Innovation and the Commercialisation of Research

Course unit fact file
Unit code	MCEL60092
Credit rating	15
Unit level	FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s)	Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit?	Yes

Overview

The unit examines the applied aspects of the commercialisation of ideas derived from academic research. The unit will review the process of knowledge transfer from the perspective of the innovation process through to its commercialisation.

The unit is project-based and students will be able to develop ideas based on their own area of doctoral research. Students will evaluate first-hand the business opportunity and develop a commercial business case based on the idea.

Pre/co-requisites

Doctoral programmes only

Aims

The unit aims to:

Provide students with the ability to transfer knowledge from the research phase to the market
Develop knowledge and skills in the field of commercialisation, innovation and entrepreneurship
Enrich career prospects in both academia and industry

More specifically, the objectives of this unit are to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to:

Develop business skills and processes required by industry at both the corporate and SME Level
Evaluate potential opportunities for the commercialisation of ideas
Evaluate markets and develop commercial strategies for their exploitation
Develop a robust commercial business case proposal based upon an aspect of doctoral research

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
A1. Identify what makes a viable commercial research opportunity/idea
A2. Recognise market opportunities and barriers for new product/service development
A3. Identify the role of Intellectual Property (IP) in the commercialisation process

Intellectual skills
B1. Evaluate the main channels and stages for the commercialisation of research
B2. Review the relationship between innovation and entrepreneurship
B3.Critically evaluate the role business strategy and its models play in the commercialisation process

Practical skills
C1. Develop a business idea
C2. Access and mine secondary market research databases
C3. Research intellectual property rights through the access of specific databases
C4. Develop a robust commercial business model

Transferable skills and personal qualities
D1. Research, analyse, evaluate and utilise information from a range of reliable sources
D2. Communicate in an effective manner
D3. Develop commercial awareness

Syllabus

Under the guidance of the unit lead, students will attend the taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) and develop a proposal for the commercial application of an aspect of their doctoral research or their research area; supported by the tutorial sessions. The support of their doctoral research supervisor will also be important as students begin to explore the potential commercial opportunities that their research opens up.

Students will be required to work outside of the timetabled lecture slots.

Specific topics covered include:

Commercial opportunities
Customer needs
Market research
Patents and IP
Process/impact of commercialisation of research

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures - there will be a series of lectures and guest presentations with case studies and in-class activities for students to work on both individually and in small groups.

Tutorials - there will be a series of group and individual tutorials to support the identification of the commercial opportunity.

Blackboard - will include lecture notes, case studies, videos, resource web links and discussion boards.

Employability skills

Research: The unit gives students an understanding of the research commercialisation process and the value of innovation for all organisations. Employers now expect research students to be able to apply their knowledge to a range of commercial situations and to have an appreciation of the importance of managing the innovation process.

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Other	10%
Report	50%
Oral assessment/presentation	40%

On-line group work participation

Feedback methods

Attending lecture sessions, joining discussions about case studies and doing short work tasks set within the lecture session.
Your lecturer will reply to brief individual questions at the end of each lecture session.
Your lecturer will provide brief replies to e-mails.
Your lecturer may feedback messages to the whole class via Blackboard if the point that you have raised could be of benefit to the whole class.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	12
Tutorials	8

Independent study hours
Independent study	130

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Lynn Sheppard	Unit coordinator

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