. Mr. Rodman has since been primary information technology consultant for TIC and editor for the published works. The first books were printed and TIC was launched.

TIC performed evening speaking engagements at local engineering dinners and taught TRIZ at local high schools and colleges, such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Several years later, one of our night class students contacted us. Now employed at Motorola, he wanted to let us know that he had developed several patents because of the TRIZ knowledge he had learned from TIC. Personal events like this motivated us to continue moving the company forward.

Working with Genrikh Altshuller, TIC was the exclusive English translator and publisher of several of his most important works and was also instrumental in the creation and operation of the Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies. After the untimely deaths of Mr. Altshuller and Mr. Shulyak, Valery Krasnoslobodtsev joined TIC as its resident TRIZ expert.

Today TIC continues to publish TRIZ materials and provide trianing worldwide.