The value behind the science: Translating research potential to industry and investors

As a researcher, you are trained to communicate your research results in a scientific manner through specific channels such as journals, a thesis, and scientific symposia. However, when you want to spark the interest of, for example, industrial partners, a purely scientific approach is often insufficient. What makes your research valuable beyond the academic world? Which needs can your research address? How do you attract the interest of industrial partners or investors? We will work on these questions during this workshop.

During this seminar, given by the Tech Transfer Office, we discuss general marketing concepts such as the “value proposition”: the benefit of your research. You will identify potential customers, learn to think like a company or investor, and practice how to communicate the benefits of your work convincingly. During the workshop, you will also create your own TOP (Technology OPportunity): a two-page document that describes the offered technology in a structured way.

In short, this is a practical, hands-on seminar in which we provide you with the tools to make the potential of your research broadly visible.

Learning outcomes:

After attending this information session, you...

• understand terms such as “job to be done”, “value proposition”, and “problem-solution” fit.
• are able to analyse your own research topic and identify the unmet needs your research can tackle.
• will have learned how to communicate your research and its value to potential partners and clients.
• know the purpose and structure of a Technology OPportunity (TOP) and you are able to translate your research into such a format.
  
  

Competences

An important part of preparing for any further professional step is becoming (more) aware of the competences you have developed and/or want to develop. In the current workshop, the following competences from the UHasselt competency overview (pdf, 325 KB) are actively dealt with:

• academic research competences:
  • valorisation
• interpersonal competences:
  • customer-orientedness
  • written communication
• task-orientedness:
  • result-orientedness
• personal effectiveness:
  • entrepreneurship
• intellectual competences:
  • innovativeness

For whom?

• Researchers (PhD students, postdocs, ZAP,...) who wish to learn more about value proposition and the implications for their research are most welcome!

When and where?

• October 29, 2026 - 09:00-13:00
• Location: campus Diepenbeek, building D, room tbd

Registration?

• Register here from June 4 until September 30, 2026.
• As places are limited, registering does not automatically imply that you will be able to participate. You will be notified by email after the registration deadline has passed.
• Please cancel your registration at least one week in advance in case you cannot make it (cf. cancellation & no-show policy).

Acknowledged as?

• DS BSH: category 'IP, valorisation & science communication' - initiative related to IP and/or valorisation
• DS HLS: category 'Transferable skills' - half a compulsory elective course
• DS ST: category 'IP & valorisation' - activity on valorisation of your research