English

Every other spring semester

The aim of this course is to broaden the concept of innovation and to equip PhD students with tools and processes, ”innovation and value creation lenses” needed to be able put their research in a utilization and societal perspective. This will stimulate the transfer of research results to society, and contribute to enhanced innovation and cooperation between academia, investors, business society and society as whole.

The course is held during six full days within ca 2 months time, focusing on research-based innovation and idea generation. The following areas are included:
a) processes and tools for stimulating innovation and value creation (what is innovation, prerequisites for utilization and value creation of research results, the NABC concept, Design Thinking, mental and physical tools (iterative prototyping)),
b) trends and new markets (business intelligence, global challenges and market analysis),
c) “Protecting your ideas” (intellectual property, patent strategy, licensing, contracts, patent search),
d) entrepreneurial journeys (every day of the course ends with an invited entrepreneur who talk about her/his experience and reflects on the subject of the day), and
e) assess and present your ideas, as well as give and receive feedback (”elevator pitch”. The last day of the course is organized as a “value creation forum”).

identify and present who has a need for their research results, what are the advantages compared to other approaches and which are the competing research groups in the world.
describe the customer/market need in which ways a new idea or product must be better than the ones existing on the market to be competitive.
describe different means for protecting intellectual property and explain in what way they can be used in the innovation process.
explain how to make use of Lund University innovation system to commercialize research.

be able to apply NABC- analysis (containing Need - Approach - Benefits - Competition) of their own research project and to present it orally and in a written report.
conduct a project assignment in a group and based on a research idea apply methods and tools included in the course: NABC- analysis, Design Thinking, prototyping and patent search, and present it both orally and in a written report and actively participate in the value creation forum.
perform a market analysis including customer and competition analysis of a research /business idea.
be able to read and understand a patent and perform searches in patent databases.
orally present (pitch) their project in a selling and convincing way.

be able to apply various tools and methods that can be used in the innovation process of her/ his research.
exemplify what patents can be used for.
summarize possibilities and prerequisites for utilization of research in general and at Lund University in particular.

Lectures

Exercises

Project

The course is built on introductory lectures around the different focus areas, on top of what the doctoral students will test and experiment with the tools and processes dealt with in the course. Three project assignments are included in the course, two individual and one group assignment. The main part of the work is done during the course days.

Written report

Written assignments

Seminars given by participants

Project 1:
NABC-analysis of the student's own research project, presented in a one-page report and a short oral presentation.
Project 2:
Group assignment on value creation around an idea with a business and /or innovation potential, a more thorough report (about 10 pages), which assess the methods and tools used in the course and oral presentation and active participation (i.e., including feedback to other projects) in value creation forum.
Project 3:
Individual search in patent databases, short written report.

Failed, pass

Registered as a PhD student

The course is primarily for students admitted to doctoral studies at the Medical Faculty or the Engineering Faculty (LTH), but welcome students from other universities in terms of place available.

 

There is no specific course literature, but the following books are recommended for those who wish to know more about the NABC-concept and Design Thinking. NABC: Carlson, Curtis R. & Wilmot, William W.: Innovation: The Five Disciplines for Creating what Customers Want. Crown Business, New York, 2006. Design Thinking: Brown, T., Katz, B.,: Change by Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation. Harper Collins, 2009, ISBN:0061766089. Kumar, V,: 101 Design Methods - A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organization. Wiley, 2012, ISBN: 1118083466.

The course is especially suitable for students admitted to doctoral studies at medical faculties or engineering faculties. With the purpose to get good dynamics in the group, the course is run in cooperation between the Medical Faculty and the Engineering Faculty (LTH). Advantageously, the PhD student is in her/his 2nd, 3rd or 4th year, but it is not required.

INT001F

 -03-02

Head of department Mats Ohlin