Fostering Entrepreneurial Skills

1. 8 FEBRUARY 2016
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Fostering
Entrepreneurial Skills
Developing Enterprising Researchers

2. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Why should we develop entrepreneurial
skills in our researchers?
Process
Discussion in pairs (10 minute)
Then report back

3. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Presentation
Christina Riedler:
“Start-up experiences from a doctoral candidate”

4. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Does academic enterprise involve more
than spin-outs?
Process
Discussion in 3s or 4s? (5 minutes)
Feedback and discussion

5. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
What skills does an entrepreneur need?
Are these skills different from those of a
successful academic?
Discuss on your tables (10 minutes)
Produce a drawing showing the similarities and differences

6. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
A Half-Day Public Enterprise
Workshop
Participants (in groups)
• Develop a business idea
• Translate this into an outline business plan
• Develop a pitch for their proposal
• Pitch their idea to a team of investors
Key ideas about start-ups are introduced
throughout the session.

7. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Programme
13.45 – 14.10 Introduction to business planning and
Introduction to the activity
14.10 – 15.00 Business game – Brainstorming
15.00 – 16.00 Business Game - Planning
16.00 – 16.10 Briefing on team presentations (‘pitches’)
16.10 – 16.45 Preparing ‘pitches’
16.45 – 17.00 Team presentations or ‘pitches’

8. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Sofia Enterprise Video
Copies of the powerpoints from Sofia are
on your tables.

9. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Other Enterprise
Activities

10. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Longer Enterprise School
Longer version lasting 1.5 days with much more input on
enterprise formation, business planning, IPR.
4-day version which includes exercises on consultancy and
much more on branding and marketing.
Very flexible framework. Develops much wider skill set.

11. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Business Plan Competitions
Works best with real embryo businesses.
Contestants develop business idea with mentoring support
over a six-month period.
Often have semi-final stage to reduce field to about 10
entrants – outline business plan without financials.
Finalists go on to produce full business plan with outline
financials for first 2 years of trading.
Business plans read by panel of entrepreneurs and
contestants then pitch their business.
Winners announced at gala dinner with real cash prizes.

12. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Researchers as Consultants
Early career researchers have the technical skills to preform a
consultancy/problem solving role for many businesses.
• But they need some training in effective consultancy skills.
• Can be extremely effective – often business will pay for
doctoral student/post-doc input.
• Can work very effectively at undergraduate level.
Developed in Physics at Durham – see
http://www.iop.org/education/higher_education/stem/ind
ustrial/page_47362.html

13. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
On-line provision
Commercial packages
e.g.
Are you an entrepreneur?
https://duo.dur.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/institution/E-
tutorials/entrepreneurship1/index.html
Opportunity recognition creation & evaluation
https://duo.dur.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/institution/E-
tutorials/entrepreneurship2/index.html
Resources (people, teams, finance)
https://duo.dur.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/institution/E-
tutorials/entrepreneurship3/index.html

14. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
Other ideas
Internships
Jointly-funded PhD and research projects with industry – MC
EID
Specific workshops on IPR, spin-outs, …
Intrapreneurship – the effective research leader is an
intrapreneur

15. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 643330
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