Building Companies Based on Science
MIT Portugal Program is collaborating with the course Building Companies Based on Science at NOVA-SBE, and invites MPP students and project PIs to submit their thesis or research work for new business venture analysis.
A new “Field Lab” course at NOVA SBE, called Building Companies Based on Science, asks senior Master’s students to take existing, early-stage scientific and technological breakthroughs stemming from companies and academic labs, and explore the best paths for their transformation into new products or services. For this purpose the students will work closely with the originators of the new technologies to set up the basis of a business plan for a new business venture, typically a spin-out from the mother institution where the breakthrough occurred. For academic scientists or early-stage entrepreneurs, this may be a way to test whether – or in which form – their ideas might have the potential to originate a new company, at no risk. At the very least, they’ll hear fresh views on how to do it.
The students will typically come from Economics or Management programs and will work in small groups for periods of approximately three months. Results will be delivered in English, in the form of a “mini-thesis” to be presented at NOVA-SBE. Scientists’ ownership, intellectual property and confidentiality requirements will be safeguarded. Any ideas stemming from MPP-affiliated labs and researchers will be are welcome. The course is coordinated by Prof. Nuno Arantes-Oliveira, who will oversee the process in a hands-off manner.
If you are interested in proposing your research, please contact Prof. Nuno Arantes-Oliveira (nuno.arantes.oliveira@novasbe.pt).