General information about the course

The course gives 4 higher education credits.

Today, a researcher does not only need to address the important scientific questions. A researcher also needs to have a broader perspective on how research results are used and how they can benefit society. This course will help you as a PhD student to put your research project into a broader context and also give you insights into and understanding of the processes of innovation and creativity.

Course objectives

The aim of the course is to broaden the idea of what innovation is and to equip PhD students with tools and processes that lead from research to commercialization. The course trains the innovation and value-creating "glasses" needed to put their research into an application and societal perspective. This will stimulate the transfer of research results to society and thus contribute to increased innovation and strengthened collaboration between academia, investors, industry and society at large.

The course is held over six intensive full days with a focus on research-based innovation and idea generation, covering the following topics:

• Processes and tools to stimulate innovation and value creation (what is innovation, conditions for exploitation and value creation of research results, NABC concept, design thinking, mental and physical tools)
• Trends and emerging markets (business intelligence, global challenges and market analysis)
• "Protecting your ideas" (intellectual property, patent strategy, licensing, contracts, patent search)
• Entrepreneurial journeys (each day of the course ends with an invited entrepreneur sharing their experience and reflecting on the topic of the day)
• Assess and present your ideas, and give and receive feedback ("Elevator pitch". The last day of the course is organized as a "value creation forum")

During the course, a group project and individual assignments related to the individual's research project are carried out. The course is applied in nature - you not only learn about what innovation is, you also learn how innovation is done in practice.

In groups, projects are carried out that are linked to the participants' research question. Using practical tools and methods, we put the research question in a societal and user perspective and apply divergent and convergent methods that lead to a value-creating solution.

This course prepares you for a successful career in academia or industry.

Course supervisors and contact persons:

Jessica Wadin, Innovation, LTH:
jessica.wadin@design.lth.se

Anders Warell, Innovation, LTH:
anders.warell@design.lth.se