FBMH Academic Development Programme - RE8: Commercialisation: What’s in it for me?
| Dates: | 25 February 2026 |
|---|
| Times: | 13:00 - 16:00 |
|---|
| What is it: | Workshop |
|---|
| Organiser: | Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health |
|---|
| Who is it for: | University staff |
|---|
| Speaker: | Christopher Smith |
|---|
|
Overview
Do you ever wonder whether your ideas have commercial potential — or how commercialisation could shape your career?
Many researchers struggle to spot the commercial value hidden within their own work or feel uncertain about how to navigate the commercialisation process. Others simply aren’t aware of the career-boosting opportunities that come from engaging with industry, licensing, or spin-out creation. In this workshop, participants will gain a firm understanding of the commercialisation process at the University of Manchester. The workshop will equip attendees with the skills to identify commercially valuable intellectual property within their own research and to recognise potential stakeholders who may benefit from these innovations. Additionally, participants will explore how engaging in commercialisation activities can influence their career progression and identify the key skills required for roles in licensing and spin-out ventures.
Intended learning outcomes
- Understand the foundations of Commercialisation - Define key commercialisation terminology and concepts; describe the role of UoM Innovation Factory (UoMIF) and the processes used at UoM; Explain why commercialisation is important for research impact and career development.
- Identify and assess Commercial potential in research - Recognise how research becomes commercialised; Evaluate who the potential users, beneficiaries, or markets may be; and Assess the potential value and real-world applications of research outputs through interactive activities.
- Identify your role in the commercialisation journey - How do I fit in? What roles academics play in the commercialisation; Highlighting expected work for licences vs spin out; Introduction to roles in spin out and in context to academic positions, and what skills they require.
The workshop will combine traditional presentations with interactive group activities. Participants will work collaboratively to identify intellectual property within research, as well as its potential users and markets. They will further identify if these are more likely to be licence or spin-out opportunities. This will be followed by group discussions focused on understanding the various roles involved in licensing and spin-out ventures, and the key skills required to succeed in these positions.
Please register to attend using the link:
https://app.manchester.ac.uk/training/profile.aspx?unitid=3511&parentId=183&returnId=183&returntxt=Return+To+Search&returnQs=%3fterm%3dRE8%26org%3d0%26typeId%3d2
Speaker
Christopher Smith
Organisation: UoM Innovation Factory
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
4.05
Simon Buidling
