Postdocs-to-Innovators
Postdocs-to-Innovators Network
University of Duisburg-Essen is an official partner of the Postdocs-to-Innovators Network (p2i). The p2i programme enables early career researchers (postdocs) from across the partnership to engage in a range of activities matched to their interests and needs. Participation in p2i activities is via a well-structured process and delegates are connected with other researchers, industrial contacts, investors, entrepreneurs and academics with experience in start-ups. P2i stands out as a particularly innovative approach for university-industry relationships according to the League of European Research Universities (LERU) - a report highlighted by Nature in 2018.
Online Course
As an early career researcher, you are an innovator in training and you already share behaviors with entrepreneurs. By recognising the mindset and learning the skills associated with entrepreneurship, you can apply these in your chosen career - whether it is in academia, work as an employee outside academia or start your own company.
The p2i partners have developed this online course to demystify the steps involved in entrepreneurship and support researchers create impact from research. The course takes a practical approach to develop entrepreneurial thinking and skills critical to take initiative and develop ideas into reality in any career. Includes insights from researchers turned academics, founders, and industry leaders.
Many postdocs from the p2i partners have already benefited from completing the course.
Testimonial
“I enjoyed the course and developed a much better understanding of entrepreneurial thinking and entrepreneurship and gained the confidence to present my ideas. The course is well structured, takes you through concepts step by step and the bitesize video interviews provided relatable inspiration and effectively relayed the key learning points.”
See below for further details about the course content and for info on access to the course.
Postdocs from the p2i partner organisations can apply to join an 8 week long p2i cohort online learning community. Details below
p2i-in-action
Hosted by our partner Universities, researchers from the p2i partners explore and learn about innovation and entrepreneurship through a mixture of workshops, practical team based activities, inspirational talks and networking. Experts and entrepreneurial researchers will share inspiring stories and first-hand experience of what it means to be enterprising and of bringing exciting ideas to life in academia, industry or through starting ventures.
Who is p2i In Action for?
- researchers from any discipline who have an idea or a real project in mind with the potential for commercialisation but who aren't sure where to start
- researchers from any discipline curious and looking to explore innovation and entrepreneurship and gain business acumen and skills
This programme is exclusively open to Early career researchers (priority for postdocs but also accept researchers in final year of PhD) from p2i partner organisations. Places are sponsored by the p2i Network and available through application only (*).
(*) p2i Network partners: The University of Cambridge (and partner Institutes), Universität Innsbruck, PSL Université Paris, The University of Edinburgh (The University of Edinburgh’s Data Driven Entrepreneurship ( DDE)) Programme, University Duisburg - Essen, University of Liverpool, AstraZeneca.
What to expect?
At p2i: In Action, you will:
- learn to develop ideas into opportunities to create impact in society through interactive workshops, team activities and practical exercises
- find out how to apply your research skills and experience to uncover and address real world problems, and create products and services that will do good in the world
- connect with likeminded researchers, industry experts, and founders to expand your professional networks and learn from others
- gain entrepreneurial mindset, knowledge and skills which will make you more confident and credible when kick starting or further developing your ideas.
- gain a better understanding of what motivates you and increased confidence and knowledge to turn your ideas into reality irrespective of career choice
During the event, experts and entrepreneurial researchers will share inspiring stories and first-hand experience of what it means to be enterprising and of bringing exciting ideas to life through starting ventures.
Reach out to us for more information and for early-bird registration.
P2I activities
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Entrepreneurial mindset: developing attitudes, skills and behaviours to succeed academically, personally and professionally. Industry placements: catalysts for career related decisions - developing business acumen and other experiences essential for careers in and outside academia.
Online entrepreneurship course: covers entrepreneurial mindset and language, basic knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship.
Network of entrepreneurial postdoc societies: postdoc led initiatives based in HEIs, working with industry partnesr to turn postdocs into innovators and entrepreneurs. The societies share knowledge and expertise, best practice and new ideas.
P2i in Action: two-day events, hosted by p2i industry members, in collaboration with p2i member universities. Postdocs explore key issues in entrepreneurship through a series of talks, panel sessions, one-on-one discussions and workshops. (2017: in Cambridge and Berlin, 2018 in Paris, Glasgow (2019), Paris(2020), Innsbruck(2023), and Cambridge)
Industry placements: catalysts for career related decisions - developing business acumen and other experiences essential for careers in and outside academia.
Entrepreneurship events: opportunities for postdocs curious about commercialisation and aspiring entrepreneurs to form a team, develop, test and pitch business ideas in an intense couple of days.(e.g., Venture Creation Weekend or Genome Data Hackathon in Cambridge, Skinnovation Event in Innsbruck)
Mentoring: mentors from across the p2i partnership will act as role models of “career changers” to help develop and grow the skills, knowledge, confidence and cultural understanding of the protégé to help him or her succeed.
Business plan competitions: platforms for postdocs to test their idea, gain experience and exposure and win resources to develop their idea locally. The p2i consortium is planning an international business plan competition every three years where the local winners come together for a single big finale event, culminating in widely recognised international future leaders in the corporate and entrepreneurship sector.
Entrepreneurship residential courses: intensive training programmes for aspiring entrepreneurs who already have a business idea or early stage venture to trial and prepare business ideas for the commercial environment. opportunities for postdocs curious about commercialisation and aspiring entrepreneurs to form a team, develop, test and pitch business ideas in an intense couple of days. (e.g., DRS Pro Transfer in Berlin or Ignite in Cambridge)
About P2I
The number of postdoc positions at universities has grown over the past years. However, tenure positions have not increased accordingly and long-term academic careers are now the exception, not the norm. The postdocs to innovators (p2i) consortium was created in recognition of the increasing need to enhance the Entrepreneurial mindset and a key set of skills postdoctoral researchers can use to pursue careers that will be personally and professionally meaningful both within and outside of academia. The current p2i partners, five leading Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and four global enterprises, are all committed to improving the potential and mobility of postdocs to, inter alia, contribute to economic and social growth and expand EU competitiveness.
The p2i programme builds upon already existing provision at the partner organisations, by focusing on filling a gap in delivery at the very early stages of the entrepreneurial life cycle with a particular focus on changing mindsets, awareness, inspiration and intention. For the Industry partners, developing an entrepreneurial mindset and vital ‘know-how’ to transform ideas into positive results for companies and society are desirable attributes for any current and future employees. However, the main ambition is to ensure that those who engage with p2i come away with a clear understanding of the importance of the entrepreneurial mindset and its impact on a successful future regardless of their career trajectory. The European consortium offers an international dimension - postdocs are a highly mobile workforce and these collaborations bring cohorts together from different countries, providing a flavour of different ecosystems. The initiative provides a shared model of leadership learning between the academic and industry partners, which will become embedded in HEI development training and include delivery by industry partners.
Point of contact
Reach out to Tomasz Waliczko for more information.