Dr. Frank R. Bacon, the founder of the Planned Innovation Institute, is the originator of the Planned Innovation® Process and principle author of several books on the subject. These include two editions of Planned Innovation®, published by The University of Michigan, and Achieving Planned Innovation®, published by Simon & Schuster. He is an internationally recognized authority on new product/service development and strategic planning.

He is former Research Program Director, Industrial Development Division, Institute of Science and Technology, at the University of Michigan. Later he was recruited by the President and Vice President of Research at Michigan State University to assist there with joint appointments in the Colleges of Business and Engineering.

While at MSU he pioneered the teaching of new product innovation in graduate classes combining both business and engineering students using live projects from industry. He is now Professor Emeritus of Marketing and Supply Chain Management. He is a founding member of the Product Development and Management Association.

His extensive hands-on experience assisting many domestic and foreign companies with developing a wide variety of products and services has led to the continual updating and refinement of the Planned Innovation® process to meet the needs of both small and large multi-national firms.

Product/services have included items such as materials handling robotics, computer systems, aero-space/defense products such as avionics and flight data recorders, automotive components, medical devices, packaging, as well as personal care consumer products and recreational services/products. His experience also included assignments for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Dr. Bacon holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He received his MBA and PhD from the University of Michigan. He lives in Park Ridge, Illinois.