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Practical entrepreneurship for PhDs

Háskólinn í Reykjavík
Neuroinformatics
About this course

This intensive blended learning course equips PhD researchers with the entrepreneurial mindset, skills, and tools needed to transform scientific discoveries into viable innovations and ventures. The course combines online pre-work with a hands-on, 5-day lecture and workshop series (10-14th of November) and aims to give students and researchers an overview about entrepreneurship as well as common business tools and strategies, to be able to assess the commercialization potential of a scientific idea and to develop solutions towards market needs. Topics include:

  • Bringing Scientific Inventions and Research Ideas to Market
  • Entrepreneurship in all its Facets
  • Designing for Demand / Lean Canvas
  • Business Strategies and Models
  • Effectuation and Design Thinking
  • Intellectual Property
  • Financing and Funding Strategies
  • Ethics and Regulatory Frameworks
  • Risk Management and Mitigation
  • Networking, Collaboration and Pitching 
     

Through lectures, interactive workshops, peer collaboration, expert mentoring, and real-world case studies, researchers will learn how to identify opportunities, mobilize resources, and create value (financial, societal and/or cultural). Students will work in groups on three assignments: Lean Canvas, a report detailing Lean Canvas findings and assumptions and a slide deck for final presentations.

To register, contact:
Contact your local NTEU project manager

Instructors:
Ásgeir Jónsson – asgeirjo@ru.is
Hallur Þór Sigurðarson – hallursig@ru.is
Susanne Durst – susanned@ru.is

Learning outcomes
  • Identify and evaluate the commercial potential of research ideas
  • Apply business strategies and models to research innovations
  • Navigate the startup ecosystem, including networking, pitching, and securing funding
  • Address regulatory, ethical, and risk management considerations in innovation
  • Analyze real-world cases and develop solutions for research commercialization
Prerequisites for participation

None

Necessary language skill
English
Semester(s) in which the module takes place
Autumn 2025
Course type
Online pre-work with a hands-on
Course level
Doctoral
Course start date
27 Oct 2025
Course end date
14 Nov 2025
Apply between
Application start date
15 Sep 2025
-
Application end date
16 Oct 2025
Organisational type
5-day lecture and workshop series
Teaching mode
Hybrid
Local attendance
7 hour per day in Iceland
Average workload
50-60 hours
Workload in ECTS
5
Graded
Yes