Workshop: Turning Research into Impact

For researchers curious about entrepreneurship

How can your research, inventions or insights grow beyond the laboratory and create impact in the industry?

This workshop is for researchers and professors who are curious about innovation and entrepreneurship, whether you already have an idea or are simply exploring the possibilities. It’s all about sparking curiosity and freely exploring how research can be translated into innovation and put into real world application.

Who is this workshop for?

Participate if you:

• Are a PhD student, postdoc, researcher, professor or Innovation Pilot at SDU

• Are interested in how research can create value outside the university through a spinout 

• Want to explore entrepreneurship without pressure or expectations

👉 You do not need a concrete idea to participate.
👉 You do not need entrepreneurial experience.
Curiosity is the only requirement.

What is the purpose?

The purpose of the workshop is to:

• Kickstart your entrepreneurial thinking 

• Explore how research-based ideas can become innovation or spin-outs

• Introduce the support opportunities available through SDU RIO and STEAR

Workshop agenda:

• Spinout story

  A research-based spin-out shares their journey from academia to an operating company.

• Motivational talk by Thomas Ebel, Head of Section & professor at SDU CIE

  Thomas Ebel shares why it matters that ideas move beyond the university and the lab. Drawing on his own journey between academia and industry, he highlights personal motivation, the societal and commercial impact researchers can create and how small steps can lead to meaningful innovation. He also illustrates an example through the SDU Sønderborg startup Dancap.

• Hands-on ideation

  In small groups, you will explore:

  • How your research, work or ideas could create value

  • Who it might benefit and why

  • What problem it could solve in the industry

  You will:

  • Work with either your own idea or explore ideas together with others

  • Use simple models and frameworks (no prior knowledge needed)

  • Brainstorm freely using post-its and group discussions

  In the final session, you have the opportunity to share your thoughts of your possible barriers, what you would need to move forward and how we could help you. 

• How does SDU RIO & STEAR work?

  We’ll conclude with a short introduction to how SDU RIO and STEAR collaborate, and what support options exist for research-based ideas. We’ll share how ideas can move – step by step – towards innovation or a possible spinout.

  No commitments. Just clarity over possibilities.

• Refreshments and networking

  We’ll finish off with refreshments and networking to wrap up the day

Slight changes in programme can occur. Event is held in English.