Graduate researchers across Canada who are curious about the commercial potential of their work can now apply for a free program designed to help them take their first steps from lab to market.
Lab2Market Validate Foundations Pacific returns this fall with three days of online training led by Innovation UBC in partnership with SFU VentureLabs.
Running September 8 through 10, the program consists of one two-hour live virtual session each day, for a total commitment of six hours.
The program is open to master’s and PhD students as well as postdoctoral researchers at universities and colleges across Canada. No previous experience in entrepreneurship or commercialization is required.
Participants will learn how to identify real-world problems, develop customer-discovery skills, test assumptions, and explore potential applications for their research. Sessions will also introduce researchers to the commercialization process through guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs and principal investigator-entrepreneurs.
The short format is intended to give researchers a practical foundation before they pursue more intensive opportunities, including Lab2Market’s longer Validate program, Innovation UBC’s Venture Founder accelerator, and public innovation grants.
Innovation UBC and SFU VentureLabs form the Pacific Hub for Lab2Market, serving British Columbia and Yukon. As previously reported, the national Lab2Market network was expanded following a four-year pilot that reached more than 1,000 participants at 40 Canadian academic institutions and contributed to the creation of more than 125 companies.
Two online information sessions will cover both Validate Foundations and the longer Validate program. The sessions are scheduled for August 19 and September 2, from noon to 12:45 p.m. Pacific Time.
Applications for the fall Validate Foundations Pacific cohort close Friday, September 4. Researchers can apply online.
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