Early career researchers (within 5 years of obtaining PhD)

Suitable for early career researchers of all ages, who are interested in the Digital Economy and learning about the commercialisation of research ideas and/or starting their own business.

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION  30th May 2014

Important course booking guidelines

Process

A half day introductory event followed by a 3-day residential course.

FREE meals and hotel accomodation will be provided.

This course is delivered in partnership with the Haydn Green Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HGI) and the Network of Digital Economy Centres for Doctoral (Digital Economy CDT Network). 

Description

The Digital Economy promises to transform the ways in which we work, shop, travel, learn, socialise and play. It is transforming many aspects of society, particularly with regard to technology and provides research challenges and economic opportunities arising from technical and social innovation.

Digital Economy YES is a series of expert seminars leading to a business competition designed for postgraduates and postdoctoral researchers. It will be of interest to researchers from a wide variety of backgrounds, including computer science, engineering, human factors, psychology, sociology, business, geography, social science, arts and humanities. You may be researching across the disciplines to explore new applications for digital technologies, creating new technologies, or studying their impact on people’s lives. By taking part you will develop an awareness of the needs of industry in respect to the breadth of skills employers expect to find in graduates. These include skills such as evaluating the commercial potential of disruptive innovations and entrepreneurial competencies (e.g., opportunity identification) required to found new technology start-ups. In addition you will gain a broad understanding of finance, accounting, marketing and intellectual property as well as developing transferrable skills such as networking, team work, presentation skills, time management, problem solving, making decisions and research skills.

This competition has been devised for you to further understand the processes involved in bringing new technologies to the marketplace. By taking part you will have the experience of hearing presentations by industry representatives, technology entrepreneurs, investors and professional services from the financial and legal sectors. The objective of the competition is to prepare a business plan for an original idea that could be used to seek funding from equity investors. The actual idea is less important than the learning experience of putting together a plan that matters. The idea could be an early stage business opportunity you would like to pursue, one you are currently developing or an imaginary opportunity. You will be part of a team of 4-5 individuals that is given the task of developing a realistic business plan, you will demonstrate how it will work and be successful. On the final day the participants will present their business plan before a panel comprised of business, financial and academic representatives taking the role of venture capitalists. 

Typical programme outline:

Introductory briefing event on 10th June 2014 - 09:00 - 12:00
 
Wednesday 14th July 2014 -  09:00 Registration  09.15 Introduction  09:30 Requirements of a Business Plan  10:15 IP Strategy  10.45 Coffee  11.15 Raising Finance  11.45 Managing Finance  12:15 Commercial and Marketing Strategies  13:00 Lunch  13.30 Preparation of Business Plans (mentors available)  19.00 Dinner

Thursday 15th July 2014 - 09:30 Company Case History Presentations  10.30 Coffee  11.00 Company Case History Presentations  12:30 Lunch  13.30 Preparation of Business Plans (mentors available)  19.00 Dinner

Friday 16th June 2014 - 08:00 Submission of Business Plan Presentations  09:00 Team Presentations  12:30 Lunch  13:30 Team Presentations  15:00 Announcement of Winners 15:30 Close

Aims

The competition aims to encourage an entrepreneurial culture and enhance business skills in the digital economy research community.

Feedback from students

“This has been an international team. We had at one time four different nationalities in one five man team. To be able to be put into that environment is hugely developing and rewarding”

“ It gives you more options.... it’s good to have options”

“Even business students would have so much to learn from speaking to VC’s, entrepreneurs, and for scientists it’s great because I didn’t know any of that- I’d learnt it all from Dragon’s Den ”

“I’ve really gained key insight into how important it is to have an understanding of who you’re pitching to and what you’re trying to get across to them”

“I’ve always been an employee…I’ve had a few ideas in the past that could become commercially successful but total ignorance of where to start… It breaks down those fear barriers; it is possible ... to start a successful business, bring ideas to life”

“The opportunities for learning are vast here”

Booking Guidelines

2 stage release of courses
Instances of this course will be released in two phases: on 12th October 2015 for courses commencing prior to the end of February 2016 and on 1st February 2016 for courses commencing 1st March onwards. This is to ensure a fairer booking opportunity for all researchers.

Latecomer policy
Researchers should plan to arrive prior to the advertised course start time. Except for exceptional reasons, there will be no admittance to a Researcher Academy or Faculty Training Programme (FTP) course 15 minutes after the advertised course start time.

Importance of booking commitment
When booking on to a Researcher Academy short course you are entering into a commitment to attend. If you find that you are no longer available to attend you MUST cancel your place (on the system if more than three days before the course or if at short notice by emailing pg-training@nottingham.ac.uk). This will ensure that your place can be offered to another researcher on the waiting list. Failure to cancel a place results in other researchers missing out on places through the waiting list process.

It is unacceptable for researchers to just not attend when booked onto a course. Researcher Academy maintains records of those who repeatedly do not attend courses they have booked. This may affect future eligibility to book onto further Researcher Academy courses and will affect considerations for Researcher Academy funded opportunities.