PhD / Postdoc / Entrepreneurial Skills: From research to impact – An introductory workshop for the natural sciences
General information
This session introduces researchers in the natural sciences to the practical question of how scientific work can translate into real-world impact. Participants explore how to recognize the value hidden in their own research results, how to trace that value to concrete use cases, and how to think in terms of future products rather than publications.
The workshop shows how reframing research objectives as testable hypotheses about applications opens new pathways for entrepreneurship. You will examine how scientific reasoning aligns with early venture creation, what changes when moving from academic curiosity to problem-driven innovation, and how to identify where your expertise could meaningfully change an industry.
The workshop shows how reframing research objectives as testable hypotheses about applications opens new pathways for entrepreneurship. You will examine how scientific reasoning aligns with early venture creation, what changes when moving from academic curiosity to problem-driven innovation, and how to identify where your expertise could meaningfully change an industry.
The goal is to equip researchers with a clear sense of how their work can matter beyond the lab, and how entrepreneurial thinking expands (not replaces) the scientific mindset.
- Understand where scientific innovations generate value for specific users or industries
- Translate research insights into hypotheses about future applications or products
- Recognize the mindset shift from academic exploration to entrepreneurial problem-solving
- Identify early signals that a research result may hold venture potential
Michio Painter
Early career researchers of all disciplines (focus: natural sciences)
Prerequisites: 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
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
Dates
| Instructor | Language | Dates | Open to | Available seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michio Painter | English |
Mon 09 March 2026
(09:30am - 12:30pm)
|
PhD & Postdoc | 21 | Register |