Between April and June, nine ReproUnion-affiliated young researchers and doctors participated the 12-week online e-Campus Innovation Course, a programme developed in collaboration with SmiLe Venture Hub. The course is designed to support early-stage scientists in exploring how their research can be developed into solutions with real-world impact.
Over the course of 8 modules, the participants dived into topics such as intellectual property strategies, regulatory requirements, business development, and value proposition design. The aim was to equip researchers with the tools and mindset necessary to implement inventions in practice.
The course concluded in a graduation day, where four participants pitched their innovation ideas to a jury of experienced professionals:
Rasmus Jensen, External Innovation & Scientific Licensing, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Sanne Brun Jensen, Senior Associate, BioInnovation Institute, and Thomas Unt, Deputy CEO, Smile Venture Hub.
“Their thoughtful questions and feedback made the event an insightful and motivating experience for everyone.” said Katalin Vikuk, ReproUnion’s Innovation Manager.
Ahead of the pitches, attendees were inspired by Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman, professor, CEO and ReproUnion partner, who shared her journey from being a teacher, a scientist conducting cutting edge research, to becoming an entrepreneur. Yvonne is the founder of Dx4Life, a company built on her research, now progressing toward CE marking.
“Yvonne’s story offered a compelling example of how scientific work can evolve into real-world solutions, and why commercialisation does not mean selling your soul to the devil, but quite the contrary: the process to make real impact.” comments Katalin Vikuk.
Key takeaways from the day:
- Investor and customer interest is critical: If an idea fails to spark early interest, it risks fading out.
- Academia isn’t a one-way door: Leaving to pursue innovation doesn’t mean you can’t return to research later.
- Implementation matters: Researchers should early on think about how their work might be applied in practice.
- Timing is everything: When publishing and patenting, strategic planning is essential to protect future innovation potential.
“This graduation day marked not just the end of a course, but a strong reminder that the ReproUnion community is committed to bridging the gap between science and innovation. ReproUnion looks forward to seeing how these future scientists continue to shape the reproductive health landscape.” said Kristine Koppelhus, ReproUnion’s Director of Management Unit.
If you missed the opportunity to join the e-campus this time, then stay tuned as we will open applications for the second round in the fall of 2025.
