Innovation coaching guides researchers to successful commercialization

SciLifeLab and its founding universities’ innovation offices want to make it easier for researchers and units at SciLifeLab to transform their results and ideas into businesses.

The Innovation Offices at SciLifeLab’s four founding universities – KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University and Uppsala University – have together with SciLifeLab launched a new initiative with the aim to support and promote further development of findings and ideas for commercialization. Open innovation coaching sessions are offered by the innovation offices to SciLifeLab researchers and personnel through individual bookable meetings, for discussions and advice.

“The main point of these innovation coaching sessions is to show researchers and units at SciLifeLab how easy it is to get in touch with knowledgeable advisors at the university innovation offices, no matter if it is an unfinished idea or a developed one in need of financing, patent advise or partners to collaborate with”, says Alexandra Patriksson, External Relations Officer at SciLifeLab. 

The aim is thus to lower the threshold for early initial discussion regarding commercialization potential, in order to further encourage translation of findings made with the SciLifeLab infrastructure’s technologies, for the benefit of society.

Susanne Bredenberg, Business advisor at Uppsala University Innovation, says that the only thing researchers need is an idea or a research result that could create an impact.

“We meet up for a discussion around the idea or research and draw up a plan for how to move forward to further strengthen the commercial potential. Our support covers coaching, patents and IPR, and funding in the earliest stages. Researchers don’t need any prior innovation and commercialization experience to book a meeting with us”, says Susanne Bredenberg.

An idea may involve new products or services as well as new processes, models, methods, or new application areas. 

“Everything we discuss is of course confidential. We’ll guide researchers through all questions they’ll run into when developing an idea or start creating impact from their research. The sooner researchers get in touch with us the better”, says Susanne Bredenberg.

For more information and participation: https://www.scilifelab.se/innovation-open-coaching