Outside the Lab: Innovation & Entrepreneurship Tools for Researchers

This two-part workshop helps you develop key competencies from the European Framework for Researchers: ‘promoting open innovation’, ‘transfer of knowledge’, ‘show entrepreneurial spirit’, “strategic thinking’ ‘Systemic thinking’ ‘problem solving’ and ‘creativity’. You’ll gain practical tools and methods to turn your insights into action and explore your potential as a change agent in and beyond academia. You don’t need to have an idea or intention to found your own startup to participate in this workshop.

Who it’s for:

This workshop is open to Doctoral candidates of all disciplines at Hochschule München and will be held in English. Participation in both sessions is required to complete the course.

The workshop is facilitated by Dr. Sebastian Planck (Head of Research at SCE). The second session will take place jointly with Entrepreneurship Master’s students at SCE, offering you a chance to connect and collaborate across disciplines.

Part 1: The Entrepreneurial Mindset – Turning Ideas into Action

Date: November 5th, 1–5 PM

Location: Precelerator @ SCE - Lothstraße 21, 80797 München

In the first session, we dive into the fundamentals of entrepreneurial thinking and explore how researchers can create societal and economic value with their work. The workshop supports the development of key competencies such as:

• Entrepreneurial spirit & self-leadership – understand your personal drivers and how to act on opportunities
• Strategic & systemic thinking – map your research into larger innovation landscapes
• Problem solving & creativity – generate and test novel solutions to real-world challenges
• Knowledge transfer & open innovation – explore routes for bringing research into practice

You’ll work hands-on with tools like:

• Ikigai – align your personal motivation with societal needs
• Dynamic Innovation – accelerate from challenge to solution
• Effectuation – leverage your own resources to navigate uncertainty
• Lean Startup & Prototyping – validate ideas quickly and effectively
• Value Proposition Design & Business Model Innovation – translate research into real-world value

Part 2: Futuring for Researchers – Explore What’s Next

Date: November 12th, 1–5 PM

Location: Creative Hall @ SCE - Creative Hall - R0.119, R-Bau, Heßstr. 89

In the second session, we shift our focus to the future. How do you future-proof your research ideas? What trends, uncertainties, and technological shifts should you be aware of?

This workshop supports the development of competencies such as:

• Strategic foresight & analytical thinking – assess complex systems and anticipate change
• Technology Potential Assessment – understand where and how your research can make a difference
• Communication & societal impact – prepare your research to be understood and applied by broader audiences, including policy and innovation stakeholders

You’ll explore methods like:

• STEEP Analysis – identify trends across Society, Technology, Environment, Economy, and Politics
• Future Cones – distinguish between possible, probable, and preferred futures
• Futures Wheel – map ripple effects and implications of your innovation
• Technology Potential Assessment – evaluate your research’s application and impact readiness

Registration:

https://eveeno.com/outside_the_lab