As part of the Tech to Market Business Acceleration Services (BAS) Programme, the European Innovation Council (EIC) invites EIC Pathfinder (former FET-Open & FET- Proactive) and Transition beneficiaries to apply for the EIC Innovation Bootcamp 4.0. The virtual four-day initiative takes place on 18-20 October and the last day during the week of 5 December 2022, consisting of intensive training in entrepreneurship and technology commercialisation. Additionally, the selected projects will have access to the EIT Alumni Mentorship Programme.
Are you interested in this opportunity?
Make sure to apply until 16 September 2022 then!
The EIC Innovation Bootcamp 4.0 aims to help researchers navigate through the entrepreneurial world and acquire the right skills to successfully exit the lab with a technology or product ready for the market.
As a four-day event, taking place from 18 to 20 October and the last day will be a full-day event (potentially hybrid) taking place during the week of 5 December 2022 from 9h to 17h (CET), the EIC Innovation Bootcamp consists of a mix of interactive lectures with group dynamics and hands-on work on business modelling and pitching. After these sessions, you will be better equipped to reach the market and venture into the entrepreneurial world with an innovative product/solution that leads to successful business opportunities.
The end goal of the EIC Innovation Bootcamp is to present a high-quality pitch (EIC Accelerator step 1 level) on the fourth day and to actively participate with a selected team in further developing the Pathfinder or Transition project research results and innovations. The application implies a full commitment to attend the four days of the event.
But don’t take our word for it. For instance, Andriy Lyubchyk from Cascatachuva Lda (part of the CATCHER Project), that participated in the previous Innovation Bootcamp 3.0 edition, stated: “Being part of this initiative was an amazing experience, and a great opportunity to participate in an event like this. We're scientists, and our focus is more centred on that part. As we started to delve more into the entrepreneurial side of things, we noticed that we had little background knowledge. As a result, due to our participation in the EIC Innovation Bootcamp, we got to better understand what we need to improve and put it into practice”.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE FOUR-DAY IDEATION?
Day 1: Introduction to innovation management
The first day will focus on making that first step from academia to business through tailor- made content for researchers and building on their entrepreneurial side. There will be lectures with top-notch speakers on the impact of technology, design thinking, lean startup, and investment readiness as well interactive sessions on entrepreneurship to researchers and innovation transfer from science to industry and commercialisation.
Day 2: From the lab to the market
On the second day, we will go through the customer discovery and product development process through interactive sessions. Teams will be guided by EIC speakers and coaches on creating innovative business models, product and market development, IP strategy, technology transfer, and communication skills. This day will allow a hands-on approach and collaborative work of the teams building around their innovation.
Day 3: Getting started
Day three will be dedicated to sessions on key topics crucial to innovation development, such as public and private financing strategies, and pitching skills.
Pitching training
To help you prepare for the final day of the Bootcamp, you will receive personalised pitching training provided by our EIC coaches. EIC beneficiaries will need to send their pitch decks by 10 November. The selected teams will receive written feedback on their pitch decks by 17 November and get the opportunity to do a half-hour individual dry run session on 23 and 24 November to rehearse their final presentation in preparation for the Pitching Day.
Day 4: Pitching day
After the mentorship sessions and pitching preparation (including the fine-tuning/rehearsal session with EIC coaches), the teams will present their pitch to a selected jury in the afternoon sessions. The 4th day will be a full-day event (potentially hybrid) taking place during the week of 5 December 2022 and start with a roundtable with invited guests that will discuss a selected topic of interest for entrepreneurial-mind researchers. More information will be disclosed soon.
In addition, and as part of the EIC Innovation Bootcamp 4.0, the selected projects will have access to the EIT Alumni Mentorship Programme. The EIT Alumni is composed of entrepreneurs, innovators, and senior managers with extensive experience in the entrepreneurial world, and large professional networks. Each project will be paired with an EIT Alumni Mentor and will receive access to entrepreneurial expertise to improve their business value proposition and presentations, as well as receive practical advice on how to validate their idea/innovation and develop a business case around it. This mentorship scheme will be composed of a minimum of 2 sessions, taking place on 26 October and 2 November, respectively.
Patricia Celie from Catalyze Group, speaker at the previous Innovation Bootcamp 3.0, also stated: “In my opinion, this is an interesting and well-designed initiative that helps the development of an innovative academic idea up to the entrepreneurial and later stages”.
WHO CAN APPLY?
The application for this initiative is open only to EIC Pathfinder (ex. FET-Open and FET-Proactive) and Transition beneficiaries as representatives of the consortium/project. Please note that projects from all domains and sectors are welcome to apply for the EIC Innovation Bootcamp 4.0 initiative.
The EIC Innovation Bootcamp is only open to a team of at least two researchers/individuals (and a maximum of four) per project. Complementary profiles are required to form eligible and successful teams and provide high-quality engagement and delivery of the pitching. The two mandatory team roles to apply are:
- Entrepreneurial lead/representative: responsible for the business orientation and entrepreneurial side of the idea/innovation (usually postdocs, PhD students or any researcher that could imagine herself or himself as a potential entrepreneur).
- Technology lead/representative: responsible for the technical development of the idea/innovation.
Only one application per project will be accepted. Maximum 12 EIC Pathfinder or Transition projects can participate (2 people per project minimum and 4 maximum). The availability is limited, and a selection committee will choose the best applications based on the following criteria:
- Maturity and potential impact of the submitted innovation idea
- Composition of the team
- Team’s motivation for applying to the Bootcamp
EIC Business Acceleration Services
This opportunity is brought to you by the EIC Business Acceleration Services. EIC Pathfinder and Transition scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs can validate their commercialisation strategies and business ideas during dedicated sessions, such as EIC Innovation Training Workshops and Innovation Bootcamps.
All participants need to fill out a short satisfaction survey shortly after the event, and a business impact survey after six months.
To explore further opportunities, keep an eye on our events page.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations will only be considered in duly documented cases of “force majeure”. Unjustified cancellation can lead to exclusion in future Business Acceleration Services events.
Should you have any questions regarding the event or your eligibility, please contact us through our contact page (please choose “EIC Innovation Bootcamp” as the subject).
