Entrepreneurship in the Research Context

For: researchers who are considering setting up a business or commercialising their ideas, including masters, phds, post docs, and academic staff (junior and senior)

Used by: 16 universities in the UK and Ireland

Expert Reviewer: Professor Gerry George, Imperial College – Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Other Contributors:

• Dr Shai Vyakarnam, Cambridge University, Director of Entrepreneurship, Judge Business School
• Dr Simon Stockley, Imperial College Business School, Director, Full-time MBA programme
• Adam Bock, Visiting Lecturer at University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA and a serial entrepreneur of medical companies
• Gerry George and Adam Bock are the co-authors of "Inventing Entrepreneurs: Technology Innovators and their Entrepreneurial Journey" (Prentice Hall, 2008).

Content:

Students who are thinking of commercialising their research are challenged to:

• consider their own life goals
• decide which entrepreneurial route is best for them (start-up, licensing, or consulting)
• understand timing issues and routes to market
• evaluate the commercial viability of their idea
• understand how best to mobilise people and finance
• learn from others who have 'made it' or 'blown it'!

A video drama of a team of researchers trying to commercialise a water filtration system designed for the third world is a key part of the course. What are their different motivations? Is the third world a viable market? How can they best raise funding? Should they set up a company to exploit the technology or simply license the idea to someone else?  Case studies, interactive simulations and the drama are also used to engage students and help them learn.

The EPSRC funding programme syllabus is completely covered by this programme. The courses can be used as pre-study material for lectures or as a stand-alone package.

This programme consists of three courses with over 10 hours of content (equivalent to 20 hours of teaching):

Course list

• ENT 01. Entrepreneurial Motivation
• ENT 02. Opportunity Recognition, Creation and Evaluation
• ENT 03. Entrepreneurial Resources

Development Group:

Ten of the UK's top universities form this development group:

• Bath University
• Bristol University
• Durham University
• Heriot Watt University
• Imperial College London
• Lancaster University
• Liverpool University
• Loughborough University
• Oxford University
• Strathclyde University

More information: for detailed content and pricing information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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