TU Delft Graduate School offers a course on entrepreneurship, which is also open to Casimir students. In the course of 2014, Casimir & NanoFront will develop several entrepreneurship-related activities. Casimir PhD students and postdocs interested in this topic are strongly encouraged to take part in this course, as it will provide you with the basics. The course is taught in Delft and will take place on three full days May 12, 14 and 16. 

Course - How to survive in business

Course Description:

Are you ready to discuss your research project with managers in industry or with EU-project participants? Can you present your research project as an entrepreneurial activity? This course will:

• enable you to set the agenda when research projects are discussed with external partners
• show you that your contribution depends on the role you play
• teach you to pitch the main message

The course lasts three full days. The first day starts with a lecture from an experienced entrepreneur. Next is a lecture about contracts and financial issues and a workshop in business modelling. You will learn how to  prepare a topic list for a business meeting. At the end of the first day, you will receive an assignment for the next day.

The second day starts with a discussion of the assignments and a lecture about stakeholder-analysis and the differences between a role as researcher, project leader or entrepreneur. It will be followed by  a workshop about preparing and having a business meeting. The goal of the day is to be able to structure the topics and the way they are discussed depending on the role you have. At the end of the day, you will get a new assignment.

The third day starts with a discussion of the assignments and a lecture about project management aspects. There will be a presentation about do’s and don’ts in project funding. Part of the day is a workshop about pitching i.e., making a short motivating presentation about your business endeavor.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants can prepare a list of topics that should be addressed in business meetings with contract partners, when starting commercial projects or when starting a venture while still at Leiden University/the TU Delft. (learning goal 1: business model).
2. Participants are aware of their role (as a researcher, a project leader or an entrepreneur) in a business project. Participants are able to prepare for a business meeting. (learning goal 2: meeting preparation).
3. Participants are able to express themselves clearly and concisely in a business meeting. (learning goal 3: pitch).

Teaching Method:

A mixture of lectures, invited speakers and workshops for three full days. In between the days assignments are completed. Therefore the program will be planned on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

About the Lecturers:

Rolph Segers: Program manager Valorization Centre TU Delft.

Esther Blom: Projects and teaching in Entrepreneurship; experience in sustainable entrepreneurship with her own company.

Roland Ortt: Director of Delft Centre for Entrepreneurship; education and research in innovation and entrepreneurship, industry experience as project leader, and account manager.

Course Enrolment

Please fill in the form in the below. PhD students from Delft also need to register via BlackBoard.