Enterprising Researcher Programme 2009/2010

It is increasingly important for researchers to be able to demonstrate the contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy.

This is illustrated by the Research Councils' emphasis on the addition of impact statements in grant applications. RCUK states: 'the view from the majority of the business community representatives who advise and work with the Research Councils is that what they value about the UK research base is its broad range of expert knowledge and its highly skilled people - elements that underpin their own R&D activities.'

The aim of the Enterprising Researcher programme is to enable academic and research staff and research students coming to the end of their degree to understand and implement processes for identifying, protecting and using ideas and knowledge from their research that may have the potential to impact significantly upon society, culture and the economy. It will help participants to gain both a deeper understanding of 'enterprise' within a wide range of settings and an insight into the commercial and social use of research outputs to the benefit of the economy and society.

You are invited to sign up for the Enterprising Researcher Programme. The programme starts on 15 October 2009. Details of the programme and a booking form is available at

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/sddu/knowledge/documents/EntResearcherFlyerFinal.doc

Using case studies and participative workshops, participants will gain practical experience of the challenges faced in taking their research a step further. Free of charge to University of Leeds staff and research students, the programme includes input from external experts and academic staff from the University, providing real perspectives on a range of approaches to making an impact through research. It is split into two parts:

  • Part 1: From Researcher to Entrepreneur. This part comprises one 3 hour introduction and eight 2-hour sessions between 15 October and 10 December 2009.
  • Part 2: Turning Research Ideas into Action. This part comprises three 2-hour sessions between 25 February and 11 March 2010.
    The programme has been designed to give participants the chance to engage with case study examples of research and has elements of collaborative group work. Participants are therefore expected to attend sessions 1 (Ideas Generation and Creativity), 2 (Intellectual Property), 4 (Routes to Market) and 9 (Group Presentations) and should select additional sessions from those listed below to meet their individual needs.

The programme will be chaired by Jennifer Chubb and Dr Jim Baxter, SDDU. Invited speakers will include staff from the Enterprise and Innovation Office (EIO) and Techtran; John Hawkey, Barrister and Director of Buckmaster Hawkey Limited; Dr Ralph Ecclestone, founder of The Commercialisation Company; Adrian Slater, University Legal Adviser; Dr David Adams and Professor Deborah Withington, Faculty of Biological Sciences; Dr Andrew Tingey (IP Fusion); Jean Kent, Business Link; and Chris Hill, Camberwell Social Enterprise, Leeds.

The programme is supported by four case studies of research, which will provide participants with a surrogate experience of turning research ideas into action. Participants will be grouped into teams, in which they can choose to work over the full period of the programme, with the opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of mock judges in the final session of Part One.

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