Entrepreneurship for PhD Students

PhD Course at IT University (ITU)

Type of Activity: PhD Workshop, One-day course

Title: Entrepreneurship for PhD Students: From Research to Startup

Organizer(s): Nikolaj Oppermann, Christian Marcus, ITU Business Development A/S

Lecturer(s and speakers): Christian Marcus, Nikolaj Oppermann, Jonas Arnold Jürgensen-Breum, Co-founder & CEO of VenomAid, and Co-founder at Agrobiomics

Date of the Course: 10 April 2025

Deadline for application 31 March 2025

Time: 9:00 – 17:00

Room: 2F14 

Registration link: No longer available (Deadline has passed)

Course Description:

This one-day course offers PhD students the tools and perspectives necessary to think like entrepreneurs within their academic fields. Through a mix of lectures, workshops, and discussions, students will explore how their research can be applied beyond academia, creating impact in society and the marketplace.

The goal is to equip researchers with the frameworks and critical thinking skills to recognize and explore entrepreneurial opportunities rather than to turn them into startup founders.

As preparation, students will be asked to read the materials recommended and reflect on potential applications of their current research in non-academic contexts. By the end of the day, participants will have a deeper understanding of how to identify commercial opportunities, assess the societal impact of their work, how to create value in organizations, and apply entrepreneurial thinking to their research.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore how your research can create impact – Identify commercial, societal, and academic opportunities within your field.
  
  

• Get introduced to key entrepreneurial tools – Learn practical frameworks like Lean Startup to uncover new possibilities for your research.
  
  

• Expand your career opportunities – Gain insights to publish articles, write papers, and prepare for roles beyond academia.
  
  

• Learn from real-life success stories – Hear from a Danish startup founder who turned research into a thriving business.

Reading List

• Ash Maurya, “Love the Problem, Not Your Solution” https://www.leanfoundry.com/articles/love-the-problem-not-your-solution Focuses on the importance of understanding the underlying problem before jumping to solutions, a key concept in lean methodology.

   

• What is a Lean Canvas? https://www.leanfoundry.com/articles/what-is-lean-canvas An introduction to the Lean Canvas, a streamlined tool for mapping out business models, especially useful for researchers considering commercialization.

   

• "Are You Solving the Right Problems?" – Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/2017/01/are-you-solving-the-right-problems This article explores problem-solving approaches and highlights methods to ensure that you're addressing the most impactful issues.

   

• "What is a Business Model?" – Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/businessmodel.asp A comprehensive overview of business models, their components, and their role in a successful business.

• "The Basics of Open Innovation" – InnovationManagement.se https://innovationmanagement.se/2009/11/07/the-basics-of-open-innovation/ Introduces the concept of open innovation and explains how leveraging external ideas can enhance innovation processes and societal impact.

  Discusses strategies for creating effective business models that can sustain innovation and drive success.

   

• "How to Design a Winning Business Model" – Harvard Business Review
  https://hbr.org/2011/01/how-to-design-a-winning-business-model