NSCPHD1020 Entrepreneurship (generic course)

Volume 2013/2014
Content
This PhD course is for PhD students interested in commercializing research results. You will work in groups with selected patents from the University of Copenhagen or you can work with your own idea. The challenge for you is to understand both the technological aspects of the research results, the patent and use this for identifying opportunities for commercialization and business development. The course will include training in communicating with the sales pitch and presentations, working with Intellectual Property Rights, lectures from experts and business leaders on project team profiling and development, methods for structured innovation and business development based on a patent.

Tentative program:
Day 1: Welcome; Introduction to the course; Reading of course material (Ramfelt et al.).
Day 2: Generating your ideas (workshop and self-study).
Day 3: Intellectual Property Rights and patents - I (lectures and computer exercises on own subject).
Day 4: Intellectual Property Rights and patents - II (lectures, presentation of own material).
Day 5: Qualification of the business model (lectures, role-play and group exercises).
Day 6: Working on own business plan (group work).
Day 7: Preparation for examination; Exam (afternoon only).

The business plan must be handed in during the course and must not exceed 5 pages (A4, 1½ line spacing, 12 point Times New Roman, 2 cm margins). Each group must prepare a 7-min presentation of their business plan (PP, oral, dance – free choice of style). The group must present the business plan to the course coordinators and a group of opponents (course participants). Each group must act as opponents and participate in giving oral feedback together with the course coordinators. Each examination will take 20 min.

Each day will include inspirational guest talks (entrepreneurs and commercialization consultants).

Most of the work Day 1-2 is carried out at the participant’s place-of-work. The participants must prepare at home for the next day lecturers and group work during the course (expected 2 hours each day).
Learning Outcome
The course gives the participants the practical foundation for being an entrepreneur.

After completing this course, the participant will have knowledge of:

• The process of making a business plan.
• Entrepreneurship.
• Basic models for qualifying business plans.

The participants will be capable of:

• Generating creative ideas and solutions.
• Using patent databases as a source of information.
• Making a full business plan for a small project.
• Presenting a business plan to stakeholders
Ramfelt, Kjellberg, Kosnik (2011): Gear up – your best business idea ever. Gear Up Ventures AB. Sweden.

Hand-outs and lecture notes; UCPH patents; Examples of business plans; Selected websites on IPR and commercialization (e.g. patent databases). The course material will be handed out during the course. The participants can borrow a hard-copy of Ramfelt et al. during the course.
This course is exclusively for PhD students and staff from University of Copenhagen.
Lectures, self-study, group work, workshops and computer exercises.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 3
  • Lectures
  • 12
  • Preparation
  • 16
  • Project work
  • 31
  • Total
  • 62
Credit
2,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination under invigilation
Other under invigilation
Oral examination (presentation of own business plan (groupwork) plus feedback on another groups work).