The course will give the participants an introduction to subjects in science based innovation and entrepreneurship. It is a hand-on course, where lectures are combined with exercises and the development of a comprehensive description of a business idea based on ideas/cases from the participants. A tool for early stage business conceptualization will be introduced for use in the assignment which will run throughout the course as illustrated below. This assignment will be examined by the course leaders in the form of a “mini business plan contest”.

Simula Innovation will be overall responsible for the course and the course leaders will be Martin Edlund, PhD from Kebbison Innovation and with a background from Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship and involvement in start-up companies, and Professor Thomas Hellström, Centre for Innovation, Research and Competence in the Learning Economy at Lund University. They have both long experience within innovation and business development. There will also be held guest lectures by field practitioners in science-based innovation. Part of the course and the guest lectures will be open to all Simula Staff and invited guests e.g. partners in the Simula School.

The lectures will be held as three two-day seminars, with a half-day kickoff before the first meeting and a half-day examination/business plan contest after the last meeting. All sessions will be held at Simula.

Based on applications, 12 participants will be selected to take part in the complete course, including case group-based case studies. In addition, the lectures are open to all Simula employees and to invited personnel from collaborating institutions.

PROGRAM

Detailed course programme (pdf)

2 and 3 February 2009, INTRODUCTION TO INNOVATION (9.00-16.00)

Participants will first be introduced to basic issues in innovation and innovation management such as sources of innovation, diffusion of innovations and organizational aspects of innovation. Combined with guest lectures this will give the participant initial input to develop the case for the assignment.

11 and 12 February 2009, NEW BUSINESS CREATION (9.00-16.00)

In the second seminar the course will take up the challenges involved in developing a science-based venture, which involves planning, acquiring resources, protecting technical ideas and finding a customer base. Again in combination with guest lectures the participant will develop their own “business case” further.

3 and 4 March 2009, BUSINESS STRATEGIES FOR THE TECHNOLOGY FIRM (9.00-16.00)

In the third seminar the focus will be shifted to the perspective of growing the technology based enterprise, especially on issues involving strategic choices and evaluation of alternatives, growth strategies and exit strategies. These inputs should enable the participants to finalize a presentation of a comprehensive business opportunity which will be evaluated at the mini business plan contest later in the week.

EXAMINATION, “MINI BUSINESS PLAN CONTEST”

The date and time for the examination will be published later.

Applications for participation in the case-oriented study groups:

Are Magnus Bruaset, arem@simula.no +47 92610063; Simula School of Research and Innovation.