Summary - Vitae - Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destiny April 9th

I'm summarising the excellent research support event I attended -

This post summarises the excellent Vitae event I attended at Bristol University yesterday on entrepreneurial activities related to research. This helped me understand what entrepreneurial activities had already been part of my PhD and work, and inspired me to pursue them further.

Vitae - Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destiny- http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/56271-593711/Charting-an-entrepreneurial-career-how-researchers-can-control-their-professional-destiny---Bristol.html - Bristol April 9

The main point of this event is that researchers are already undertaking entrepreneurial activity as part of their studies. Entrepreneurial activity doesn't necessarily involve starting your own business. It can be undertaken within a University, company or organisation.

Research is about solving problems so it was emphasized that it's worth recording and noting when we solve a problem, as this could turn out to be important in future entrepreneurial activities.

The difficulties of deciding when to publish, or when to apply for a patent were discussed, with an emphasis on seeking advice (available in universities).

The overall point was that a lone researcher, or any 1 person is unlikely to have all the skills necessary to be an entrepreneur and this is where advice, co-operation and teamwork is needed.

This recent article was cited as an important and useful guide -

Guardian online - How academics can engage with policy: 10 tips for a better conversation - http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2013/mar/25/academics-policy-engagement-ten-tips
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'Academics need to look at different ways they can communicate their research to policymakers, says Matthew Goodwin – here's his advice on not wasting their time, or yours'

This free toll helps in creation of a business plane - useful tool for entrepreneurs -downloadable business model canvas http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas

Academic entrepreneurial activities at Bristol and Cardiff Universities were discussed including a way to create forces that feel like real objects, a high tech learning partnership with Bristol Zoo, and this Cardiff entrepreneurial scheme, that may come to Bristol -

iSolve - http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/racdv/students/i-solve/

'We are now taking registrations of interest for the Winter 2013 iSolve Programme


Please email enterprise@cardiff.ac.uk with the subject “iSolve 2013 Registration” or click here:

Based on a programme developed first at MIT in Boston and then extended to Cambridge University, this exciting concept has now been successfully developed at Cardiff University.

iSolve allows entrepreneurial postgraduates and researchers to work with real inventions in order to determine the best route for their commercialisation. Findings from these teams are then presented to a panel of judges alongside a report.'

Below are Vitae tweets from the day -

From Vitae - https://twitter.com/Vitae_news


@DaveJarm: 'Charting the entrepreneurial career' kicked off @Bristoluni with @s4s and @Vitae_news #ented #vitae13
RT @DaveJarm: Kevin Byron 'from Researcher to Entrepreneur' @Vitae_news @s4s #vitae13 pic.twitter.com/PvxdjpEXQD

RT @DaveJarm: Innovation breakthroughs illustrated via the High Jump... @Vitae_news @s4s #vitae13

From Vitae the South West and Wales Hub - https://twitter.com/VitaeSWWHub

Researchers exploring their enterprising skills at goldney hall Uni of Bristol today with @s4s and #vitae13


Many ways to demonstrate pathways to impact. Key qs who might benefit and how? What methods will you use? #vitae13
Great tip for public engagement- give presentations to Uni of the third age- http://www.u3a.org.uk . #vitae13

Andrew Wray from Uni Bristol up now talking about knowledge exchange. Foster 'rolling conversations' w potential partners #vitae13

'Tangents' can prove to be v beneficial in knowledge ex.Arts pgrs working w entrepreneurs Bristol Uni+Bristol zoo
thoughtden.co.uk/zoom

Great panel of researchers who are budding entrepreneurs #vitae13

Kevin Byron talking about the path from researcher to entrepreneur.'innovation is a tool of the entrepreneur 'Peter Drucker #vitae13

Kevin byron using sigmoid curve of world high jump record to illustrate how ideas progress. #vitae13

When solving lesser probs as pt of a larger research project ask who else? Where else? #vitae13
Draw on your personal history of ideas and innovation may follow #vitae13

useful tool for entrepreneurs -downloadable business model canvas http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas #vitae13