QResearcher - Developing a business concept (2)

1. The researcher completes and submits an "Innovation Disclosure Form" (IDF) which describes the idea in terms of technology, innovation and proposed market. 

• QMI assesses and scores the business idea as it would normally and identifies areas for improvement and/or gaps in the opportunity description.

2. Initial Feedback & Mentoring Session

• QMI provides feedback and discusses the areas for improvement
• QMI and the Researcher agree on a work plan to fill the gaps.

3. Mentored Business Research 

• The researcher engages in approx. 10 – 15 hours of business research over 6 weeks with weekly mentoring sessions
• The researcher submits an updated IDF and QMI which is scored again

4. Final Feedback & Mentoring session

• QMI provides feedback with (hopefully) a higher score
• The research can be used as the starting point for a business plan, pitch deck or QIncubator application.

• QMUL PhD students who would like to learn about commercialising their research, but not sure where to start.
• QMUL PhD students who would like to assess if there is a market for their research.
• QMUL PhD students who have a business idea and are looking to validate it.

This programme is currently in the pilot phase with Science & Engineering CDT programmes (MAT, IGGI, AIM and Data-Centric Engineering) before opening it up to all PhD students.

Conditions if you are taking part:

• Researchers must obtain consent from their academic supervisor
• Researchers must enter into an IP agreement if required
• Researchers agree to apply for QMUL PhD Skill Points

19^th May: Information session

31^st May: Application deadline

w/c 1^st June: Assessment and application results by 4^th June

w/c 7^th June: Mentoring session and IDF

Weekly mentoring sessions (4sessions)

9^th July: Updated IDF submission

w/c 12^th July: Scoring

w/c 19^th July: Feedback session / next steps

All dates subject to mentors and panel availability