R2B: From Research to Business: a knowledge transfer approach
Supporting KIC's
Domain: Domain 4 – Enhancing the quality of innovation and entrepreneurial education.
Action: A4.3: Develop innovation and entrepreneurial training programmes and mentoring scheme
From Research to Business: a knowledge transfer approach
From Research to Business: a knowledge transfer approach (R2B) is a program for Ph.D. students intending to reflect on the value of their research work in the market. Specifically, at the end of the course, those who participate will be able to understand:
- the value of their research project in a market;
- the strategic role of intellectual property and other intangible assets in their research project and future professional scenarios;
- how to plan and develop new entrepreneurial and intra-entrepreneurial projects in different contexts.
Who is it for and how does it work?
The program is aimed at doctoral students of the University of Trento and local research foundations, and it is in collaboration with the university’s departments and doctoral courses. It lasts 25 hours and it is held in English.
General objectives
The goal is to provide Ph.D. students with the necessary concepts to create impact from their research. The main activities carried out in the training course are:
- exploration of trends and markets, to understand how to best take advantage of the innovation potential identified within their research;
- analyses with experts of the concepts of value proposition, opportunities related to strategies and protection of intellectual property;
- presentation of strategies and opportunities for public and private financing of innovative ideas, both to collaborate with companies and for the creation of new businesses.
Methods
The teaching methods are mainly based on active learning. Therefore, alongside the traditional presentation of content, real-life experiences and case studies are introduced by researchers, entrepreneurs, managers of local and/or international companies. Lessons, discussions, individual and group work, practical activities and games are all combined.
LIST Of CONTENTS:
Fundamental of Innovation and Entrepreneurship • From research to innovation • Put your research idea in business context • Building a product value proposition • Building a technology proposition and Basics of technology disclosure and patenting (with UNITN) • Research integrity introduction • Introduction to the market and business models • How to make profit from technologies with companies • How to make profit from technologies START UP • How to find a Product-Market fit • How to push forward your research results: opportunities and tips from public funding to create impact • Private financing for innovation ventures
KWOLEDGE AND SKILLS ASSESSMENT
Participants’ knowledge will be assessed and they will also be guided in the self-assessment of their skills that they will have the opportunity to develop during the course, with a focus on group work dynamics and the ability to communicate effectively.
The course design is closely linked to the local ecosystem of the university. In particular, HIT acts as a link between all the experts needed for the training, coming from the world of research, education and entrepreneurial innovation (both companies and start-ups).
Context
Traditionally, doctoral programs do not include training activities that encourage doctoral students to think about how their research can stem from a real problem and how their results can have an impact on society. This deficiency often leads them to develop research projects that have no real possibility of knowledge transfer.
Moreover, it must be taken into account that the majority of PhD students will not be able to continue their academic careers and therefore need to be prepared to enter the market by improving their skills as innovators in the industrial economic system.
Audiences
PhD students
Key outcomes
From Research to Business: a knowledge transfer approach (R2B) is a program for Ph.D. students intending to reflect on the value of their research work in the market. Specifically, at the end of the course, those who participate will be able to understand:
- the value of their research project in a market;
- the strategic role of intellectual property and other intangible assets in their research project and future professional scenarios;
- how to plan and develop new entrepreneurial and intra-entrepreneurial projects in different contexts.
Key success factors / How to replicate / Sustainability mechanism
Most PhDs are highly engaged in technical training activities; strong engagement of doctoral schools is needed so that they include the pathway among their strongly recommended activities.
It is essential to treat PhDs not as students but as long life learners and actively involve them in classes.
Learning-by-doing activities must be varied and be managed in a way that balances group and individual work.
The format calls for meetings of up to 2 h 30, but the majority are 50-minute workshops. It is necessary to align very well the experts who are called for the intervention and monitor the content so as to create slight synergistic overlaps and not repetitions.
It is very important to alternate senior experts with testimonies from juniors who have recently been dealing with technology transfer or creating a start-up.
It is very complex to convey knowledge in the legal field, but there are several learning tools that use the learning by doing approach; It is essential to identify experts that are able to use them.
Self-assessment as developed within BOOGIE-U is a great tool to ensure student engagement from day one!
It is very important to make students understand that the time they are spending on this training is an investment they are making in their future and that the speakers are there for them.