in the pipeline

An expression that refers to something which is still in preparation and not yet ready for development. It specifically refers to the set of stages and processes from the invention or design of a product to its ultimate use, production, or commercial sale.

For example, when Vinton Cerf joined Google as Chief Internet Evangelist he said "I haven't spent enough time at Google to know if any of the ideas I have are old hat or already in the pipeline."