Target Audience
Late stage postgraduate research students
Early career researchers (within 5 years of obtaining PhD)
Suitable for early career researchers of all ages, who are interested in learning about the commercialisation of research ideas and/or starting their own business.
Suitable for early career researchers studying energy related areas in any discipline such as Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, Computer Sciences, Economics, Social Sciences.
Open to participants of all ages.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS COURSE WILL OPEN IN EARLY 2014
Contact donna.palmer@nottingham.ac.uk to register your interest.
Process
A half-day introductory event followed by a 3.5-day residential course. Meals and hotel accommodation will be provided. This course is delivered in partnership by the Haydn Green for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HGI) and Network of Energy Centres for Doctoral Training (Energy CDT Network).
Description
Energy YES is a series of expert seminars leading to a business plan competition and is designed for post-graduates and post-doctoral researchers working on energy related topics. It spans four busy days, packed with presentations and activities to help you really get to grips with commercialisation and entrepreneurship.
The presentations from leading business and industry figures will cover a range of topics around commercialisation and technology transfer, including:
· Requirements of a business plan
· Intellectual property and patenting strategy
· Raising and managing finance
· Commercial and marketing strategies
· Real-life case studies from entrepreneurs
The objective of the competition is to prepare a business plan for a hypothetical idea that could be used to seek venture capital funding.. You will be part of a team of 4-5 individuals that is given the task of developing a hypothetical business and, by producing a realistic business plan, you will demonstrate that it could work and be successful. A business mentor will be on hand to support you as your prepare your plan.
On the final day, groups will present their plan to a panel comprised of business, financial and academic representatives taking the role of venture capitalists. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of £1,000.
What are the benefits?
Energy YES gives participants the chance to:
· gain invaluable knowledge of the business world whether they plan to work in industry or remain in academia
· develop key skills: team work, succeeding under pressure, innovative problem solving
· talk to the speakers and mentors about the opportunities available to them and they may even be potential employers
· meet fellow energy postgraduate researchers from across the country
Dates for 2014
Aims
The competition aims to encourage an entrepreneurial culture and enhance business skills in the energy research community.
Feedback from Students
“Energy YES has been so worthwhile. Winning aside, we’ve learnt a lot about commercialisation of science and it has been really useful to talk to mentors such as patent attorneys that we wouldn’t usually have access to. The speakers were excellent and it’s especially encouraging to hear from people who have been in our shoes as researchers and gone on to successfully commercialise their ideas.”
“It was a great experience and I enjoyed everything about the event, but especially meeting real student entrepreneurs who have created spin out companies from their research work and also the intellectual property and patenting strategy session. Now I understand the patenting process properly for the first time and feel I would recognise opportunities which I might have missed before”.
How to book a place
Contact donna.palmer@nottingham.ac.uk for further information and register your interest.
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