PhD / Postdoc / Entrepreneurial Skills: Turning research into social impact and exploring entrepreneurial journeys

This interactive workshop is for researchers who want their work to make a difference beyond academia. You’ll learn how to think like a social innovator, identify real-world challenges linked to your research, and explore ways to turn insights into ideas that create lasting impact. With hands-on tools like the SDGs, Theory of Change, and Social Impact Canvas, you’ll map out who your work could benefit and how to reach them. You’ll also explore how social ventures grow and how systems thinking can help scale change. Expect interactive sessions, useful frameworks, and clear inspiration for how your research can drive meaningful social or environmental progress.

 

The goal of the workshop is to help you uncover the entrepreneurial potential of your research and take meaningful steps toward creating societal impact in a way that aligns with your personal values and professional ambitions.

If you're curious about the entrepreneurial journey but unsure if it’s right for you, this workshop offers the perfect opportunity to explore how your research can create meaningful impact and identify pathways to contribute to pressing societal challenges.

• Learn about different types of entrepreneurship and pathways to creating social impact.
• Begin exploring how to translate your research into entrepreneurial ideas that address societal challenges and contribute to positive social change.
• Learn about practical tools for developing an impact-oriented value proposition and business model.
• Understand how social impact can be created and scaled through social innovation and systemic approaches.
• Walk away with actionable steps to explore or initiate your entrepreneurial journey, along with a clearer sense of how your research can contribute to social change.

Stephanie Frick, Social Innovator, Strategist, Systemic Designer and Co-Creator for Sustainable Futures and Manuel Merki, UZH Innovation Hub, Lead Startup Advice

Early career researchers of all disciplines with an interest in entrepreneurship and innovation, and a motivation to create impact beyond publications.  

This workshop is part of the "Entrepreneurial skills" series, which is organized in collaboration with the UZH Innovation Hub.

A certificate of participation will be issued for each workshop. When four or more certificates are achieved, participants may request a certificate for "Entrepreneurial skills" issued by the Graduate Campus and Innovation Hub.    

1 ECTS Credit will be awarded (on request) to PhD candidates who have completed four or more workshops of the "Entrepreneurial skills" series. 

Conditions of participation