Bioengenharia e Empreendedorismo

Objectives

This UC challenges the students to come up with an answer for medical need, including regenerative and precise medicine approaches, aiming at the creation of a new product or service following a bioengineering strategy, and developing the respective business project/idea. The UC includes learning outcomes on: A. Ideation and market assessment: Identification and characterization of a medical need and business opportunity, technology assessment, unique features and competitive advantages, product/service/therapy definition, IP protection, market size and growth, identification and needs of different stakeholders. B. Manufacturing and Business development: Technological plan, regulatory requirements including pre and clinical trials, manufacture and operation plan, business model for the new enterprise. team composition, commercialization plan, investment needs, finances and funding. The students’ hands-on project will develop a business idea based on a previously disclosed technology.

Syllabus

This UC is organized on two learning tracks A: sessions promoting entrepreneurial go-to-market attitude on: 1. Introduction to innovation, purpose and attitude. Methodology overview. Entrepreneurship. Data Mining. Interview skills. 2. Technology, Product features, User needs. Stakeholders. Innovation. Disruptive products. Sustaining (r)evolutionary vs disruptive innovation. Why innovation fails? Examples. 3. Value creation and capturing. Consumer value proposition, Problem and solution, impact. Business Canvas 4. Technology disclosure and intellectual property protection. Technologic plan. Regulation. Clinical Trials. Approval. Reimbursing. 5. Manufacturing and operation plan. Good Manufacturing Practice. 6. Marketing principles. Commercialization plan. Value chain. Industry mapping. Supply chain. Competitive analyses. 7. Revenue model and cost structure. Business models. Finances and funding. B: Project: Identification of a medical need and design of a new product/service.

Cross Competence Component

The project and class exercises are focused on the development of transversal competences on entrepreneurship and innovation, with emphasis on proactivity, initiative, intrinsic motivation and ability to make decisions. Leadership and team work ability are core skills here developed. Presentation and storytelling skills are specifically developed. Students are trained on interview skills, ability to listen and emphasize with interlocutor on effective collection of key information. Data, e.g. patent, legislation, search and media literacy are promoted in the preparation of the project. Global citizenship, civic responsibility, professional ethics, respect by IP, tolerance, openness and respect for diversity are promoted by working in multi-cultural teams and discussions. This UC promotes creative and strategic thinking and ability to innovate, with emphasis on identification of problems an ability to promote novel solutions able to create and capture value.

Ethical Principles

All members of a group are responsible for the group’s work In any assessment every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In an oral assessment, every student shall be alble to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.