Mentoring & Training Programme
Prosperity & Innovation Managers – National Roll Out
Selected participants from universities across Colombia are offered the opportunity to apply to
participate in an exciting programme that will help to develop their skills in the technology
transfer process and gain a deeper understanding of the necessary components for successful
commercialisation of the research innovations at their universities.
The objective of this programme is to create a national network of Innovation Managers
equipped with robust & sustainable local expertise in the commercialisation of science &
technology, and capable of encouraging and promoting innovation & entrepreneurship within
Colombia.
Participants in the programme will have access to methodologies, processes and best practices
shared by professionals from Cambridge Enterprise, one of the world´s top ranked academic
institutions with world-class experience in technology transfer.
The programme is delivered by practitioners – experts with real world experience:
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Filtering & supporting commercialisation opportunities.
Managing Intellectual Property – patenting, licensing, and spinning out companies.
Building consultancy activities.
Establishing, growing and selling technology spin-outs.
The programme will run for 9 months and include:
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A three week training programme in Cambridge
Two 1 week training & mentoring visits to Colombia by Cambridge Enterprise experts
Remote mentoring and advice by a team of Cambridge Enterprise experts in the UK
The content and methodology is described below.
Module
Methodology and Activities
3 week training in Cambridge
Key activities –
1. Introduction to the Cambridge
innovation ecosystem & exploration of
the entrepreneurial context in
Cambridge and the UK.
2. Analysis of case studies of
commercialisation at Cambridge, with
mentored opportunities for participants
to explore alternative scenarios, and
consider application in Colombia.
3. Visits to science parks, incubation
units, and companies to assess real
world application of commercialisation
approaches.
4. Turning ideas into commercial realities
– workshops covering idea generation,
proof of technology and market
concepts, product definition and
product marketing, entrepreneurial
characteristics and effectiveness.
Methodology –
The training programme will be highly
interactive with many opportunities for
participants to explore different approaches,
and compare with processes in Colombia.
Participants will be encouraged to provide
examples of real opportunities at the
participants’ universities to share and discuss
these with CEL experts and other participants.
Training & mentoring visit - 1
Key activities –
1. Mentoring TTO staff with specific
commercial opportunities to fine-tune
commercialisation strategies.
2. Working with TTO staff to explore the
needs of researchers, university staff
and prospective commercial partners,
and develop programmes that best
support those needs.
3. “Pitching for management” training
sessions to help researchers and TTO
staff to present their business
opportunities in the most compelling
way.
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Methodology –
Combined training programme with
participating universities. Shared sessions to
develop problem solving and best practice
across different technologies and research
environments.
Training & mentoring visit - 2
Key activities –
1. Second training module for participants
focused on – developing robust
business plans, assessing funding and
business growth strategies,
establishing early commercial
applications.
2. Pitching for investment training.
3. Mentoring participants based on the
needs assessment from earlier
mentoring activities.
Methodology –
Participants will work with various planning
tools and models to develop clear commercial
strategies and to establish preferred
approaches.
Remote mentoring
Key activities –
1. Focus to be driven by needs
assessment from mentoring visits to
Colombia, and input from participants
and senior management at their
universities.
Methodology –
Sector specialists will be identified to provide
input on technology and market sector issues.
Advice on TTO related issues will be provided
by CEL staff as relevant.
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